Are we marching in the right direction?

Where’s the last mile?

By Dr. S.N. Mothi, Chairman & Founder Trustee, Asha Kirana Charitable Trust Hospital & Research Centre, Mysuru

World Aids Day 2025 Theme: ‘Moving Beyond’

Every year on 1st December, the world pauses to observe World AIDS Day — a moment to reflect on progress, confront the challenges ahead and renew our collective commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. But World AIDS Day 2025 arrives at a turning point unlike any before.

The Global Situation in 2024-25

Recent UNAIDS estimates highlight the challenges that persist:

• 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally in 2024
• 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2024
• 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes in 2024

These numbers are a reminder that the HIV epidemic is far from over. Yet today, we also have more powerful tools than ever before: effective Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and the global “Treat All” strategy, which ensures immediate access to treatment after diagnosis.

Thanks to these advances, people living with HIV can now lead long, healthy and productive lives — and ensure that future generations are born HIV-free.

Time to ‘Move Beyond’ Dependence

For decades, the global HIV response relied heavily on international donors and policy frameworks. But World AIDS Day 2025 calls for a shift — a move beyond dependency, beyond stigma, beyond fear.

We must acknowledge the extraordinary journey made in the fight against HIV:

• A time when clinicians watched helplessly as patients succumbed to AIDS has transformed into an era where treatment enables people to live long and independently.
• People living with HIV no longer need to “crib” or despair — Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is now achievable.
• Community leadership has grown stronger, more innovative and more central to reaching those at greatest risk.

End AIDS

To end AIDS as a public health problem, we have robust medicines… we are thorough with our knowledge on strategies that make a tangible impact.

We need to step up our efforts with greater commitment and resolve to zero down on our agenda to end AIDS by 2030.

Stigma, discrimination, ostracization and criminalisation of commercial sex workers and IV drug users will marginalise and push them further into hiding.

Awareness and awakening efforts should continue to evolve with changing times and should not go into a complacent mode.

Test and treat strategy to start the Anti-Retroviral Treatment on the same day of diagnosis has improved life expectancy and quality of life after infection.

Adherence, adherence and adherence to treatment is of paramount importance to prevent resistance to medications. Developing resistance to medicines will leave behind limited choice of 2nd and 3rd line regimen.

In the initial years of AIDS pandemic we lost lives for non-availability of affordable treatment whereas we lose patients because of their non-adherence to regular treatment and               follow up.

World AIDS Day 2025 is more than a commemoration — it is a call to move beyond fear, beyond dependency, beyond stigma. It is a call for courage, solidarity and self-reliance.

Because the fight against HIV has always been more than a battle against a virus — it has been a fight for human dignity, health and hope. And that fight continues — stronger than ever.