TEHRAN — Iran joined “Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030” international program to halt spread of the disease by 2030, said the director of the AIDS department of the Health Ministry.

Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is a fast-track strategy of the United Nations which proposes rapid and massive acceleration of HIV prevention and treatment programs for ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, Doctor Abbas Sedaqat told the ISNA news agency.

******* Target 90-90-90 to suppress the virus

Sedaqat explained how the “Target 90-90-90” aims at HIV treatment and prevention by setting new targets for 2020. Target 90-90-90 would enable 90 percent of people living with HIV to know their HIV status, 90 percent of people who know their status to access HIV treatment and 90 percent of people on HIV treatment to achieve viral suppression.

******* Two third of HIV patients unaware of infection

Sedaqat lamented that unfortunately only one third of the HIV positive patients have been diagnosed with the virus so far and the rest remain undiagnosed. “We need to take a short-cut to achieve target 90-90-90.”

“The number of women affected by the virus has risen recently and HIV among the youth accounts for a greater number compared to the past,” he warned, adding that “we have to raise public awareness about the virus and ways it can spread.”

Centers providing the patients with free and confidential consulting and testing services are now up and running in Iran, he noted. The key to treat HIV is prevention and although a permanent cure for the disease is yet to be found the present medications and treatments can help control and increase the quality of life for the patients.

MQ