World AIDS Day: Progress Made and Challenges Ahead
On December 1, the world recognizes World AIDS Day, a global initiative to raise awareness about the ongoing challenges in eradicating HIV/AIDS by 2030. This year’s theme, Let communities lead, emphasizes the crucial role communities play in achieving this goal. Jeffrey Kwong, a respected HIV expert and professor at Rutgers School of Nursing, discusses the progress made in HIV care and treatment and the challenges that lie ahead.
In the past decade, HIV care and treatment have undergone significant advancements. Kwong highlights the availability of highly effective medications that can effectively control HIV. Many of these medications are well-tolerated, with some individuals needing to take just one pill a day or receive an injection every two months. This has transformed the lives of those living with HIV.
However, the landscape of HIV is changing. As of the end of 2022, there were approximately 39 million people worldwide living with HIV, with 1.2 million in the United States alone. In the next decade, nearly 70% of people living with HIV will be 50 years or older, creating a unique set of challenges. Older adults with HIV experience a higher prevalence of multiple chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression, which require careful consideration from healthcare professionals.
Looking to the future of HIV treatment and prevention, Kwong predicts a complete transition in the treatment landscape. The emergence of long-acting treatment options offers new hope. For individuals who are doing well on oral treatment but prefer not to take pills every day, long-acting antiretroviral regimens administered through injection every eight weeks are now available. There are also other long-acting agents for those who may not be responding well to their current treatment. Furthermore, researchers are exploring implantable medications that can last for months at a time, along with innovative classes of drugs under investigation.
In terms of HIV prevention, there have been notable strides as well. Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which allows individuals without HIV to take antiretrovirals to reduce the risk of transmission, has been available for over a decade. However, access to PrEP remains a challenge, especially among communities of color, women, and older adults who could benefit the most. Stigma related to HIV and lack of awareness among healthcare providers contribute to this issue.
As part of the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign, Kwong serves as a CDC Clinical Ambassador, working alongside other leading clinicians in the field. The campaign aims to reduce HIV stigma, promote HIV testing, prevention, and treatment, and empower communities and healthcare providers. Kwong’s role involves educating providers on reducing stigma, integrating HIV testing and prevention into their practices, and emphasizing the benefits of HIV treatment.
With Kwong’s insights, it is evident that significant progress has been made in HIV care and treatment. However, challenges persist, including the need for increased awareness and access to HIV prevention measures like PrEP. By addressing these challenges and empowering communities and healthcare providers, we can move closer to ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.
