The Current State of the Epidemic:
Why We Need to Step Up Our Efforts
10. Acting now will save lives
By acting now and renewing our efforts, we can save and prolong lives.
Other countries that were more aggressive in their response to HIV, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, have had a much smaller epidemic than Canada (1.5 infections per 100,000 people).35 If we work together to step up prevention, diagnosis, care, treatment and support programs and achieve the targets set out in this document, we can prevent thousands of new infections and save many lives.
with the advent of HAART, people are now living longer with HIV. If we continue to invest in developing new treatments, we have the potential to add more years and more quality to the life of each person who is infected.
By acting now, our society will reap the enormous economic, social and personal benefits of their productivity and creativity.
The Current State of the Epidemic: Why We Need to Step Up Our Efforts
- The epidemic is increasing
- People living with HIV have increasingly complex needs
- Too many people with HIV are not receiving, or are resistant to, treatment; and too many are dying
- Stigma and discrimination continue to threaten people with HIV and communities at risk
- Poverty, homelessness and other social determinants are fuelling the epidemic
- Misconceptions are leading to more risk taking and less support for services
- The global epidemic is devastating poorer countries and threatening richer ones
- Increased and sustainable funding sources are needed to keep pace with the epidemic
- Acting now will save the health system millions of dollars
- Acting now will save lives