World AIDS Day: 21.3 million people are now on antiretroviral drugs, as the WHO advocates for strong health systems to support vulnerable populations.

As we come together with the international community to mark World AIDS Day 2024 on 1 December, this year’s theme, “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” is a timely reminder of our responsibility to safeguard human rights as we pursue the goal of HIV elimination by 2030.
The World Health Organization, WHO, Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, said, in a statement, " HIV is a complex health challenge, inseparable from social determinants such as poverty, gender inequality and violence, and complicated by stigma and discrimination, especially amongst marginalized populations ".
 According to Moeti, Protecting human rights is a key component of achieving universal HIV care, and breaking down these life-threatening barriers to access. " World AIDS Day also provides an opportunity for reflection on the achievements ".
He said, African countries have made significant progress, with the change in the trajectory of the epidemic over the past decade evidence of the notable successes in HIV control and response.
" This is despite having the highest HIV burden globally, and comparatively fewer resources to fight the epidemic ". He stated 
Nothing that, Remarkable reductions in the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are being recorded, with the number of new HIV infections higher outside of sub-Saharan Africa for the first time in 2023.
Dr Moeti explained that " The WHO African region is also the leading region globally in advancements towards the achievements of the 95-95-95 UNAIDS HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression targets, aimed at closing gaps in treatment coverage and outcomes,".
" Seven countries have already achieved the targets, with the overall rating for the region currently at 90-82-76. About 21.3 million people are now on antiretroviral treatment, raising their life expectancy ". He disclosed
Dr Moeti says and I quote, " Botswana (silver tier status) and Namibia (bronze tier status), meanwhile, have both been recognized for notably curbing mother-to-child HIV transmission rates, achieving the required indicators for the “Path to elimination of HIV” criteria introduced in 2017 ".
The statement further says, " African Region is also implementing effective biomedical HIV prevention methods, with countries quickly adopting and implementing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommendations, and ensuring increased access to options such as oral and long-acting injectable PrEP, and the dipivefrine vaginal ring. 
It further explained that, despite the increased availability of scientific knowledge and tools for preventing new HIV infections, and effectively treating people living with HIV, the value of these innovations depends on their universal accessibility. This it says, is an issue that requires further investments and policy reforms going forward.
"We have a collective obligation to protect human rights, specifically ensuring that health care is available to everyone, without any discrimination, regardless of their HIV status, background, gender or where they live. Stigma and discrimination cannot be allowed to undermine the gains and impede our progress". Moeti
She further noted that, Given the achievements, it is indeed possible to eliminate HIV with the combined efforts of governments, partners, health care providers, civil society and, crucially, communities.
Communities are key partners in co-creating strategies and jointly implementing interventions to address human rights-related barriers to care, and we must ensure their voices are heard.
According to her, HIV response is complicated by the increasing incidence of disease outbreaks in the African region, which negatively impact our already struggling health systems. 
She stated and I quote, " As we accelerate our response to the epidemic, it is important that we remain mindful that strong health systems and integrated, person-centred approaches to health care are essential to optimally meet the multiple needs of our vulnerable populations".
" She urged political officeholders to acknowledge the progress and also renew the joint commitment to eliminating HIV By protecting everyone’s right to health and reducing new HIV infections, adding that " we can achieve an AIDS-free generation and ensure the sustainability of the HIV response ".