'Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation'

Washington, Dec 1: The theme for this year's World AIDS Day celebrated every year Dec 1 is "Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation".

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the White House is scheduled to host an event Monday to recognise the observance of World AIDS Day.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in a statement has said that it would release new guidelines on providing anti-retrovirals (ARVs) as an emergency prevention following Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) exposure.

The guidelines provide advice on providing ARVs as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for people who have been exposed to HIV -- such as healthworkers, sex workers, and rape victims.

In 2013, the WHO published consolidated guidelines on the use of ARVs that promote earlier, simpler and less toxic interventions to keep people healthier for longer, and to help prevent HIV transmission.

A growing number of countries with a high burden of HIV have adopted these guidelines.

In 2013, a record 13 million people were able to access life-saving ARVs.

However, HIV still continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 39 million lives so far.

In 2013, 1.5 million people died from HIV-related causes globally.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region, with 24.7 million people living with HIV and it also accounts for almost 70 percent of the global total of new HIV infections.

IANS