NAIROBI, Kenya – The global fight against HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is at a critical juncture, according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report.
These diseases continue to pose significant public health challenges, leading to 2.5 million deaths annually.
The report, “Implementing the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2022–2030,” reveals troubling trends and underscores the urgent need for intensified efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
In 2022, WHO Member States set a bold target to reduce adult syphilis infections tenfold by 2030.
However, new data shows an alarming increase in syphilis cases among adults aged 15-49 years, rising by over 1 million to reach 8 million.
The Americas and the African continent experienced the highest surges, signaling a major setback in global health efforts.
“The rising incidence of syphilis raises major concerns. Fortunately, there has been important progress on a number of other fronts, including in accelerating access to critical health commodities such as diagnostics and treatment. We have the tools required to end these epidemics as public health threats by 2030, but countries must now do all they can to achieve the ambitious targets they set themselves,” stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
STIs remain a significant public health issue, with over 1 million new infections occurring daily.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation, with a notable surge in both adult and maternal syphilis and congenital syphilis.
In 2022, there were 230,000 syphilis-related deaths and 1.1 million maternal syphilis cases.
Multi-resistant gonorrhea is also on the rise. In 2023, surveillance in 87 countries revealed elevated resistance to ceftriaxone, the last line of treatment for gonorrhea, in 9 countries.
WHO is closely monitoring this development and has updated its treatment recommendations to combat the spread of multi-resistant strains.
Despite available prevention, diagnosis, and treatment tools, viral hepatitis continues to be a significant challenge.
New hepatitis B and C cases reached 1.2 million and nearly 1 million, respectively, in 2022.
The estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022.
Similarly, progress in reducing new HIV infections remains slow.
New HIV infections decreased marginally from 1.5 million in 2020 to 1.3 million in 2022.
HIV-related deaths remain high, with 630,000 deaths in 2022, including 13% in children under 15 years.
Despite these challenges, significant gains have been made in expanding services.
WHO has validated 19 countries for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and/or syphilis.
Botswana and Namibia are on track to eliminate HIV, with Namibia being the first to seek validation for the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis.
Globally, HIV treatment coverage reached 76%, with 93% of those receiving treatment achieving suppressed viral loads.
Efforts to increase HPV vaccination and screening for women with HIV are ongoing, along with improvements in hepatitis B and C diagnosis and treatment coverage.
