Title:How Does the Covıd-19 Pandemıc Affect the Target 90-90-90?
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Author(s): Hayat Kumbasar Karaosmanoglu*
Affiliation:
- Bakırkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital Infectıous Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul,Turkey
Keywords:
HIV AIDS, COVID-19, pandemic, the target 90-90-90, PLWHIV, ART.
Abstract: In 2014, The Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) has set an ambitious
target code-named 90-90-90, which aims to ensure that 90% of all people living with HIV
will know their state, 90% of all people diagnosed will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and
90% of all people receiving ART will have viral suppression by 2020. Since 2014, many tests and
treatment programs have been developed to achieve the above goals worldwide. In 2019, it was reported
that many developed countries can reach the target with the right strategies, as well as regions
that are still far from the targets.
It has been reported that the fourth 90 should be one of the targets related to HIV infection in recent
years. This view, beyond virological suppression, was towards developing programs that
would enable people living with HIV to live not only longer but also healthy.
The socio-cultural and economic obstacles to reach the targets may vary according to geographical
regions, but it is clear that COVID-19 disease, which has taken the whole world under the influence
since 2019, is a major obstacle to the 90-90-90 targets worldwide.
Difficulties in the diagnosis and access to ART and treatment nonadherence which may be encountered
more frequently due to many factors may threaten both the health of people living with HIV
and public health.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many programs developed in the fight against the HIV epidemic.
Considering COVID-19 disease and future epidemics that may create a chaotic environment, analyzing
the difficulties experienced in the pandemic retrospectively, and determining new strategies
that will bring appropriate solutions to the problems will play an important role in the proper management
of future issues.
