New HIV diagnoses in Aotearoa continue to decline, but health experts warn the country will need stronger investment and bold action if it hopes to eliminate local HIV transmission by the end of the decade.
New data released this week shows ongoing reductions in locally acquired HIV cases, continuing a positive trend seen in recent years through expanded prevention, testing and treatment programmes.
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa says the decline reflects the success of prevention tools such as PrEP, increased HIV testing and greater public awareness around early treatment and prevention.
Health advocates say one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention has been the wider availability of antiretroviral treatment, which allows people living with HIV to maintain undetectable viral loads and prevents transmission to sexual partners.
Despite the progress, experts warn Aotearoa is still not on track to fully eliminate HIV transmission without further investment in prevention services, community outreach and reducing stigma around testing and treatment.
The Government’s National HIV Action Plan aims to reduce locally acquired HIV infections by 90 percent compared with 2010 levels by the year 2030.
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa says reaching that target will require improving access to PrEP, increasing testing availability and ensuring prevention services are accessible to all communities, including Māori, Pacific and migrant populations.
The organisation is also calling for expanded prescribing powers allowing more nurses, pharmacies and community providers to offer HIV prevention medication and support services.
Health experts say stigma remains one of the biggest barriers preventing some people from accessing HIV testing and treatment early. Routine testing and community-based support are considered critical to reducing transmission and improving health outcomes.
Advocates are also watching regional developments closely, including growing HIV outbreaks in parts of the Pacific, particularly Fiji, where strong migration and whānau connections exist with Aotearoa.
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa says maintaining a strong and coordinated HIV response across the Pacific region will be important to protecting long-term public health gains in New Zealand.
Medical experts continue to stress that HIV is now considered a manageable long-term condition for most people with access to treatment, with modern therapies allowing many people living with HIV to live healthy and full lives.
