[Pak-Media] World AIDS Day - 1 December 2011: "Getting to Zero."

World AIDS Day - 2011: "Getting to Zero."

Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths.

Dear Media colleagues,

The Secretary-General and the UNAIDS Executive Director have each issued a message for the World Aids Day, 1 December. They share a strong, positive message: "Heading into the fourth decade of AIDS," the Secretary-General says, "we are finally in a position to end the epidemic." (messages attached)

Backed by the United Nations, the "Getting to Zero" campaign runs until 2015 and builds on last year's successful World AIDS Day "Light for Rights" initiative encompassing a range of vital issues identified by key affected populations.

The global HIV response is at a pivotal moment, where huge strides forward are at serious risk and current approaches are reaching their limits. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV and in need of life-long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the upward trend in resources suffered a serious downturn this year.

"Zero New HIV Infections" and "Zero Discrimination" are equally as likely to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the universally recognized shape of zeros and the power of light to get life and death issues the attention they deserve.

For December 1st 2011 right up until 2015 it's envisioned that different regions and groups will each year chose one or all of the Zeros that best addresses their situation.

The decision to go with the millennium development related goal of "Getting to Zero" comes after extensive discussions among people living with HIV, health activists, broader civil society and many others – more than a hundred organizations in all.

The vision for this year's World AIDS Day and beyond may be aspirational, but the journey towards its attainment is laid with concrete milestones.

10 goals for 2015

Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work;
Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal deaths reduced by half;
All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs;
Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment;
TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half;
All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support;
Countries with punitive laws and practices around HIV transmission, sex work, drug use or homosexuality that block effective responses reduced by half;
HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in half of the countries that have such restrictions;
HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half of all national HIV responses;
Zero tolerance for gender-based violence

For more information, background notes and statements please visit http://www.un.org/en/events/aidsday/2011/index.shtml. The video message of the UNAIDS Executive Director is also available at : EXD_WAD_ENGLISH_SD-25_11_11-MPEG2-Interlace.mpeg

In Pakistan:

In the face of considerable humanitarian, development and health challenges Pakistan has faced in 2011, there are some less visible challenges the country is addressing that affects the health and well-being of the population.

Pakistan continues to respond to the HIV epidemic and its consequences, including mortality, morbidity and the socioeconomic consequences for people Living with HIV.

Integrated into the global and regional reporting instruments, Pakistan is considered to be in concentrated epidemic phase. In that it has low prevalence in general population but disproportionately higher prevalence among people who use drugs, Transgender people and those involved in sex work [male & female]. Through injecting, sexual or mother to child transmission the epidemic increasingly affect other segments of the population as well and of more concern is women, young people and children.

The current estimated number of people living with HIV in Pakistan is 98,000, however, a small fraction of these in need of treatment are registered in treatment due to socio-cultural sensitivity, stigma and limited access of services to these groups.

The One-UN remains committed to support the AIDS response as it is a joint pogramme under Health and Population. 12 UN agencies working with UNAIDS are providing support to the national response according to their mandate and resources. In 2010 –11 UN resources accounts for the third largest source of support to the AIDS response in Pakistan

The UN in Pakistan is also committed to the global vision of the need to reach "Zero new HIV infections, Zero AIDS-related deaths and Zero discrimination".

It is to this effect that the World AIDS Day 2011 is dedicated to the objectives as defined in the Millennium development goals (MDGs) of halting and reversing the HIV epidemic by 2015.

With best regards,