UNDP: Around 13,000 People Living with HIV in Afghanistan

The Kabul Tribune (KT) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reported that approximately 13,000 people in Afghanistan are living with HIV, highlighting the continued threat the virus poses to public health, particularly among vulnerable groups.

Although HIV affects less than 0.1 percent of the general population, prevalence is significantly higher among people who inject drugs, prisoners, sex workers, and their partners, UNDP said, noting that stigma and discrimination often prevent individuals from seeking care and support.

With funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNDP provides essential HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services across all 34 provinces, with a special focus on seven high-risk provinces.

In 2024, 7,500 people who inject drugs and 10,600 prisoners received HIV prevention education, while over 307,000 clean needles were distributed to encourage safer practices. More than 17,000 people from these communities were tested for HIV, enabling early detection and treatment.

UNDP teams continue daily operations to provide testing, medication, clean needles, and tuberculosis care for those living with or at risk of HIV.

Globally, the situation remains critical, with 630,000 deaths from AIDS-related illnesses and 1.3 million new HIV infections recorded in 2024.

UNDP emphasized that expanding services and reducing stigma are vital to protecting Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations.