The campaign, which puts human rights at the center of the response to the virus, seeks to reduce stigma and promote HIV prevention in populations at greatest risk of acquiring it.
PAHO data show that the number of AIDS-related deaths decreased by 28 percent between 2010 and 2023 in Latin America, while the reduction was 57 percentage points in the Caribbean.
However, new HIV contagions showed different trends in this period: in Latin America, new cases increased by 9 percent, reaching approximately 120,000 infections in 2023, while in the Caribbean, they decreased by 22 percent, totaling 15,000 cases.
The “Better with PrEP” campaign aims to raise awareness about this highly effective drug to prevent HIV when taken consistently.
Although this preventive intervention is proving to be crucial for HIV control in the region, its adoption remains limited.
By the end of this year, 24 of 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have adopted PrEP as a public health policy, and although more than 160,000 people already benefit from its use, efforts continue to approach the goal of 2.3 million in the region.
“Today we call on all countries in the region to transform the reality of HIV with inclusive and expanded PrEP policies. “The elimination of HIV is possible, but only if we act with courage and commitment,” Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO, said.
HIV/AIDS is one of more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions that PAHO seeks to eliminate by 2030.
jg/lam/lpn
