The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified integration, innovation, and community leadership as critical to ending HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by 2030, according to a new progress assessment report.

The report, assessing implementation of the Global Health Sector Strategies for HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs from 2022 to 2030, was launched during the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) ahead of World Hepatitis Day.

WHO said millions benefited from expanded treatment services worldwide, but funding cuts, humanitarian crises, and persistent inequalities continue to threaten progress in tackling HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections globally.

WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus said in a statement on Monday that countries must strengthen integrated and resilient health systems capable of reaching underserved populations, stressing that sustained investments remained critical to achieving global health targets.

“By the end of 2025, about 32 million people living with HIV were receiving treatment, while new HIV infections had declined by 42 per cent since 2010. AIDS-related deaths also dropped by 57 per cent during the same period, reflecting sustained investments in treatment, prevention, and scientific innovation,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.

He, however, said that about nine million people still lacked access to life-saving HIV treatment, while new infections continued rising among key populations across several regions, posing challenges to progress.

According to him, the report showed annual hepatitis B infections had declined by 32 per cent since 2015, while hepatitis C-related deaths fell by 12 per cent globally during the period.

Despite the progress, he stated that viral hepatitis remained one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, causing an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2024. He said that hepatitis B deaths had increased by 17 per cent since 2015 because diagnosis and treatment coverage remained inadequate in many countries, underscoring the need for stronger interventions globally.

According to him, the report recorded mixed progress against sexually transmitted infections despite improved syphilis screening during pregnancy and modest gains in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage worldwide.

He warned that rising sexually transmitted infection cases and growing antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea continued to undermine global efforts to control STIs, despite advances in prevention, testing, and treatment programmes.

The WHO chief said reductions in international donor funding during 2025 disrupted HIV prevention programmes, including access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), in several countries facing resource constraints and pressures.

Preliminary data showed PrEP use declined in some countries despite efforts by governments to maintain essential HIV prevention services, he said.

Mr Ghebreyesus said WHO had identified integrated primary healthcare as one of the strongest approaches for delivering HIV, hepatitis and STI services alongside tuberculosis and maternal healthcare programmes.

According to him, eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B remains a priority, with an increasing number of countries pursuing WHO validation for elimination achievements.

He also encouraged wider adoption of digital health tools, stronger surveillance systems, multi-disease testing platforms and equitable access to emerging prevention technologies to accelerate progress against the epidemics.

The WHO chief highlighted long-acting injectable lenacapavir and doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis as promising innovations for preventing HIV and bacterial sexually transmitted infections among populations at increased risk.

He said stronger community leadership, improved monitoring systems and new HIV service delivery guidance would help countries accelerate progress toward ending HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections by 2030.

Also, Tereza Kasaeva, director of WHO’s Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs, described the assessment as a practical guide for accelerating action during the strategy’s remaining years.

(NAN)