2023-09-17 22:06:04
Record results overshadowed by climate change and conflicts hindering progress
Results in the fight once morest HIV, tuberculosis and malaria have exceeded pre-COVID-19 levels, but increasing crises jeopardize achievement of 2030 targets
September 18, 2023
GENEVA – The 2023 Results Report [ télécharger en عربي | 中文 | Deutsch | English | Español | Français | Italiano | 日本語 | 한국어 | Português ] of the Global Fund, released today (read the full report), shows a remarkable improvement in the results of programs fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, following setbacks suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, multiple challenges – such as climate change, conflict, widening inequalities and the growing threat to human rights – are taking us further and further away from the goal of ending AIDS, tuberculosis and to malaria by 2030.
“Collectively, the Global Fund partnership has saved 59 million lives over the past 20 years,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. Even though we achieved record results in 2022, extraordinary measures will be required to achieve the targets set for 2030.”
In 2022, thanks to the efforts, adaptations and innovations of governments, communities and our partners, the Global Fund partnership put an unprecedented number of people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment. We found and treated more people with tuberculosis than ever before, and we distributed a record number of mosquito nets to prevent malaria.
Main results for 2022 in countries where the Global Fund invests:
HIV
24.5 million people on antiretroviral treatment for HIV. 53.1 million HIV tests carried out (12.2 million in key and priority populations). 15.3 million people reached by HIV prevention services. 710,000 mothers living with HIV receiving treatment to stay alive and prevent transmission of HIV to their children. 831,000 voluntary medical male circumcisions for HIV prevention.
Tuberculosis:
6.7 million people treated for tuberculosis. 118,000 people receiving treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis. 331,000 tuberculosis and HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral treatment. 2.2 million people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment put on preventive treatment for tuberculosis. 1.5 million people exposed to tuberculosis under preventive treatment.
Malaria :
220 million mosquito nets distributed to protect families from malaria. 321 million suspected cases of malaria tested. 37.1 million children receiving chemoprevention treatment for seasonal malaria. 14.6 million pregnant women receiving preventive treatment for malaria. 165 million cases of malaria treated.
Colliding crises slow progress
In many countries where the Global Fund invests, getting back on track to combat the three diseases has been made even more difficult due to a combination of interconnected and colliding crises, in addition to COVID-19. Climate change, conflict and debt are examples, as are the alarming erosion of human rights and growing inequities within and between countries.
Climate change is already impacting the epidemiology of infectious diseases. For example, malaria is spreading to mountainous regions of Africa previously too cold for the Anopheles mosquitoes carrying the disease. Cyclones, floods and other climate-related disasters cause outbreaks of malaria infection as seen in Malawi and Pakistan. Food insecurity and water scarcity force entire communities into exile, making them more vulnerable to diseases, including tuberculosis. The Global Fund has increased its interventions to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on malaria programs and to ensure the continuity of HIV and tuberculosis services.
Conflict damages health infrastructure and overwhelms already overburdened health services. Sick people no longer have access to treatment, supply chains are broken and prevention interventions are disrupted. In Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar and other countries, the Global Fund partnership faces immense challenges to ensure that the most vulnerable people have access to essential services.
Strengthening health systems for pandemic control and prevention
Resilient and sustainable health systems are key to successfully combating the three diseases. They are also the foundation of prevention, detection and response to existing and emerging health threats.
According to Peter Sands, “by investing in the essential components that make health systems resilient and sustainable, the Global Fund helps countries fight today’s deadly infectious diseases and prepare for tomorrow’s health threats. For example, we will continue our essential work supporting community health workers and strengthening supply chains and laboratory networks. »
In total, the Global Fund has disbursed more than US$5 billion to help countries respond to COVID-19, of which some US$2.2 billion will be invested in strengthening systems for health and preparedness. pandemics.
Improving equitable access to innovative, game-changing tools
Equitable access to innovative tools is a key element that must be improved if the momentum in the fight once morest HIV, tuberculosis and malaria is to be regained and maintained.
Peter Sands points out that “despite the challenges, we can still achieve the goal of ending AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as threats to public health. We know what to do, we have tools that work, and we have success stories to inspire us. We must improve access to game-changing innovations and optimize their deployment alongside existing tools to maximize the impact of every dollar. We must eliminate the inequities that exacerbate the vulnerability of young women, key populations and the poorest people. »
Against HIV, the new dapivirine vaginal ring – the first effective female-controlled HIV prevention – gives women and girls the power to protect themselves once morest HIV infection. Pediatric HIV remains an area of unmet need globally. However, recent treatment innovations might change that. The Global Fund partnership is investing in the pediatric dolutegravir regimen, a treatment that is more effective, cheaper and better tolerated by children.
Against tuberculosis, several innovations have appeared: new diagnostic tools, such as mobile X-ray machines and low-cost molecular diagnostics; new treatments, such as the therapeutic combination BPaLM (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin) for drug-resistant tuberculosis; and 3HP, a new short-term preventive treatment for tuberculosis.
Against malaria, several innovations in vector control, prevention, diagnosis and treatment will help us reverse alarming trends in infections and deaths. For example, dual-action insecticide-treated bed nets combining pyrethroids and chlorfenapyr, which will be widely available from 2024, are remarkably more effective than standard pyrethroid-only bed nets. Trials have demonstrated a reduction in malaria infections of around 50% in children aged six months to ten years.
To get the fight once morest disease back on track, it will be important to optimize the integrated deployment of these innovations, while increasing efforts to eliminate the glaring inequities that fuel infectious diseases. It is by empowering the hardest-hit communities that the Global Fund ensures that vital services reach the most vulnerable people, including those marginalized by poverty, social rejection, discrimination or criminalization. Our model, which places people and communities at the heart of our actions, helps to build this bond of trust without which we might not carry out our mission and ensure that no one is left behind.
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