The 25th International AIDS Conference
Ministerial satellite session: Keeping the promise to end AIDS and the epidemics of viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Opening remarks by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
22 July 2024
Excellencies, colleagues,
Guten abend.
This conference reminds us of how far we have come in the fight against AIDS.
Medical progress has been nothing short of exceptional.
Here, in the WHO European Region, more people than ever before are getting on, and staying on, lifesaving treatment.
More people are taking pre-exposure prophylaxis to protect against HIV infection.
We have a lot to be proud of.
Yet we still see a gaping abyss of inequalities throughout the WHO European Region.
Half of all people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are still not receiving antiretroviral therapy.
This, in a region that is witnessing one of the sharpest rises in new HIV infections in the world, is an increase of 49% since 2010.
We have to get better at reaching them.
Moving to tuberculosis – the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.
Here in Europe, we’re still not getting on top of the curve. Still not reaching people in time with diagnostics and treatments, even if they are largely available.
Still leaving people to die undignified deaths.
Hepatitis B is also emerging as a major killer, on par with TB.
The good news is that the WHO European Region is getting closer to controlling it through childhood vaccinations.
But we are nowhere near eliminating it.
Many simply cannot afford hepatitis diagnostics. And not all countries make tests, diagnostics and treatments available at scale.
Today’s session will also address the rise of sexually transmitted infections.
In Europe, the data are showing a worrying surge of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Amid this, an alarming emerging antibiotic resistance to gonorrhea.
(PAUSE)
Excellencies,
Our friends at UNAIDS gave us the excellent news this morning that, even in the face of current challenges, if leaders act NOW, we will be able to end AIDS by 2030.
We can keep that promise – and also stop the epidemics of viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis in the same timeframe.
Through accelerated injections of funding to reduce new HIV infections.
Through innovative, modern HIV programmes to replace the ineffective and outdated ones.
And, ultimately, through putting people first.
Creating safe spaces for people to access services. Overcoming stigma. Normalizing regular testing. And ensuring that compassionate and inclusive public health prevails over punitive approaches.
We also need urgent scale-up of hepatitis screening and diagnostics to reach the people who need them.
And a rapid expansion of testing and treatment for TB and STIs.
We have the medicines, the tools and the technology for all of these diseases.
Outside this room, at WHO/Europe’s photo exhibition, you can read the inspiring stories of diverse people living with HIV.
The words of Lisa, from Ukraine, who was born with the virus, have stuck with me.
“I believe that we can live in an inclusive world where everyone, no matter who we love, or how we define our gender, or what kind of diagnoses we have, is treated with respect, dignity and justice,” she said.
The presence here today of so many governments and policy-makers demonstrates we can respond to Lisa’s plea. We can get over the finish line.
The choice is ours.
Let me thank Germany, our host this week for its global leadership in the fight against AIDS. Deputy Minister Sabine Dittmar, Vielen Dank to the Ministry of Health for your partnership.
Thank you.