• Health & Wellness -> Diseases and Medical Conditions

• 0 Comment

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the treatment and research of AIDS?

Tyreke Lammin

Well, let me tell you that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the treatment and research of AIDS. AIDS is a chronic disease and results from the infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Before the pandemic, the world was already grappling with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which, according to the World Health Organization, affected around 38 million people worldwide. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted national and global focus, resources, and attention to the pandemic response, which, unfortunately, has impacted the pace and progress of HIV/AIDS scientific research and treatment efforts.

One significant effect is that HIV testing rates have dropped significantly over the past year. According to a UNAIDS report on HIV and COVID-19, some countries have reported around 50-percent drops in the number of people testing for HIV compared to previous years. This lack of testing has the potential to lead to undiagnosed cases, which will result in more HIV transmission through unprotected sex, sharing unsterilized needles, and mother-to-child transmission.

Also, the pandemic has caused disruptions in medicine production, supply chains, and delivery systems, making it harder to get antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication to individuals already living with HIV. Interruptions to ART treatment could lead to drug resistance and reduce the effectiveness of medication, leading to further spread of HIV and more complex disease management.

The pandemic has drastically affected the ability to conduct clinical trials, especially those involving human participants. Many clinical trial facilities are unable to operate due to COVID-19 restrictions, and many trial participants are not able to attend due to increased hospitalisation and mortality rates. This has led to several delays and disruptions in clinical research, causing many research projects until further notice.

Furthermore, COVID-19 restrictions have affected HIV prevention activities like condom promotion, HIV testing and screening, and PrEP availability for those most at risk of HIV infection. Due to decreased access to health services, many people have been unable to access vital contraception and HIV prevention services, increasing the risk of HIV transmission.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the provision of HIV prevention, screening and treatment services, slowed down HIV research, and created a vacuum in the supply of essential drugs. We need to be proactive and address this situation so that we don't lose the progress we've made so far in tackling the HIV epidemic. It is critical that governments and NGOs redirect resources towards HIV/AIDS prevention, research, and treatment, ensuring their continued progress towards the global goals set to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.