Accra, June 3, GNA - About 6.6 million people received antiretroviral therapy in low and middle income countries at the end of 2010. This is nearly 22-fold increase since 2001, according to a new report "AIDS at 30: Nations at the Crossroads", released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) simultaneously in New York and Genev= a on Friday.

A record 1.4 million people started lifesaving treatment in 2010=97mor= e than any year before. According to the report, at least 420,000 children were receiving antiretroviral therapy at the end of 2010, a more than 50 per cent increase since 2008, when 275,000 children were on treatment.

"Access to treatment will transform the AIDS response in the next decade. We must invest in accelerating access and finding new treatment options," said Michel Sidib=E9, UNAIDS Executive Director.

"Antiretroviral therapy is a bigger game-changer than ever before=97= it not only stops people from dying, but also prevents transmission of HIV to women, men and children." His statement follows the recent HPTN052 trial results which found tha= t if a person living with HIV adheres to an effective antiretroviral regimen, the risk of transmitting the virus to his or her uninfected sexual partner can be reduced by 96 per cent. "Countries must use the best of what science can offer to stop new H= IV infections and AIDS-related deaths," said UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro.

"We are at a turning point in the AIDS response. The goal towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support must become a reality by 2015."

According to the report, the global rate of new HIV infections decline= d by nearly 25 per cent between 2001 and 2009. In India, the rate of new HIV infections fell by more than 50 per cent and in South Africa by more than 35 per cent; both countries have the largest number of people living with HIV on their continents. The report found that in the third decade of the epidemic, people were starting to adopt safer sexual behaviours, reflecting the impact of HIV prevention and awareness efforts.

However, there are still important gaps. Young men are more likely to be informed about HIV prevention than young women. Recent Demographic Health Surveys found that an estimated 74 per cent of young men know that condoms are effective in preventing HIV infection, compared to just 49 per cent of young women. In recent years, there has been significant progress in preventing new HIV infections among children as increasing numbers of pregnant women livin= g with HIV have gained access to antiretroviral prophylaxis during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The number of children newly infected with HIV in 2009 was 26 per cent lower than in 2001.

About 115 low- and middle-income countries are providing optimal treatment regimens for pregnant women living with HIV as recommended by the World Health Organisation. There are 31 countries that still use sub-optimal regimens in many of their HIV prevention programmes. UNAIDS urges all countries using sub-optimal regimens to revise their treatment guidelines and make the transition to optimal WHO recommended regimens.

According to the latest estimates from UNAIDS, 34 million [30.9 million=9636.9 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2010 and nearly 30 million [25 million=9633 million] have died from AIDS-related cau= ses since AIDS was first reported 30 years ago.

Despite expanded access to antiretroviral therapy, a major treatment gap remains. At the end of 2010, nine million people who were eligible for treatment did not have access. Treatment access for children is lower than for adults=97only 28 per cent of eligible children were receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2009, compared to 36 per cent coverage for people of all ages.

While the rate of new HIV infections has declined globally, the total number of HIV infections remains high, at about 7,000 per day. The global reduction in the rate of new HIV infections hides regional variations. According to the report, above-average declines in new HIV infections were recorded in sub-Saharan Africa and in South-East Asia, while Latin America and the Caribbean experienced more modest reductions of less than 2= 5 per cent.

There has been an increase in the rate of new HIV infections in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East and North Africa. In virtually all countries, HIV prevalence among populations at increased risk of HIV infection=97men who have sex with men, people who inj= ect drugs, sex workers and their clients, and transgender people=97is higher th= an among other populations. Access to HIV prevention and treatment for populations at higher risk of infection is generally lower due to punitive and discriminatory laws, an= d stigma and discrimination.

As of April 2011, 79 countries, territories and areas criminalize consensual same-sex relations; 116 countries, territories and areas criminalise some aspect of sex work; and 32 countries have laws that allow for the death penalty for drug-related offences.

According to the report, gender inequalities remain a major barrier to effective HIV responses.

HIV is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age, and more than a quarter (26 per cent) of all new global HIV infections are amon= g young women aged 15-24.

The report said investments in the HIV response in low- and middle-income countries rose nearly 10-fold between 2001 and 2009, from $1.= 6 billion to $15.9 billion.

However, in 2010, international resources for HIV declined. Many low-income countries remain heavily dependant on external financing. In 56 countries, international donors account for at least 70 per cent of HIV resources. "I am worried that international investments are falling at a time w= hen the AIDS response is delivering results for people," said Mr Sidib=E9. "If we do not invest now, we will have to pay several times more in the future." A 2011 investment framework proposed by UNAIDS and partners found that an investment of at least $22 billion is needed by 2015, six billion dollar= s more than is available today. When these investments are directed towards a set of priority programmes that are based on a country's epidemic type, t= he impact is greatest.

It is estimated that the return on such an investment would be 12 million new HIV infections averted and 7.4 million AIDS-related deaths averted by the year 2020. The number of new infections would decline from about 2.5 million in 2009 to about one million in 2015.

The report features commentaries from 15 leaders in the global AIDS response, including South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, Former US Presid= ent Bill Clinton, the President of Mali, Amadou Toumani Tour=E9, and Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. The commentaries cover a range of areas, such as AIDS funding, South-South cooperation, youth leadership, the empowerment of women, key affected populations, injecting drug use, human rights, stigma and discrimination and systems integration.

The report said some of the most important HIV prevention successes hav= e been led by young people. Data indicate that young people in many heavily affected countries are increasingly adopting safer sexual behaviours. As the world marks 30 years of AIDS, UNAIDS estimates 34 million [30.9 million=9636.9 million] people are living with HIV and nearly 30 million [2= 5 million=9633 million] people have died of AIDS-related causes since the fir= st case of AIDS was reported on 5 June 1981 UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, is an innovative United Nations partnership that leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention treatment care and support.