Four lessons learned from AIDS 2022 Conference
For the first time, the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS was hosted in person and virtually in Montreal, Canada. People from across the world – Scientists, Policy makers, Activists/Advocates, Donor organizations, Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV), etc gathered from the 29th of July to the 2nd of August, with pre-conference meetings which began on 27th July 2022.
AIDS 2022 called on the world to come together to re-engage and follow the science. It provided the platform to define future research agendas, shift latest evidence to action, and chart a new consensus on overcoming the HIV epidemic as a threat to public health and individual well-being.
On the opening day of the conference, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, declared that despite having the medications to save those lives, “Last year we lost one person per minute to an AIDS-related illness.” The organization’s “In Danger” report showed that 1.5 million new illnesses occurred last year. At the same time, far too many people, including roughly 10 million adults and half of all children with HIV, do not have access to life-saving medications. People are dying not because life-saving treatments don’t exist, they are dying because inequalities and greed are snatching these medicines out of their hands. Until everyone has access to the best that science can offer, until everyone has their full human rights, we will never end HIV or any future pandemic.
However, a lot of people suggested that the worldwide response may resume. Despite the pandemic’s impact on HIV services, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), said at the conference that “this can’t be a time off.”
Over the course of five days, AIDS 2022 witnessed contributors renewing their promises, remarkable advancements in the field of testing, prevention, and treatment, as well as a number of scientific breakthroughs.
The following are takeaways that are vital to the HIV journey across the world:
1. PLHIV Communities should continue to take ownership and lead the way
Historic progress has been made over the past five years in lowering the price of effective HIV medications and ensuring that regimens are made available to people who require them. The voices of HIV-positive communities have been at the heart of these triumphs. AfroCAB, CHAI, and Unitaid founded the Optimal Community Advisory Board (CAB) in 2016, and it has improved the community perspective in policy development and encouraged the creation of demand for optimal products.
Carolyn Amole, Senior Director of CHAI’s HIV program, stated that “community participation is now a guiding principle for CHAI.” It serves as the foundation for CHAI’s HIV treatment efforts as well as its AHD and pediatric programs and, increasingly, its efforts in HIV testing and prevention.
Robert Matiru, Director of Programs for Unitaid, shared that his organization intends to begin supporting local governments directly in order to carry out goal three of the organization’s new strategy, which is community participation.
2. Self-tests are a starting point for HIV prevention and treatment
A deal to sell Wondfo’s HIV self-test for US$1 was announced ahead of the AIDS 2022 conference by CHAI, MedAccess, and the manufacturer. The cost is over 30% less than the least expensive World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified test and 50% less than the test that is used the most frequently.
HIV testing is crucial since it serves as the first step toward prevention and treatment, and self-tests are a crucial addition to the HIV care toolkit.
In a recent interview with CHAI, Kenly Sikwese said, “I believe that every test is an empowered individual who now knows their status and is able to make a choice about their health.” The Executive Director of the Global Fund Peter Sands also expressed his appreciation for the announcement, saying, “The Global Fund will invest in supporting these and other breakthroughs that can allow us to restart and accelerate progress toward ending the HIV pandemic by 2030.”
3. Redirecting attention on advanced HIV disease (AHD)
Despite advances in lowering AIDS-related mortality, there were 650,000 AIDS-related fatalities in 2020, which is just a 6% decrease from the previous year.
The world’s highest prevalence of AHD, or late-stage HIV, is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, screening rates in the area are still poor, and opportunistic infections that may be prevented and treated continue to kill people with HIV.
CHAI presented an impact report on the first day of the conference, detailing the development of our collaboration with Unitaid and nine government nations: Botswana, India, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.
4. Fighting co-morbidities by integrating HIV programs with other health services
Other illnesses like syphilis, hepatitis, cryptococcal meningitis, tuberculosis (TB), and poor mental health – all of which pose severe hazards to individuals living with HIV – have lagged behind while HIV detection and treatment has advanced thanks to decades of spending.
Countries can identify, cure, and even completely eradicate infections more quickly by integrating services into HIV programs. Several sessions featured arguments in favor of integration, including those for mental health, syphilis, and viral hepatitis.
In Nigeria, where the government is stepping up the test for HIV and syphilis to stop mother-to-child transmission of “two of the most devastating diseases a child can be born with,” as the country’s national AIDS, viral hepatitis, and STIs control program’s head, Dr. Akudo Ikpeazu, put it, the investment in dual HIV/syphilis self-testing is having an impact.
Interestingly, the virtual hubs that were established all across the world gave more people the chance to take part in and gain knowledge from the numerous beneficial discussions and learning opportunities that occurred during the AIDS 2022 Conference. Through participation in this hub organized by ANAYD, young people in Nigeria (with funding support from Global Network of Young People Living with HIV – Y+ Global) received new views on how to strengthen HIV initiatives in their areas. “It was impactful to watch and listen to those important HIV discussions, it provided first-hand information and availed me the platform to learn new and innovative ways to contribute to the HIV fight” Joshua Adeboye – HIV Advocate, Nigeria.
“Reconsidering breastfeeding for women living with HIV was at the heart of the discussions at the AIDS 2022 Conference, and that was vital for me as I partook in the virtual hub” Virtual Hub Participant (Young Positive Mother), Nigeria.
“Even though there is still no HIV cure, the AIDS 2022 Conference showed me that there is a better strategy for finding one” Virtual Hub Participant (Adolescent and Young Person Living with HIV), Nigeria.
“It was a joy to see global acceptance for men like me, it felt reassuring to participate in this conference virtually and know that we are accepted” Virtual Hub Participant (Young MSM), Nigeria.
