Debt jeopardizes fight against AIDS in Africa, says UN
Published: Thursday, Sep 19th 2024, 16:40
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According to a UN report, the high level of debt in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa is preventing the adequate financing of important health programs, for example to combat AIDS. This puts the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 at risk, reported the UNAIDS program in Geneva.
By "end" we mean the 95-95-95 target: that at least 95 percent of people living with HIV know their HIV status, that 95 percent of them receive life-saving HIV medication and that the medication works so well in 95 percent of them that HIV replication is suppressed and HIV is no longer sexually transmissible.
Most people infected with HIV in Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV in the world, 25.9 million in total. The global figure is 39.9 million. "If countries are unable to effectively care for the health of their populations due to debt payments, global health security is at risk," said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima.
The HI virus weakens the immune system and makes the body susceptible to all kinds of diseases. The clinical picture is called AIDS. If detected early and treated with the right medication, infected people have a practically normal life expectancy.
Spending on the fight against HIV/AIDS down
In countries such as Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia, more than 50 percent of government revenue is spent on financing debt, UNAIDS reported. In West and Central Africa, spending on combating HIV infections fell from 0.3 percent of gross domestic product in 2017 to 0.12 percent in 2022. Despite international aid, only two thirds of the necessary funds could have been used.
UNAIDS calls on countries to close tax loopholes. Lenders should offer debt relief to heavily indebted countries and donor countries should make more money available for the fight against HIV and AIDS.
©Keystone/SDA
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