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Weekly Blog - 1 December 2024 - World AIDS Day

Looking at the progress that has been made in tackling HIV and AIDS in developing countries, and considering what needs to happen next.

 

World AIDS Day

Sunday 1 December is World AIDS Day, the day of the year when the world marks the progress that has been made in tackling HIV and AIDS, and focuses attention and political energy on what more still needs to be done.  Globally more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS related illnesses over the past 40 years.  It is one of the worst pandemics in history.  Today some 38 million people are living with HIV.  At the same time, enormous progress has been made since the 1980s, 90s and 2000s when HIV and AIDS was devastating developing countries, especially in Africa.  There has been a 60% decline in the rate of new HIV infections since its peak in 1995, and a 69% decline in AIDS related deaths since the peak in 2004.  HIV treatment has improved enormously, as has access to that treatment.  With modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) people living with HIV have long and healthy lives.  Some 77% of all those globally who have HIV are accessing treatment.  However, there is of course much more still to do.  Research into better medical treatment continues, and rolling out access to that treatment, and combatting stigma remains key.  It is of course in the world’s poorest countries and communities where this is weakest.

 

Heal the sick

As Christians, we know it is not God’s desire for anyone to suffer sickness and ill health.  Over and over again we are told how Jesus "went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness(Matt 9: 35).  He repeatedly instructed us his followers to also “heal the sick” (Luke 10: 9).  Today God continues to heal the sick all around the world, both through miraculous prayer, and through professional healthcare interventions like ARTs.  One of the things a major piece of research from Arise, the 4 Shifts Report, looks at in detail is what the Bible teaches us and the lessons from history indicate works best for improving people’s health around the world.  It finds repeatedly that where health has dramatically improved it is where governments have ensured that health services are in place, usually funded through taxation, so that all their populations have access to good physical and mental healthcare (4 Shifts Report, pg 11 – 20, 35 – 39, 61 – 64).  This is essential for combatting HIV and AIDS too.  Testing, treatments and access can only be rolled out where there are effective health systems to implement them.  Today, some 68% of people in the world now have universal health coverage, up from 45% in 2000.  However, this progress is slowing, and it still leaves a third of the population of the world without access to good healthcare. 

 

Taxation and social spending

As part of our 4 Shifts Campaign for a fair and green economy, Arise is calling for a global shift from economies that only work for the richest to societies which tax and provide social spending to also help the poorest, so they can meet urgent needs like healthcare and vaccination.  Evidence from dozens of nations around the world indicates that to do this, countries need to collect tax at an amount equivalent to at least 45% of the national economy, one third from income taxes, one third from wealth taxes and one third from other taxes.  They then need to spend at least two thirds of this on healthcare, education and social protection (pensions, benefits etc.).  This needs to be agreed at an international level as a global tax and social spending agreement to be implemented in every nation (4 Shifts, pg 95 – 96).  With such a global agreement in place, and implemented in every nation – the world could finally close the gap and reach universal access to treatment for all people living with HIV.

 

Find out more

Arise Manifesto – Find out more about the crucial role of health care systems in the Arise Manifesto, Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world. 

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