Global Heath Organizations
The United Nations program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is an intergovernmental organization whose mission is to coordinate global response to HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS has come up with health initiatives such as world AIDS campaign, declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS and the diagnostic access. This study puts more emphasis on the world AIDS campaign initiative. This initiative has greatly impacted global health by preventing new HIV/AIDS infections, ensuring that the people living with AIDS (PLWAS) know their status and are on antiretroviral treatment and containing viral loads of HIV.
By doing so, the initiative has proved effective in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS as well as offering care and support to the (PLWAS) (Kang’ethe, 2014). Research shows that since year 2000, new HIV infections have fallen by 35% and 58% in adults and children respectively. Additionally, the number of adults under antiretroviral treatment has risen from 23% in 2010 to 41% in 2014. Consequently, the number of deaths from HIV related complications have fallen by 42% since 2004 (UNAIDS). This notwithstanding, to reduce the significantly high number of new infections, UNAIDS should engage drug users, homosexuals and sex workers who are at a greater risk of infection.
For it to attain its mission, UNAIDS has successfully partnered with the World Health Organization, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in the initiative to improve HIV diagnostics (UNAIDS and WHO, 2012).
In conclusion, the world AIDS campaign under UNAIDS has played a major role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Consequently, new infections and HIV related deaths have reduced. Nevertheless, UNAIDS should engage the most vulnerable groups in order to fully achieve its mission.
References
UNAIDS. Retrieved on April 13, 2016, from http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/HowAIDSchangedeverything/factsheet
Unaids, W. H. O. (2002). Report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Geneva: UNAIDS and World Health Organization.
Kang’ethe, S. (2014). Attitudes of Plwha and Other Selected Communities in Tsabong Towards Operationalising Biomedical and Traditional Therapies in Tandem to Face the Aids Epidemic. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 48(1).