Across South-East Asia, HIV remains a pressing health challenge. The numbers speak for themselves: last year, 88,000 new infections, around 50,000 deaths linked directly to HIV-related causes.

Today, roughly 3.5 million individuals in the region live with HIV. The broader context reveals even more complexity. Hepatitis B affects 42 million people, hepatitis C hits another seven million, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) impact around 60 million. These figures highlight a persistent burden, but also a shifting landscape where certain groups face higher risks.

Men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs, transgender individuals, sex workers and their partners all experience disproportionate rates of HIV. Young people aged 15–24 years account for nearly a quarter of new infections across the Asia-Pacific.

Social vulnerability goes hand-in-hand with medical risk. Discrimination and punitive laws pose barriers to care, complicating efforts to reach those most affected.

World AIDS Day 2025 arrives with the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” Governments, partners, and communities unite under this banner, seeking to confront both longstanding challenges and emerging obstacles.

Progress is evident: antiretroviral treatment access and coverage have led to a 62% drop in deaths from 2015 to 2024. New infections fell by 32% in the same period. Diagnostic rates are up—85% of people with HIV now know their status.

Treatment coverage stands at 74%, translating to about 2.7 million people on medication. Viral suppression sits at 72%. These are significant gains, but still shy of the global target: the ‘95-95-95’ goal set for ending AIDS by 2030.

The gap becomes clearer when looking at pregnant women and children. Among the region’s 26,000 pregnant women living with HIV, about 88% received antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission last year.

Yet national coverage varies widely, from 71% to over 98%. Children fare similarly—of the 69,000 living with HIV, 93% are receiving treatment regionally, but country-level coverage ranges from just 67% up to 98%.

These disparities reflect both progress and persistent inequities. When services reach those who need them, outcomes improve dramatically. Where gaps remain, the risks compound.

Amid these challenges comes a story of hope and innovation. In October, Maldives achieved global recognition as the first country validated for Triple Elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. This milestone demonstrates what coordinated action can achieve—even in resource-limited settings.

The path forward demands sustained investment and strategic action. Dr Catharina Boehme of WHO South-East Asia calls on countries to prioritise six key approaches. The first involves accelerating progress towards the ‘95-95-95’ targets.

Scaling up community-based and self-testing can boost diagnostic rates. Same-day antiretroviral treatment initiation reduces delays in care. For individuals stable on therapy, providing several months’ supply of medicines helps space out clinic visits—reducing both burden and risk of loss to follow-up.

Strengthening viral-load testing is another priority. Accurate viral load data guides clinical decisions and helps identify those at risk of treatment failure or disease progression. Digital solutions can support retention in care, offering reminders and follow-up for patients who might otherwise slip through the cracks.

Integrating EMTCT and reproductive-health services emerges as a practical next step. Triple screening for HIV, syphilis, viral hepatitis B and C within antenatal care can identify risks early—enabling timely intervention.

Guaranteeing maternal and infant treatment is non-negotiable; hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination must be timely, followed by completion of the schedule and ongoing monitoring of exposed infants.

Prevention remains foundational. Equitable access to new prevention tools is critical. For example, lenacapavir—a long-acting injectable medication—offers fresh hope for reducing transmission risk.

Ensuring its affordable introduction into national essential medicines lists is vital. Rollout must prioritise young women and other high-risk populations who often face barriers to traditional prevention measures.

Data systems underpin effective responses. Investing in national platforms that allow interoperability supports better surveillance and coordination across disease programmes. AI-enabled digital systems bring new possibilities—predictive analytics can anticipate service gaps or outbreaks before they escalate. Responsible use of such technologies offers real-world benefits but also raises questions around data privacy and equity.

Sustaining financing and system resilience rounds out the strategic priorities. Domestic resource mobilisation is needed to safeguard essential services against shocks—whether pandemics or economic downturns threaten continuity. Donor support should align with resilient primary care frameworks that adapt under pressure.

Empowering communities is not just an ethical imperative—it’s a practical necessity. Addressing stigma and discrimination unlocks access for those most affected by HIV and related conditions.

Punitive laws continue to act as a barrier; reforms must be pursued in tandem with service expansion efforts. Engaging communities as equal partners in programme design, delivery and monitoring ensures interventions are responsive and person-centred.

Yet each recommendation faces limitations. Resource constraints persist in many settings—financial commitments often fall short of stated ambitions. Fragmented health systems can impede integration efforts, particularly where vertical disease programmes operate in silos.

Data quality varies; not all countries have robust surveillance or digital infrastructure capable of supporting AI-driven analytics. Social determinants like poverty, gender inequality and migration create additional hurdles that medical interventions alone cannot overcome.

The region’s progress should be celebrated—but not overstated. Successes in expanding treatment coverage or achieving triple elimination validation illustrate what’s possible when political will aligns with community engagement and technical innovation. Still, millions remain unreached or inadequately served.

Looking ahead, the challenge will be maintaining momentum while addressing emerging threats—from resistance to antiretrovirals to shifting patterns of risk among young people and key populations. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in health systems worldwide; lessons learned underscore the need for resilience and adaptability.

WHO continues to support member states across South-East Asia in designing tailored responses for these interconnected epidemics. Closing remaining gaps requires ongoing commitment from governments, donors, civil society, and affected communities alike.

World AIDS Day serves as both reminder and rallying call: disruption has been the norm in recent years—from pandemics to political upheaval to economic shocks—but transformation remains within reach. By combining proven strategies with new approaches, countries can push closer to the vision of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.