The 2024 World AIDS Day campaign is themed "Zero AIDS Deaths by 2030," aiming to highlight the clinical reality of advanced HIV disease, recognize the stories behind each case, and mobilize a collective response involving governments, health institutions, communities, and international bodies.
On December 5, a virtual event will be held to launch the Regional Alliance for the Elimination of HIV in the Americas. This initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration among governmental actors, international agencies, communities, and policymakers to accelerate innovation and policy implementation towards eliminating HIV as a public health issue.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), nearly one-third of people living with HIV receive a late diagnosis, when their immune system is already severely compromised. In 2024, an estimated 2.8 million people were living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite a significant decrease in AIDS-related deaths, around 38,000 people in the Americas still die from AIDS-related causes each year.
PAHO urges countries to strengthen screening systems, expedite diagnostic confirmation, ensure immediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and expand access to pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure (PEP) prophylaxis for at-risk populations. Among the emerging innovations, long-acting injectable cabotegravir is a key tool for diversifying and expanding prevention options.
