UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of
people living with HIV has increased in every region of the world over the past
two years, despite improvements in ensuring universal access to treatment,
according to a UN report released on Monday.
The report was submitted by UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon to the 61st UN General Assembly which convened a plenary session on
Monday to review progress made since the UN held a high-level meeting on
HIV/AIDS in June last year.
Over the past year, selected progress has been
achieved in moving towards universal access, including changes in the political
environment, setting national targets, estimating resource needs, expanding
treatment and intensifying prevention, said the report.
By the end of 2006, 90 low-and-middle-income
countries have set national targets towards universal access to services, and
many aim to double or triple the coverage of antiretroviral treatment by 2010.
Two million people in low-and-middle-income countries
are now receiving treatment, representing an increase of 700,000 from the number
estimated to be on antiretroviral therapy in December 2005.
In countries with generalized epidemics where there
have been sustained prevention efforts, HIV prevalence is declining, and several
countries have made special services available to AIDS orphans, ensuring access
to health, education and social welfare.
Despite the improvements, the report said, the number
of people living with HIV has increased in every region of the world over the
past two years.
By the end of 2006, an estimated 39.5 million people
worldwide were living with HIV infection, representing a "considerable increase"
since 2001, when an estimated 32.9 million people were living with HIV.
The rate of people newly infected with HIV has
remained around 4 million per year, while the number of people dying from AIDS
has grown from 2.2 million in 2001 to 2.9 million in 2006.
"With the passage of the epidemic's first 25 years,
it has become clearer than ever that the global response must move from an
emergency footing to a longer-term effort that lays the groundwork for
sustainable progress," the report said.
On June 2, 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted the
Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, urging member states to move toward the
global objective of universal access to HIV prevention programs, treatment, care
and support by 2010.
UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon promised
on Monday the issue of AIDS will remain a system-wide priority
for the world body.
"The UN will deliver as one on AIDS, and the already pioneering coordination efforts of UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS) and its cosponsors will be strengthened further through system-wide coherence," Ban told a plenary session of the 61st General Assembly on HIV/AIDS. Full story
NEW YORK, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people headed to Central Park, Manhattan on Sunday morning to join the 22nd annual AIDS Walk New York.
The 6.2-mile (about 10-km) walk has raised more than 90 million dollars since 1986 and benefits Gay Men's Health Crisis and other organizations. Full story
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