BY Webster Mavhu —
This year’s World Aids Day was unique in that 2020 is the milestone year for global targets. We also face the double effect of the dual pandemics of HIV and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Global 90-90-90 targets are that by December 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their status, 90% of those HIV-positive are getting treatment and 90% of those on treatment have reduced replication of the virus in their body (suppressed viral loads).
Separately, the “three zeros” targets are to achieve the following by 2030: zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related deaths and zero discrimination. Interim milestones for the “three zeros” targets are that by December 2020, we: reduce new HIV infections to fewer than 500 000, reduce Aids-related deaths to fewer than 500 000 and eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination.