WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF Progress Report 2010 - Towards universal access: Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector

Since 2006, when United Nations Member States committed to scaling up services and interventions towards the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010, the WHO, UNICEF and UNAIDS Secretariat has sought to monitor key components of the health sector response to the HIV epidemic worldwide. This report, the fourth annual progress report published since 2006, assesses the situation at the end of 2009, one year before the universal access target. It compiles information from 183 of the 192 United Nations Member States, comprising 144 low- and middle-income countries and 39 high-income countries, on the status of the global health sector response to HIV, progress made and remaining challenges to achieving universal access.

The year 2009 saw continuing progress in expanding access to HIV testing, prevention, treatment and care in low- and middle-income countries. Some countries have already attained universal access (defined as coverage of at least 80% of the population in need) to antiretroviral therapy and/or interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission. For a good number of countries, universal access is within clear reach by the end of 2010. Despite these encouraging findings, global targets for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support are unlikely to be achieved in 2010. This has important implications for a range of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) beyond those specifically related to HIV (MDG 6), such as MDGs 4 and 5, with targets related to child and maternal health.

After years of considerable increases in international assistance, funding remained essentially flat over the current period. In the context of a global financial crisis, this report underscores the urgency of continuing to mobilise support by countries, donors and global agencies in order to respond to the HIV epidemic and contribute to achieving the MDGs.

Click here to read the report.