‘Africa AIDS Deaths Could Double Due To COVID-19’- UN
By Elite Reporter
A
new report by the United Nations indicates that more than 500,000 could die if
the provision of healthcare to HIV/AIDS sufferers is disrupted during Coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic.
A
six-month disruption of antiretroviral therapy due to the COVID-19 pandemic
could lead to more than 500,000 extra deaths in the Sub-Saharan region in
2020-21, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNAIDS said in a joint
statement on Monday.
In
2018, the latest figures given, an estimated 470,000 people died of
AIDS-related illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa.
The
two UN bodies warned of the impact if HIV services are closed, supply chains
interrupted, or healthcare services overwhelmed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modelling
conducted for the agencies said a six-month dis...