Investing in HIV response will also increase educational outcomes, reduce gender inequality & boost economic growth
Photo: iStock Investment towards ending the HIV pandemic, which got side-tracked due to COVID-19, civil wars and climate crisis, can prevent millions of cases till 2030, especially in the worst-hit areas of Africa, a new study showed.
Mozambique and South Africa, which have a high HIV burden, can avert 810,000 and 1.35 million new HIV infections from 2022 to 2030 with higher HIV financing, according to the report by the United Nations Programme on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS) released April 12, 2023.
Not only would there be 40-90 per cent fewer new HIV infections, depending on the country, but investing in ending the HIV epidemic would also enhance educational outcomes, especially for young women and girls, reduce gender inequalities and boost economic growth, the authors of the report noted.
Of the countries studied, the most significant impacts are expected in South Africa, where the analysis estimated that GDP could be up to 2.8 per cent higher in 2030 if HIV funding targets are met. Botswana is expected to see a gain in GDP of 1.1 per cent in 2030.
Even countries with lower disease burdens see substantial gains. Kenya also could see its GDP rise by 1.1 per cent in 2030 if HIV funding targets are met.
Overall, the study findings demonstrated a sizable return on investment from the response to HIV.
The report presents findings from research conducted by the Economist Impact, supported by UNAIDS, to assess the health, demographic, social and economic impacts associated with different scenarios for financing the HIV epidemic across 13 selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The 13 selected countries included in this report are Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Increased investment in HIV can also reduce maternal infections and mortality and give rise to positive social outcomes by reducing orphanhood, the study showed.
But recent global crises, including the covid-19 pandemic, the growing climate crisis, civil wars and other conflicts, among others — have hampered this progress.
As a result, the number of new HIV infections dropped by a mere 3.6 per cent from 2020-2021, representing the smallest annual decline observed since 2016.
Recognising the urgent need to get back on track, the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV / AIDS set renewed targets to reach the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in line with United Nations-mandated sustainable development goals.
In order to ensure adequate financing for the response to HIV and the health sector more broadly, innovative approaches will be needed.
Economist Impact’s research points towards the need for policies that aim to both generate new revenue streams and maximise the use of existing funds and resources.
The findings presented in this report should act as a catalyst for policy decisions that ensure sufficient financing of the response to HIV, the report stated.
Read more:
70% of all maternal deaths in 2020 were in sub-Saharan Africa: UN report
12 African countries commit to ending AIDS in kids by 2030
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