Ladies and Gentlemen,
This year's World AIDS Day is marked by the stagnation in achieving the goals to halt the spread of the disease as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other economic and geopolitical challenges on a global scale. December 1 was established as World AIDS Day in 1988 by a decision of the World Health Organization (WHO) and subsequently the UN General Assembly.
According to the World Health Organization, by the year 2021, 38.4 million people were living with HIV, of which 1.5 million involved new diagnoses of the disease. Among them, 28.7 million had access to antiretroviral treatment. Racial, economic and social disparities in access to diagnostic testing, antiretroviral treatment and clinical and laboratory follow-up remain and are widening, creating a barrier to efforts to end the HIV pandemic.
For this year, the global message is "equity." A message that is a springboard for action to ensure universal and unimpeded access to health care. A springboard message to personally and collectively rethink our attitudes towards the disease, ending the stigmatization and social marginalization of people living with HIV.
As the Ministry of Health, we remain committed to achieving the revised targets set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, with a timeframe of 2030. In this context, 95% of people living with the virus to know their diagnosis, among them 95% to access and receive antiretroviral treatment, and among those on treatment 95% to achieve virological suppression. As the Ministry of Health, we remain committed to achieving the above in the light of zero stigma, universal equality and social acceptance.
For the year 2021, there were a total of 148 diagnoses of HIV infection in Cyprus. 113 were primary diagnoses, while the remaining 35 were diagnoses in people with a known history of HIV infection. It is estimated that for the same year, 91.6% of people residing in Cyprus who are HIV positive have been diagnosed with the disease. Among them, 93.7% have been linked to health care and are receiving antiretroviral treatment, and among those receiving antiretroviral treatment, 96.6% have achieved virological suppression.
The Ministry of Health offers unimpeded access to antiretroviral treatment regardless of insurance coverage and nationality and provides free hospitalization and health care for all complications related to the disease. Recently, a decision of the Council of Ministers, dated 31 August 2022, increased the incentive plan for HIV-positive people from EUR 300 to EUR 350, which will be paid into December accounts with retroactive effect.
HIV infection is now a chronically controlled disease, with our HIV-positive citizens being fully functional and integral members of our society. Together we can end HIV, ending the inequalities that perpetuate it.
Today, let each of us carry a message of equality and acceptance, far from the stereotypes and prejudices of the past. On the occasion of today, we need to rethink our attitude towards HIV infection and together we need to join together towards a brighter future.
Together we can achieve more. Together we can end the pandemic HIV[/U]
Thank you!
(AF)
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