World AIDS Day: WHO Asks for HIV Services to Endure during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite the decline in health services due to the pandemic, the latest WHO report states that the number of countries reporting disruptions to HIV services has decreased by 75 percent since June.

Only 9 of the 152 countries surveyed still report disruption. In June, 24 countries reported a shortage of ARV supplies for less than 3 months. Currently, only 12 countries report low supplies.

“On World AIDS Day 2020, we pay tribute to communities and countries that have demonstrated resilience and innovation, often spearheaded by people with HIV,” said Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programs.

“This is important because while we are focused on fighting this new pandemic, we must not let go of our guard against the twin pandemics that have been with us for 40 years, and are far from over.”

WHO hopes that innovative approaches to HIV services can be applied during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is to pursue and accelerate progress towards the new targets in 2025, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in which AIDS will no longer be a threat to public health by 2030.

– .