[HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: Where Are We Today?]

HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: Where Are We Today? Abstract. In sub-Saharan Africa the HIV epidemic has changed remarkedly due to expanded testing and easier access to antiretroviral medication. The rate of new infections has decreased substantially since 2005, the life expectancy of people living with HIV has increased and the mortality rate has declined. Yet still a lot needs to be achieved to stop the ongoing epidemic. Women are still at a higher risk to get infected and stigma and discrimination are a hindrance to further reduce the incidence. Challenges like the lack of technical capacities, especially to perform viral load and resistance testing, refusal of testing or condom use and increasing drug resistance to first-line therapies jeopardize the goal of 90-90-90: 90 % of people tested, 90 % of positives under care and 90 % of treated persons virologically controlled. New testing strategies and medication with higher efficacies which, when taken regularly, stop the transmission completely, provide hope in the fight against HIV.