UNAIDS is launching the development of the new Global AIDS Strategy 2030 to end AIDS as a public health threat. The strategy involves governments, civil society, and people affected by HIV in a participatory process. It builds on past successes and addresses inequalities, financial issues, and emerging health threats.

Collaborative Strategy for 2030

HIV-related deaths have decreased by over half in 20 years, with millions accessing life-saving treatment. Despite this, challenges like inequalities, financial constraints, and new health threats persist. An open, participatory process will shape the new strategy, involving governments, civil society, affected communities, donors, and the private sector. A Global Task Team will set ambitious, measurable 2030 targets, focusing on accelerating prevention, removing societal barriers, and sustaining treatment progress. The strategy demands a comprehensive approach, engaging health, finance, justice, education, and social welfare sectors for high-quality, stigma-free services.

Previous Strategies

The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 aimed to reduce inequalities and prioritise individuals not yet accessing life-saving HIV services, aiming to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. This strategy emphasised addressing inequalities to close gaps in the HIV response. The mid-term review of the current Global AIDS Strategy emphasised the necessity to accelerate HIV prevention, address societal barriers, and maintain treatment progress. Insights from this review will guide the development of the new strategy.  The HIV response has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and lessons learned from this intersection are informing the new strategy to enhance its effectiveness.

Implications

The new Global AIDS Strategy 2030 emphasises sustainable systems and integrated HIV services within broader healthcare frameworks. This will require sustained funding and resource allocation to ensure the viability of HIV services and their integration into national health systems. Addressing inequalities and structural barriers will also reduce long-term costs associated with untreated HIV.  Focusing on HIV prevention and treatment will lead to better health outcomes, including fewer new infections and a decrease in AIDS-related deaths. This aligns with the goal of a 90% reduction in these figures by 2030, compared to a 2010 baseline. Ensuring equal access to innovative treatments will further improve outcomes.  The strategy’s development informs a participatory process that captures the needs of diverse communities. This enhances acceptance and effectiveness and can serve as a model for other global health initiatives. Addressing inequalities and decriminalisation requires policy changes and advocacy efforts to dismantle barriers that hinder access to crucial HIV services.