The world’s largest annual conference on HIV and AIDS kicks off in Munich on Monday, drawing more than 10,000 participants to the Bavarian capital to share research and best practices.

Doctors, public health experts, and activists from 175 countries have been invited to the 25th International AIDS Conference to discuss the fight against HIV/AIDS, for which there are treatments but no cure.

AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 69 per cent since the peak in 2004 and by 51 per cent since 2010, according to UN figures.

Nevertheless, one person still dies every minute as a result of AIDS.

Infections have been rising in some regions like Eastern Europe; in Africa, they remain high despite significant progress in recent decades.

Almost 40 million people worldwide were living with the virus in 2022.

The UN’s goal is to reduce new infections and AIDS-related deaths by over 90 per cent between 2010 and 2030. But the goal is in jeopardy.

Experts lament that the epidemic is no longer on the public health radar in the way it once was, leading to flattening or declining government funding for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

They also say that discrimination and stigmatization of at-risk populations and vulnerable groups continue to threaten progress. These groups include sex workers, transgender people and drug users who use syringes.

The conference, which runs until Friday, is being held in Germany for the first time since 1993.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will deliver an opening speech at 5:00 p.m. (1500 GMT).

The UNAIDS programme also plans to release new infection and death figures for 2023 on Monday. 

(dpa/NAN)