Iran Joins International Program to Eliminate AIDS Epidemic

Following the approval of the United Nations joint program aimed at eliminating the AIDS epidemic by 2030, Iran announced its participation in this international treaty. According to ISNA, the Iranian Students' News Agency, the head of the AIDS department at the Ministry of Health outlined the 90-90-90 goals for eliminating the epidemic. Abbas Sadaqat stated that based on these goals, it is expected that by 2020, 90% of HIV-infected individuals will be identified, 90% of those identified will receive necessary treatment, and 90% of those under treatment will be ensured stable and successful treatment, aiming for the elimination of the epidemic by 2030. The new decision by the United Nations is based on the fact that in recent years, through the efforts of scientists and researchers, the trend of AIDS has been decreasing globally; thus, a global decision has been made to prepare a new program from 2015 to 2030 called 'Elimination of the AIDS Epidemic'. This means that in no country should AIDS be a health concern, a social issue, or a cultural problem, and the infection should not be considered a prevalent disease in societies. Abbas Sadaqat also admitted that only one-third of people with AIDS in the country have been identified, describing the achievement of this international commitment as 'difficult' but 'achievable', noting that some countries have already reached these goals. According to this health official, AIDS in Iran has not only not declined but continues to rise. Abbas Sadaqat pointed out the youthfulness of the country and the decreasing age of HIV infection, stating that in recent years, the rate of HIV infection has increased, and the age of infection has gradually decreased. The lower the age of infection, the greater the risk to the country. He also noted that the number of infected women, particularly in the last two years, has increased. Any country with a higher number of infected women is at greater risk, as future generations may also become infected. The head of the AIDS department at the Ministry of Health also acknowledged that many young people are not correctly aware of the ways the disease is transmitted. He concluded by recommending that individuals with a history of risky behaviors get an HIV test as soon as possible to learn about their infection status so they can benefit from appropriate treatment and care services at behavioral disease counseling centers.