A Global Health Crisis: Rising Infection Rates and the Fight for Sustainable Solutions

The WHO's latest report on global health strategies reveals critical gaps in the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections. Despite some progress in expanding access to treatment, new infections and deaths remain high, and many indicators are off-track to meet global targets. The report calls for urgent, intensified efforts and strong political commitment to achieve the 2025 and 2030 goals.

In a groundbreaking report, the World Health Organization (WHO) laid bare the critical gaps and pressing challenges in the global fight against HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The report, "Implementing the global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections, 2022–2030: Report on progress and gaps 2024, second edition," presents a sobering assessment of current efforts and highlights areas where urgent action is needed.

A Grim Reality: Stagnant Declines in Infections and Deaths

According to the report, the world is not making sufficient progress in reducing new infections and deaths associated with these diseases. Despite significant efforts, new infections and deaths remain alarmingly high, with 2.5 million lives lost each year due to HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs. In a particularly concerning development, deaths from hepatitis-related causes have increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022.

The report also highlights that over 1 million new infections occur daily, with the majority being sexually transmitted infections. In many WHO regions, case notifications for STIs are increasing rather than decreasing, and the decline in new HIV and viral hepatitis infections is not happening quickly enough to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goals.

Expanding Access to Services: Progress Amidst Challenges

Despite the grim statistics, there have been notable successes in expanding access to essential health services. The report reveals that approximately 77% of people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2023. Moreover, 93% of those on ART had suppressed viral loads, a critical indicator of successful treatment.

In the battle against hepatitis C, the mortality rate has declined from 290,000 in 2019 to 240,000 in 2022, thanks to expanded access to treatment. Egypt has emerged as a global leader, achieving gold-tier status for hepatitis C elimination, demonstrating that even low- and middle-income countries can achieve remarkable progress.

Additionally, nineteen countries and areas have been validated for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and/or syphilis. The introduction of dual HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic tests for pregnant women in antenatal care and key populations is a promising development, signaling a move towards more integrated and efficient healthcare services.

Off-Track Indicators: The Urgent Need for Accelerated Efforts

Despite these advancements, many indicators remain off-track to achieve the 2025 and 2030 global targets. The slow decline in HIV incidence and related deaths is particularly troubling. In 2023, there were 630,000 HIV-related deaths, with many resulting from late engagement in care and structural barriers to accessing services.

The report underscores the need for improved diagnosis and better linkages between diagnosis and care. As of the end of 2022, only 13% of people with chronic hepatitis B had been diagnosed, and a mere 3% had received antiviral therapy. Similarly, only 36% of people with hepatitis C had been diagnosed between 2015 and 2022, with just 20% receiving curative treatment.

Countries also reported increases in adult and congenital syphilis cases following the COVID-19 pandemic. New estimates indicate that the number of new syphilis cases in adults and congenital syphilis rates per 100,000 live births increased between 2016 and 2022. Furthermore, vaccination coverage against human papillomavirus (HPV) remains far below the 2025 target, with only 17% of girls fully vaccinated by age 15 in 2022.

Moving Forward: Sustainability and Political Will

The report calls for countries to prioritize sustainability planning across all three disease areas. Achieving the ambitious targets set for 2025 and 2030 will require strong political commitment, programmatic integration, and financing. Countries must also address ongoing stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings, which continue to hinder access to services for vulnerable populations.

WHO stands ready to support countries and communities in taking the necessary actions for long-term and sustained success. The organization emphasizes the importance of person-centered approaches and the integration of services within primary healthcare frameworks to ensure comprehensive and effective responses to these public health challenges.

The report is a clarion call for intensified efforts and renewed focus. The tools to end these epidemics as public health threats by 2030 are available; now, countries must muster the political will and resources to implement them effectively.