28/11/2025
REV-UP SLU DAILY NEWS 🗞🚨
World AIDS Day: Health Officials Warn of Critical Crossroads as Global Progress Stalls
As the world marks the thirty-seventh observance of World AIDS Day on December 1, health leaders are cautioning that the global fight against HIV and AIDS has reached a crucial turning point. Despite major advances over several decades, new data show that gaps in testing, treatment, and prevention remain wide.
This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” challenges countries to recommit to ending AIDS as a public health threat.
In 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV worldwide. That same year saw 1.3 million new infections and 630,000 AIDS related deaths.
Senior Medical Officer in the Infectious Diseases Unit, Dr Gail Gajadhar, said that global progress, although under strain, continues to offer signs of hope.
“Hope remains strong as 31.6 million people worldwide access life saving antiretroviral therapy,” she stated.
Dr Gajadhar reported that St Lucia has been working steadily to strengthen its national response. “In 2024, 35 new HIV infections were recorded, and to date in 2025, 17 new cases have been documented, figures that will continue to evolve as surveillance improves,” she explained.
She added that the country currently has 1,022 documented persons living with HIV.
“We have 290 individuals, 125 females and 165 males, actively collecting antiretroviral therapy,” she said. “In 2024, 40 people commenced treatment, reinforcing our commitment to early intervention and continuity of care. Despite disruptions, St Lucia has made significant strides.”
According to Dr Gajadhar, the national programme has been expanding on several fronts to meet emerging challenges.
“We continue to scale up training for rapid HIV and syphilis testers, enhance capacity in sexually transmitted infection management, expand access to preventive tools, including pre exposure prophylaxis, PrEP, a once daily pill that can reduce the risk of getting HIV, and train master trainers to support our national testing efforts,” she said.
She also noted that ensuring stable access to medication remains a central priority. “Maintaining reliable antiretroviral therapy stocks also remains a priority,” she affirmed.
As World AIDS Day is commemorated, public health officials say the message is clear: renewed vigilance, sustained investment, and widespread education are essential if the vision of ending AIDS is to be achieved.
revupslu.com