HIV & AIDS

HIV remains one of the most serious global health threats of our time. One person died of AIDS-related causes every minute in 2023. And, 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV while 630,000 died of AIDS-related causes. 

We believe we can end the AIDS epidemic. Between 2010 and 2023, there had been a 39% decline in new HIV infections globally. More people are getting treatment than ever before. By keeping the focus on the needs and rights of key populations, we can prevent new HIV infections and ensure those living with AIDS are not left behind. This is what Pathfinder does.

• Globally, 40 million people are living with HIV, and AIDS-related deaths have fallen by more than half since 2010.
• In 2023, for the first time, the number of new HIV infections outside sub-Saharan Africa surpassed the number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high concentration (~80%) among key populations (men who have sex with men, transgender people, people in prisons, sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users).
• In -sub-Saharan Africa treatment successes have led to a rebound in life expectancy from 56.3 years in 2010 to 61.1 years in 2023.
• Despite progress, more than half of all people living with HIV are in eastern and southern Africa.
• Women and girls comprise 63% of HIV cases, with adolescent girls and young women three times more likely to be infected than men and boys of the same age. 
• Headwinds and shocks including insufficient political will, frail health systems, weak support for community-based organizations, punitive laws, user fees, conflict, insecurity, and humanitarian crises continue to threaten and reverse progress. 
• Resources available for HIV prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries have declined—there is currently a more than US $8 billion deficit. 

What We Do

• Care for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child. 
• Deliver comprehensive care to people living with HIV and their families at times and locations that are convenient to them. 
• Support key populations—including men who have sex with men, prisoners, female sex workers, and transgender women—to make sure they can exercise their rights and receive quality services free from stigma, discrimination, or judgment. 
• Promote efficient testing—in communities, facilities, and hotspots—so people know their status and can initiate treatment as early as possible, a key aspect of UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 goals. 
• Decentralize HIV services to communities and low-tier health settings so more people in more places—especially adolescents, men, and those lost-to-follow-up—have access to the services they need. 
• Integrate HIV services with other sexual and reproductive health interventions, recognizing the opportunity to meet people’s needs in a single visit. 
• Challenge restrictive policies and inspire governments to uphold the rights of people living with HIV, especially key populations, adolescents, and women.