Five African countries are close to eradicating the AIDS disease

 A new United Nations report says the world is on track to eradicate AIDS by 2030 once important health programs are fully funded.

65 percent of people living with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the region has made great strides in eradicating AIDS.

According to the UNAIDS, the countries of Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have reached the goal of '95-95-95'.

this means that 95 percent of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) know their HIV status, and 95 percent of those who know their status are receiving antiretroviral therapy. 95 percent of people who receive treatment clear the virus, a step that completely eliminates the chance of spreading the virus to others.

Another 16 countries are close to achieving that goal, including 8 more in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Ending AIDS is an opportunity for today's leaders to be a good example," said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Banayima.

He said, "It saves millions of lives and protects everyone's health. It shows what leadership can do."

but UNAIDS has identified that low and middle income countries have a budget deficit of 8.5 billion dollars.

"The facts and statistics of this report do not show that we are in that direction, but we can be there," said Byanyima.

But several challenges remain to be resolved. 

Five African countries are close to eradicating the AIDS disease

A new United Nations report says the world is on track to eradicate AIDS by 2030 once important health programs are fully funded.

65 percent of people living with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the region has made great strides in eradicating AIDS.

According to the UNAIDS, the countries of Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have reached the goal of '95-95-95'.

this means that 95 percent of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) know their HIV status, and 95 percent of those who know their status are receiving antiretroviral therapy. 95 percent of people who receive treatment clear the virus, a step that completely eliminates the chance of spreading the virus to others.

Another 16 countries are close to achieving that goal, including 8 more in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Ending AIDS is an opportunity for today's leaders to be a good example," said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Banayima.

He said, "It saves millions of lives and protects everyone's health. It shows what leadership can do."

but UNAIDS has identified that low and middle income countries have a budget deficit of 8.5 billion dollars.

"The facts and statistics of this report do not show that we are in that direction, but we can be there," said Byanyima.

But several challenges remain to be resolved. every week, 4,000 new HIV infections are added to young women and men.

And despite progress, 63 percent of new HIV infections in 2022 occurred among women and young people in sub-Saharan Africa.

girls who broke the sieve are in danger in Botswana, southern Africa. It is known as 'intergenerational sex', where older men pursue younger girls.

Gaon is a 32-year-old woman who contracted HIV while still a schoolgirl.

"There is a close relative who was helping me a lot. He was twice my age, in his 30s. I believed him. He used the opportunity to have sex with me."

Gaon has been taking antiretrovirals since 2012. A mother of two, she said her children are HIV-free. now he works as an activist campaigning.

According to him, even now society is not ready to openly discuss 'rape' and 'sexual exploitation'.

"On some days, I get information from up to five women, most of them older than me, who have contracted HIV from relatives. What can we do if men don't listen," she asks.

The power of prayer

all statistics show that men are more reluctant to seek health care than women infected with HIV.

Botswana is using religious leaders to try to change men's attitudes and prevent HIV transmission.

Pastor Moruakgomo

"Ninety-five percent of people living with HIV in Botswana know their status. Those who don't know, most of them are men," said Machakaga Mpho Moruakgomo, a leader of the Christian religion and a group of various denominations that is dealing with the problem.

"Because people respect religious leaders, we use that to talk to men about the need for testing and, if the condition is confirmed, we connect them to treatment."

he mentioned that Muslim, Hindu and Baha'i leaders are also involved with the residents of the area and said that they go day by day carrying messages.

The campaign is called 'Brothers Arise-Nanogang' which is inspired by a part of the country's national anthem.

pastor Moruakgomo of the church says, "There is a lot of superstition about HIV. We religious leaders were also involved in that."

He mentioned that they have blamed the infected and said that they should admit their mistakes and apologize.

Ontiretse Lethare, head of the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency, said Botswana is on track to eliminate HIV by 2030. He says religious leaders can play an important role in that.

What is the situation in the rest of the world?

In other parts of the world, the trend is not so positive. according to the United Nations, a quarter of new HIV infections will occur in the Asia Pacific region in 2022.

Eastern Europe and Central Asia are also constantly experiencing new infections. A similar situation has emerged in the Middle East and North Africa.

The United Nations has pointed out the lack of HIV control services for people excluded from laws that legitimize the same-sex community, LGBTQ+.

But a treatment called PrEP offers hope. Aambodia in East Asia provides the drug for free to vulnerable sex workers and the gay and transgender community.

A daily pill is used to treat HIV. People without HIV can also take it as a preventive medicine