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PRNewswire LOS ANGELES May 31

LOS ANGELES, May 31 /PRNewswire/ —

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) the nation’s largest AIDS organization which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the United States, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, praised worldwide AIDS activists, the United States and the global community for the progress made in the global fight against HIV/AIDS announced today by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in the “UNAIDS 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.” The report, released today in advance of the United Nations General Assembly 2006 High Level Meeting on AIDS scheduled for May 31st-June 2nd in New York, revealed that improvements in funding, global leadership and increased access to lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment have yielded favorable results including the stabilization of the rate of HIV infections for the first time in the history of the disease. According to a Yahoo News story, “HIV Infection Rate Stable for First Time Ever: UNAIDS,” by Jonathan Fowler (5/30/06): “Last year AIDS claimed the lives of 2.8 million people and over 4.1 million were newly infected with HIV, according to the report. In 2003, the UN estimated that 4.8 million were newly infected with HIV.”

“Finally, we have great in news in the global AIDS battle: new infections are down. The new ingredient we added is hope, which was created by access to treatment,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “AIDS activists and the global public health community have been at the forefront of these efforts and deserve much praise for their tireless work to keep awareness of the urgency of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic in the minds of global leaders. AHF also commends the United States for its stepped-up leadership role, particularly in increasing funding to battle the disease in developing nations. With 40 million people currently estimated to be infected with HIV worldwide and 95% of those in need having little or no access to lifesaving AIDS medications, now is the time to remain ever-vigilant and increase all efforts so that universal access to treatment can become a reality.”

From a statement released today by UNAIDS: “According to new data in the ‘UNAIDS 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic,’ the AIDS epidemic appears to be slowing down globally, but new infections are continuing to increase in certain regions and countries. The report also shows that important progress has been made in country AIDS responses, including increases in funding and access to treatment, and decreases in HIV prevalence among young people in countries over the past five years … The report cites significant improvements in several elements of the global AIDS response. In the key area of financial resources, the U.S. $8.3 billion available for the AID response in 2005 is more than five times the funding available in 2001, and is well within the Declaration of Commitment target range. The report also cites significant increases in global political leadership, which is key to maintaining the AIDS response at the centre of national and international development planning.”
AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Source: NetPR