No longer death knell: HIV successfully being fought worldwide
December 1st was World AIDS Day, reminding everyone that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is still a global problem. However, in Belarus, there are already successes that can become an example for other countries. Sergei Diorditsa, the Head of the WHO Country Office in Belarus, commented on the problem, shedding light on the achievements and challenges in treating this disease.
“World AIDS Day is not just a date,” Mr. Diorditsa said. “It reminds us of the importance of awareness, solidarity and decisive action. Today we have everything to defeat the HIV epidemic: effective medicines, technologies, and tools. However, the numbers present a different picture.”
According to the expert, the number of new HIV cases is growing both globally and in the WHO European region. In 2024, the increase made 7 percent. Moreover, every second person with HIV is diagnosed too late. This means that there are still barriers to early detection of infection and access to treatment.
"Only 42 percent of those infected achieve viral suppression,” the specialist stressed. “This is not just the health of a particular person: it is also the protection of society, because people with suppressed viral load do not transmit the infection further.”
WHO believes that early diagnosis is the key to fighting the epidemic. To do this, it is important to change approaches to testing, make it accessible and safe for everyone, especially for vulnerable groups. “People from key groups should feel that they can get help and undergo testing without fear and condemnation," Mr. Diorditsa added.
The expert highlighted Belarus' efforts in this area. Since 2018, the country has provided one hundred percent access to modern antiretroviral treatment for everyone suffering from HIV. “We see how these measures change the statistics,” he noted. “The rate of primary morbidity has begun to decrease, vertical transmission of infection from mother to child is practically excluded. In 2016, Belarus was the first in the region to receive a WHO certificate for the successful elimination of HIV and syphilis from mother to child.”
However, according to Mr. Diorditsa, fighting the epidemic is impossible without destroying stigma, “Awareness and education are the best medicines against discrimination. People at risk or living with HIV deserve respect and support. We must treat them with kindness and dignity.”
WHO will continue to support Belarus in the fight against HIV/AIDS, including recommendations for improving prevention and treatment programmes. “Effective treatment means prevention as well,” the specialist reminded. “People who receive therapy no longer transmit the virus. This is our common goal, and together we can achieve it.”
