蜜芽传媒

The United Nations warn millions of lives are at risk because the fight against HIV/Aids is faltering in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. A report from UNAids says HIV infections are now rising in many parts of the world, with women and girls disproportionately affected.

Dr John N. Nkengasong, Global Aids Co-ordinator in President Joe Biden's administration tells us more. He says the UNAids report "indicates a significant risk" with new cases rising in Eastern Europe and North Africa. He says "everyday there are about 4000 new infections". During this year 1.5million new cases have been recorded.

"Every two seconds a young girl or woman is infected with HIV/Aids" he says. The problem is partly due to the disruption of HIV related services and interventions brought about by the Covid pandemic. The impact of Covid on economic activity has exacerbated gender imbalance and lack of economic opportunities, which have led to the increased vulnerability of women and girls.

"HIV is a silent pandemic" Dr Nkengasong says. "We need increased political commitment, we need financial commitment and we need these to be sustained" in order to prevent HIV from being a public threat by the year 2030.

Photo: Laboratory assistant takes blood from a girl in a mobile laboratory for anonymous rapid HIV testing in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Getty Images

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