Like during HIV/AIDS epidemics emergence in the early 80’s, with COVID-19 pandemic we are facing a humanitarian crisis, including a health, social as well as civil security crisis.
During the fight against this pandemic, we cannot lower our arms in preventing all viruses dissemination, including HIV. We must fight against the huge increase in social inequalities, both within and between countries.
Our commitment to people must be always reflected in our decisions.
Prof Alfred Spira, French National Academy of Medicine
Member of ALLEA/FEAM Scientific Committee on Health Inequalities
On 1 December, FEAM joins the World Health Organisation (WHO) in paying tribute to all those working to provide HIV services.
All over the world, health workers and community representatives are doing their utmost to keep services going, adopting innovative ways to overcome disruptions in services caused by COVID-19.
Professor Alfred Spira, from the French National Academy of Medicine, alerted that like during the HIV/AIDS epidemics emergence in the early 80’s, with COVID-19 pandemic the world is facing a humanitarian crisis, including a health, social as well as civil security crisis.
Since 2000, new HIV infections fell by 35%, and AIDS-related deaths fell by 28%. Eight million lives have been saved since the turn of the century. The disease remains a threat to millions of young people, women in particular, living in the world’s poorest countries.
“During the fight against this pandemic, we cannot lower our arms in preventing all viruses dissemination, including HIV”, Professor Spira said.
For the member of ALLEA/FEAM Scientific Committee on Health Inequalities, we go through a moment where “we must fight against the huge increase in social inequalities, both within and between countries”.
“Our commitment to people must be always reflected in our decisions”, he concluded.
According to UNAIDS, there were about 38 million people living with HIV at the end of 2018.
