World Aids day
On the 1st of December is World AIDS Day.
At the moment there are about 36.7 million people living with HIV worldwide. But only 60% of them know they are HIV positive. The rest of them do not know. Less than half of the people living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy and only 38% have achieved undetectable levels of HIV.
A person living with HIV who starts antiretroviral therapy today will have the same live expectancy as an HIV-negative person of the same age. Although it is possible to live with HIV nowadays 1 million people died from a HIV related disease in 2016.
The UN goal is the 90-90-90-Treatment for all.
By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy.
By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
This year’s campaign is called: My health, My right. The right to health is contained in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966. It says everyone has the right to health, no matter what their health requires. Firstly it is important that everyone has the access to the treatment of an illness, including physical and mental diseases. Secondly everyone should be able to decide about one`s own health. Furthermore everyone has the right to be treated with respect and dignity. The campaign should remember that health is not only the access to medical treatment but also good living standards. For instance it is adequate sanitation, healthy working conditions, a clean environment and access to justice.
What does the right to health mean to you?
Get more information on http://www.unaids.org.
By Vera Lennartz