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- Ελληνικά
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for joining us today on the occasion of the 35th World AIDS Day.
Four decades after the emergence of HIV, HIV infection continues to plague global health. Based on a recent World Health Organization report, it is estimated that by the year 2022, 39 million people will be living with HIV, including 1.3 million new diagnoses of the disease. At the end of the same year, it is estimated that in the WHO European Region, of which the Republic of Cyprus is a member, three million people are living with HIV, of whom 180 000 are newly diagnosed. In Cyprus in 2022 there were a total of 218 diagnoses of HIV infection, of which 146 were related to new diagnoses of the disease.
Despite its classification as incurable, early diagnosis of HIV infection and linkage to medical surveillance and antiretroviral treatment make it a chronic, adequately controlled disease. This ensures a survival rate equivalent to that of the seronegative population. Achieving virological suppression, through the administration of modern antiretroviral drugs, inhibits the transmission of the disease and offers us an important tool for ending the epidemic. In addition, we have the opportunity to permanently end the stigmatization of people living with HIV and fully safeguard their physical and mental health.
As the Ministry of Health, we remain committed to meeting and exceeding the revised targets for ending the epidemic as set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. Based on these targets, therefore, 95% of people living with HIV should know their diagnosis, among them 95% should access and receive antiretroviral treatment, and among those on treatment 95% should achieve viral suppression.
For the Republic of Cyprus, it is estimated that 92% of people living with HIV have been diagnosed. Among them, 94% have been linked to health care and receive antiretroviral treatment of which 97% have achieved virological suppression.
I note that in order to achieve and maintain the above targets, the Ministry of Health has updated our National Strategy and reconstituted the National AIDS Committee.
At the same time, the Ministry stands by the problems of HIV-positive people. Recently, the prescription of antiretroviral drugs has been revised with the introduction of modern treatment regimens. The revision was achieved through excellent cooperation between the Health Insurance Agency (HIA) and the physician in charge of the Gregory Clinic of the HIA through the coordinated actions of the Medical and Public Health Services.
It was agreed to extend prescription of antiretroviral treatment from two to three months with the main objective of facilitating accessibility to antiretroviral treatment and support in compliance for taking the treatment.
However, securing and optimising these objectives is considered precarious as long as anachronistic perceptions around the disease are perpetuated. Each and every one of us must reconsider our attitude towards the disease and collectively join together in a bright future of universal equality and acceptance free of any stigma towards HIV positive people.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Last year the message for World AIDS Day was the word "Equality". This year the message is "Let communities lead us". Communities have proven that they can play a key role in the global AIDS response. We now know the path that ends AIDS and the choice remains to walk it. On the occasion of today, let us choose the right path together. Together we can do it. Together we can walk together towards the end of HIV infection and the stigma of HIV positive people.
Thank you.
(MS/EP)
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