Regional Response
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“Africa, in particular sub-Saharan Africa, is currently
the worst-affected region where HIV/AIDS is considered
as a state of emergency, which threatens development,
social cohesion, political stability, food security and
life expectancy and imposes a devastating economic
burden and that the dramatic situation on the continent
needs urgent and exceptional national, regional
and international action.”
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
UNGASS on HIV/AIDS, 2001
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The epidemic has spread to every corner
of the world. While it has taken its heaviest
toll in Africa, it is spreading with frightening
speed in other regions. Regional initiatives
link UNFPA with many valued partners,
multiplying expertise gained by the Fund
over three decades addressing culturally
and politically sensitive issues of sexual and
reproductive health.
Infection rates are still escalating in sub-
Saharan Africa—the region with the highest
infection rates—although there are signs that
HIV incidence may be stabilizing in a few
countries, including Uganda. All UNFPA-supported
programmes in the 45 countries
of sub-Saharan Africa have integrated
HIV/AIDS interventions.
- At least 3.4 million new infections occurred
in 2001, bringing the total number of
Africans now living with HIV/AIDS to
about 28.1 million. It is estimated that
2.3 million Africans died of AIDS in 2001.
- 10 per cent of people aged 15 to 49 are
infected in 16 African countries, including
several in southern Africa, where at least
20 per cent are infected. In parts of southern
Africa, HIV prevalence rates have increased
by 50 per cent over the two-year period
of 1999 and 2000. In West Africa, national
adult HIV prevalence exceeded 5 per cent
in at least five countries in 2001.
- Africa is home to 70 per cent of adults
and 80 per cent of children living with
HIV. It was also home to three quarters of
the nearly 22 million people who have died
of AIDS since the epidemic began two
decades ago.
- Were it not for HIV/AIDS, average life
expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa would be
approximately 62 years; instead, it is about
47 years.
- In 2000, the United Nations Security
Council held its first meeting devoted to
a disease—the impact of HIV/AIDS on
peace and security in Africa.
Concern for Africa was expressed at the African
Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Other Related Infectious Diseases in Abuja,
Nigeria, where the UN Secretary-General
told African leaders that the AIDS crisis in
Africa was a “continent-wide emergency”
and his “personal priority”. At the same
event, the UNFPA Executive Director said,
“African countries need the world’s help
and many additional resources to help fight
HIV/AIDS, but success will come as the
result of leadership and commitment within
Africa itself.”
In Asia and the Pacific, many countries are
faced with the threat of major and widespread
epidemics. Specific population groups are
already experiencing high rates in localized
epidemics, and the vast size of the population
in countries such as India and China means
that large numbers of people are infected
even when national figures show low HIV
prevalence. An estimated 7.1 million people
are now living with HIV/AIDS in Asia and
the Pacific, about 4 million in India alone.
Immediate action can make a difference.
Prompt, large-scale prevention programmes
are holding the epidemic at bay in Thailand
and in Cambodia, where strong political
leadership lowered HIV prevalence among
pregnant Cambodian women to 2.3 per cent
at the end of 2000—down nearly one third
from 1997.
Adults and children estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS as of end 2001:
Source: UNAIDS, AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2001
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