Is the most pernicious killer disease of the 20th century finally meeting its nemesis in the 21st century? The answer is not yet a resounding yes, but there is more hope than before. According to the United Nations, Aids has shown a significant drop in its infection rates over the span of a decade.
New infections dropped to 2.1 million in 2013, a 38 per cent drop from 2001. This is heartening news for the world that has been waiting to see the last of this dreaded disease. Though there is no definitive cure yet, medical science is quite close to making a breakthrough — thanks to funds pouring in thick and fast over the years. In 2002, the available funds to conduct research on Aids were $3.8 billion (Dh13.97 billion). In 2013, the figure rose to $19.1 billion. This is of extreme significance as the race to find a cure for Aids is heavily dependant on the amount of funding it receives.
The decline in new infections is the most promising turn of events in the history of this pandemic that prematurely shuts doors to life with a deafening bang.
Let us hope a cure is found soon and Aids joins the list of diseases with an obituary.
