World grapples with growing HIV epidemic: Over 1,000 new cases every month
World is witnessing a significant increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, with the Ministry of National Health Services reporting an average of 1,079 new cases per month.
In the first nine months of 2024 alone, 9,713 people tested positive for the virus, which suggests a potential of over 12,950 cases by the end of the year if current trends continue. According to The News, this figure marks a worrying increase compared to the 12,731 cases recorded during 2023.
Demographic and regional trends
Most new cases are among men at 69.4 percent, followed by women at 20.5 percent, transgender people at 4.1 percent and children at 6 percent. Among the provinces, Punjab reported the highest number of infections with 5,691 cases from January to September 2024, an average of 632 new cases per month. Sindh reported 2,383 cases (265 per month), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reported 926 cases (103 per month), Balochistan reported 329 cases, Islamabad reported 378 cases, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) reported 10 cases.
Despite a slight decline in total cases from 2023 to 2024, the continuous increase in the monthly average underscores the worsening trajectory of the epidemic.
Causes and Contributing Factors
Experts attribute the spread of HIV to several factors, including:
- Poor infection prevention and control (IPC) in health-care facilities
- Unprotected sexual practices
- Low public awareness
- Stigma and discrimination
Furthermore, there has been a significant spread of infection from high-risk groups to the general population, which exacerbates the severity of the epidemic.
Urgent call for action
UNAIDS Country Director for World, Trouble Chikuku, highlighted the need for innovative and sustainable interventions to address the epidemic. She stressed the importance of religious scholars and institutions in raising awareness and reducing stigma, stressing that collaboration with UN agencies and partners is crucial.
The Common Management Unit (CMU) for HIV, TB and Malaria has also taken steps to address the crisis. It reported the establishment of 94 antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres across the country to provide testing and treatment. Additionally, awareness campaigns have been launched using mass media and social media platforms, including multilingual radio messages, to de-stigmatize HIV testing and treatment. Advocacy efforts involving government officials and stakeholders have been intensified on occasions such as World AIDS Day.
Challenges and regional insights
Despite these initiatives, CMU acknowledges shortcomings in its harm reduction programs, particularly for people who inject drugs (IDUs), where the distribution of clean needles and syringes remains inadequate to meet the growing demand.
Punjab, the worst-affected province, has been urged to step up prevention and awareness campaigns, especially in urban areas where high-risk behaviors are prevalent. In Sindh, while progress has been noted, particularly in Karachi and Hyderabad, the numbers are worrying. New cases in Islamabad fell significantly from 611 in 2023 to 378 in 2024, thanks to targeted campaigns and improved ART coverage. However, experts warn that this success must be replicated across the country to effectively curb the epidemic.
The way forward
UNAIDS and CMU officials stress the need to increase community engagement to tackle stigma and misinformation around HIV. “Community engagement is crucial to raise awareness and encourage testing and treatment,” said Chikuku.
With more than 1,000 new cases reported monthly, World is approaching the peak of its HIV epidemic. Public health experts call for increased resources for prevention and treatment and the removal of barriers to care, urging urgent and decisive action to reverse current trends.
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