- Firstly, despite the progress of recent years, the HIV response still has to expand considerably to realize its full benefits. Fewer than half the people in need of antiretroviral therapy globally were receiving in 2014, and the decline in the rate of new, sexually-transmitted HIV infections has been much too low.
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Secondly, success in the global HIV response is distributed unevenly and inequitably. HIV incidence is declining overall, but it is also increasing in some countries and regions. The progress is not reaching all priority populations sufficiently and quickly enough.
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Thirdly, the global epidemic has reached a point where a steady-state response–maintaining coverage at current levels – will soon see new HIV infections and HIV-related deaths rebound. New infections and the life-saving effects of antiretroviral therapy mean that the total number of people living with HIV will keep rising – with all the attendant costs that entails.
The world is faced with this paradox: ‘Business as usual’ will see the HIV response lose steam and slide back. It is time to move into ‘fast-track’ mode, to accelerate current efforts and to seek innovations that can change the trajectory of the response.
WHO Draft Global Health Sector Strategies 2016-2021
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