Ethiopia has been commended for its decisive steps to eliminate HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
During the 36th celebration of World AIDS Day held at the Victory Memorial of Adwa in Addis Ababa under the theme “Choose the Right Path”, government officials and healthcare professionals assessed the progress made in the fight against HIV.
Key Statistics and Goals:
• HIV Statistics: Over 600,000 people currently live with HIV in Ethiopia. In the past two years, HIV prevalence has declined from 0.9% to 0.87%.
• 95-95-95 Target: Ethiopia is strengthening national and international partnerships to diagnose 95% of individuals living with HIV, provide treatment to 95%, and achieve viral suppression in 95% of those receiving treatment.
Stakeholders’ Perspectives:
• Dereje Duguma, State Minister of Health, acknowledged the challenges in combating HIV while highlighting progress in achieving viral suppression and reducing new infections.
• Krittayawan Boonto, UNAIDS Country Director, praised Ethiopia’s notable strides toward the global 95-95-95 targets, emphasizing that 94% of individuals living with HIV now have access to treatment.
U.S. Contributions:
U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, announced that approximately $3.5 billion has been invested in HIV response efforts. These investments have strengthened laboratory infrastructure, health information systems, and supply chain management, supporting the overall healthcare system.
Conclusion:
Determined efforts and international collaborations are bringing Ethiopia closer to its 2030 goals. Sustaining tailored initiatives for youth and vulnerable groups will be crucial to ensuring continued progress.
