World AIDS Day: A Call to Action

Abstract

The United Nations estimates that globally approximately 37 million people are living with HIV and that around half of all people are living with HIV (PLWH) do not know their status, thus preventing them from accessing care and treatment. In 2014, over two million individuals became newly infected with HIV and 1.2 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses. Despite high rates of HIV/AIDS, especially in developing countries, we have made significant progress in prevention, care, and treatment. For example, 15 million PLWH are taking combination antiretroviral therapy. Globally, new rates of HIV infection have decreased by 35% since 2000 and there has been a 42% reduction in AIDS-related deaths since 2004.