The Pan American Health Organization is urging countries across the Americas to strengthen their HIV response, emphasizing that nearly one-third of people living with the virus are diagnosed too late, when their immune systems are already severely compromised. This call, issued ahead of World AIDS Day, highlights the life-saving importance of early diagnosis, rapid initiation of treatment, and access to comprehensive care.
In 2024, an estimated 2.8 million people were living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean. While the Caribbean has reduced new infections by 21% since 2010, Latin America has seen a 13% rise. AIDS-related deaths have fallen significantly, from 42,000 to 27,000 in Latin America and from 12,000 to 4,800 in the Caribbean, yet the region still loses 38,000 lives each year to HIV-related causes.
Many infections continue to be detected late, with around 14% of people in Latin America and 15% in the Caribbean unaware of their HIV status. More than one-third of diagnoses occur at an advanced stage, increasing vulnerability to severe opportunistic infections. Expanding screening, ensuring immediate treatment, and improving access to prevention options such as PrEP and PEP are essential for reducing new infections and preventing deaths.
New long-acting injectable prevention methods, including lenacapavir administered every six months, show promise in broadening prevention choices. Advances in antiretroviral therapy also enable people living with HIV to achieve undetectable viral loads, eliminating the risk of sexual transmission and significantly improving quality of life.
PAHO, with support from Unitaid, is advancing a regional initiative to reduce deaths from advanced HIV disease. This work includes improving diagnostic capacity for infections such as tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis and expanding access to essential treatments.
Under the theme “Zero AIDS Deaths by 2030,” this year’s World AIDS Day campaign focuses on raising awareness of advanced HIV disease and encouraging a united effort from governments, health systems, and communities. A virtual event on 5 December will mark the launch of the Regional Alliance for Ending AIDS in the Americas, a coordinated initiative aimed at driving innovation and strengthening collaboration toward regional HIV elimination.
HIV/AIDS remains one of more than 30 communicable diseases targeted for elimination in the Americas by 2030 under PAHO’s Elimination Initiative.
