Qian Huang, research faculty in the East Tennessee State University College of Public Health’s Center for Rural Health Research has published a co-authored opinion paper in The Lancet HIV titled "Moving Beyond Hotspots of HIV Prevalence to Geospatial Hotspots of UNAIDS 95-95-95 Targets in Sub-Saharan Africa." This paper discusses the limitations of focusing solely on traditional HIV prevalence hotspots, which often overlook critical elements such as treatment access and healthcare quality.
Diego Cuadros of the University of Cincinnati is lead author of the article. Additional co-authors include members of the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation, ICAP at Columbia University, the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe, the National Aids Council of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Network for People Living with HIV, the University of Hawaii, and the New York University School of Medicine.
Dr. Huang and her team argue for a shift towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of those on ART to achieve viral suppression. The conclusions emphasize the need for tailored interventions that address the unique needs of different regions. By aligning with the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, researchers can make significant strides in improving HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression, ultimately leading to better control of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.