Luxembourg on the road to ending the HIV epidemic
Planet Volumes
On 1 December, AIDS Day, the World Health Organization reminded us that access to HIV diagnosis, prevention and treatment is everyone's right. HIV affects millions of people every year, but effective prevention and treatment approaches offer hope of eradicating the epidemic altogether.
As of 2023, 39 million people are living with HIV. Despite a decline in new cases, there were 1.3 million new infections last year. Effective protection methods - using condoms and safe injecting equipment - remain key prevention measures.
The international initiative UNAIDS has set a goal of achieving the so-called "95-95-95" strategy by 2030:
- Diagnosis of 95% of those infected.
- Treatment for 95% of them.
- Achievement of undetectable viral load in 95% of patients on therapy.
Luxembourg is making impressive progress towards the target set:
- 85% of people with HIV are aware of their status.
- 89% of them receive therapy.
- In 95% of patients on treatment, the virus is undetectable.
However, 53 new HIV cases were reported in Luxembourg in 2023, most of them in young men (20-35 years old) having same-sex contact.
Until the end of 2024, Luxembourg is implementing a large-scale campaign that includes a set of measures such as: regular HIV testing, promotion of innovative prevention methods, distribution of condoms as the most reliable method of barrier contraception.
Specialists also draw people's attention to the principle of "I=I" (Indetectable = Intransmissible). It confirms: a patient with an undetectable viral load does not transmit the virus, which makes antiretroviral therapy not only a treatment option but also a powerful preventive tool.
On the road to ending the AIDS epidemic, Luxembourg exemplifies a comprehensive approach and the achievement of international standards. But the fight continues, and the key to success lies in awareness, accessibility and effective prevention.
