According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide has reached 48 million, with the Middle East and North Africa being the regions with the highest number of affected individuals.
According to the WHO, out of the 48 million people, 610,000 reside in the Middle East and North Africa, where the number of annual new infections has nearly doubled in at least a decade.
According to the organization, in these regions, 37,000 people were infected with the virus in 2016, and their number increased to 72,000 in 2024. In the region, at least four out of ten people are aware of their HIV status, while only one in three individuals is receiving treatment.
According to the organization, the AIDS response is entering a critical phase. Global funding dedicated to HIV is decreasing, which is putting decades of progress at risk.
WHO stated that HIV has now become a chronic, treatable infection, but to achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, there is an urgent need to increase funding and strengthen HIV services.
The World Health Organization warned that the reduction in global funding will lead to an increase in new HIV infections and deaths, put greater pressure on healthcare systems, and leave the 2030 target of ending AIDS unfulfilled.
The organization also emphasized using artificial intelligence (AI) for the early diagnosis and treatment of HIV.
It is worth noting that HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, particularly destroying white blood cells, which weakens the immunity of the infected person.
There is no cure for HIV infection; however, effective HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment of symptoms, and treatment of other infections can help keep HIV under control and potentially prevent it from progressing to AIDS.
