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U.N.: HIV epidemic continues to spread
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-21 21:54
The epidemic also appears to be tapering off in other countries. "We see
similar trends in countries in East Africa, but the evidence was not good enough
to put in the report," he said.
The most dramatic drops in prevalence have been among pregnant women in urban
Kenya, where in some areas the proportion of pregnant women infected plummeted
from approximately 28 percent in 1999 to 9 percent in 2003.
In the Caribbean, declines are evident in Barbados, the Bahamas and Bermuda,
Piot said.
In Zimbabwe HIV prevalence among pregnant women in the capital Harare has
decreased from 35 percent in 1999 to 21 percent in 2004.
"I absolutely believe we are on a roll," added Dr. Jim Kim, HIV chief at the
World Health Organization. "Everyone is sort of jumping on the bandwagon. I
think there's been a fundamental change, even in the past one year, in all the
efforts in HIV."
There's a new energy, Kim said, and much of that comes from the recent
availability of HIV treatment in the developing world.
About 1 million HIV patients in the developing world now are on treatment.
While that is just a small fraction of the people needing treatment, the
availability of drugs has meant that people see a point to getting tested for
the virus, which is crucial for prevention efforts. About 300,000 deaths were
avoided last year because of treatment, the report said.
"As much as possible, we've got to get that energy into prevention as well,"
Kim said.
So far this year the world has spent slightly more than $8 billion on
tackling HIV in the developing world. That was a big increase from the $6
billion spent last year but was still far short of the need.
UNAIDS estimates that $9 billion will be spent next year
but say $15 billion will be needed.
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