World AIDS Day 2015

On 1 December 2015, the world is observing World AIDS Day to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “On the Fast-Track to end AIDS”.  Fast-tracking the AIDS response provides an opportunity to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

It is encouraging that we have reached a defining moment in the HIV/AIDS response as a result of the remarkable progress in the scale up of prevention, treatment and care interventions for HIV in the African Region. The region has achieved the Millennium Development Goal 6 of halting and reversing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  In 2014, close to 11 million people were receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment.  This has led to the number of AIDS related deaths reducing by nearly a half since 2005.  New infections have also reduced by 41% in the last 15 years, more than in any region in the world.