- Using Nobel-Prize-winning CRISPR gene-editing technology, scientists have made a huge stride in eliminating HIV from infected body cells.
- Research from the University of Amsterdam is promising a future where the complete eradication of the virus could become a reality.
- With an estimated 25.6 million people living with HIV in Africa, the continent remains at the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
A new scientific breakthrough is offering hope in the battle against the HIV/AIDS virus that has long evaded a definitive cure, leaving millions of people in Africa devastated.
By harnessing the precision of Nobel-Prize-winning CRISPR gene-editing technology, scientists say they have made a huge stride in eliminating HIV from infected body cells.
This innovative approach, akin to using molecular scissors, can excise the DNA such that HIV can be entirely removed and or inactivated in patients.
This development presented by a University of Amsterdam team of scientists at a medical forum this week, promises a future where the complete eradication of the virus from the human body could shift from just hope to reality.
In Africa and across the world, despite the existence of various medical approaches to HIV/AIDS medication that help halt the virus’s onslaught on patients, none of the current interventions have achieved the elusive goal of total elimination until now.
As the University of Amsterdam researchers unveil their “proof of concept” policymakers and patients in Africa and the world can only watch with bated breath.
The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Africa
With an estimated 25.6 million people living with HIV in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) says the continent remains at the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Current data shows that the distribution of this burden is not uniform with countries in East and Southern Africa bearing the heaviest burden of about 20.8 million people living with the virus. West and Central Africa have a relatively lower figure on the number of patients at 4.8 million.
WHO says about 380,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2022 even as 760,000 got infected with HIV in the same year. For policymakers, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of the last few decades. However, concerted efforts have seen economies in Africa make substantial strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), new HIV infections have dropped by about 59 per cent since the peak of the epidemic in 1995, attributable to several public health campaigns and enhanced access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The increased availability of ART has transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis for millions of people into a manageable chronic condition, thereby improving their quality of life, productivity, and life expectancy.
One of the standout HIV/AIDS interventions in Africa has been the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. By administering ART during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding, new infections among children have come down significantly. This measure alone has saved thousands of lives and represents a remarkable victory in the effort to fight the epidemic in Africa.
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Stigma and discrimination on patients
Despite these successes, several challenges remain. Across the continent, access to HIV testing and treatment is still difficult, with huge disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as among various socioeconomic demographics.
Additionally, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS continue a situation that often makes it hard for individuals to seek testing and treatment services in hospitals.
Moreover, certain segments of society such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and intravenous drug users, face additional barriers to accessing services due to persistent legal and societal discrimination.
What’s more, funding is another pain point. While aid from global partners plays a critical role in expanding access to HIV/AIDS services in Africa, this dependence on external partners for resources may not be sustainable in the long run.
Looking forward, the path to effectively combating HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa involves several key strategies. First, economies must continue focusing on expanding access to ART for all people living with HIV, coupled with measures to enhance retention in care and adherence to treatment.
Second, countries will have to increase their prevention efforts, including the promotion of the use of condoms, devise harm mitigation services for intravenous drug users, as well as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the millions of at-risk populations. Third, efforts to fight stigma and discrimination against the sick must be strengthened, as this remains one of the biggest hurdles to getting appropriate care and treatment.
Additionally, the deployment of mobile health technologies, community-based services, and youth-targeted interventions can play a critical role in reaching underserved populations as well.
