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• The third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3) aims to end the epidemic of HIV/AIDS by 2030 (Project 2030) based on the lessons during the last two decades. • The progress towards ending the epidemic of AIDS is on the right track; however, the progress to end HIV transmission is off track though the number of new HIV infections has continued to decline. • There is no endgame for HIV prevention and control beyond 2030; HIV would be transitioning from an epidemic state to an endemic public health problem in many countries. • Endemic HIV requires a paradigm shift, from a vertical response to an integrated health systems response, to provide services according to need. • Unrelenting political commitment, and increased and sustainable funding is required from both national and global sources, towards health systems strengthening. The third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3) has a target to end the epidemic of HIV/AIDS by 2030 (Project 2030). This will be achieved when the number of new HIV infections and 'AIDS-related deaths' decline by 90% between 2010 and 2030. So far, the rate of drop in AIDS-related deaths is on track, whereas the rate of drop in new HIV infections is off track to achieve Project 2030. Even if Project 2030 was achieved, HIV would be an endemic health problem. Hence, HIV prevention and control programmes cannot close down for the foreseeable future. This rather demands a paradigm shift from a fully vertical to an integrated health systems response that provides services according to disease burden towards universal health coverage. This will ensure the sustainability of HIV services in the post-2030 era. These all entail unrelenting political commitment, and increased and sustainable funding from both national and global sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Ethiopia has adopted the global plan to end the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to assess the progress made towards achieving this plan. Methods A review and analysis of national population-based surveys, surveillance, and routine programme data was executed. The data analysis was conducted using Excel 2016 and Stata 14 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA). Results Between 2011 and 2016, the number of HIV-related deaths dropped by 58%, while that of new HIV infections dropped by only 6%. Discriminatory attitudes declined significantly from 77.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 77.3–78.4%) in 2011 to 41.5% (95% CI 40.6–42.4%) in 2016. Around 79% of adult people living with HIV (PLHIV) were aware of their HIV status; 90% of PLHIV who were aware of their HIV status were taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 88% of adult PLHIV on ART had viral suppression in 2016. The proportion of people aged 15–49 years who had ever been tested for HIV and had received results increased from 39.8% (95% CI 39.2–40.4%) in 2011 to 44.8% (95% CI 44.2–45.4%) in 2016. This proportion was very low among children below age 15 years at only 6.2% (95% CI 5.9–6.5%). Among regions, HIV testing coverage varied from 13% to 72%. Female sex workers had lower coverage for HIV testing (31%) and ART (70%) than the national average in the adult population. International funding for HIV dropped from more than US$ 1.3 billion in 2010–2012 to less than US$ 800 million in 2016–2018. Conclusions Ethiopia is on track to achieve the targets for HIV testing, ART, viral suppression, and AIDS-related deaths, but not for reductions in new HIV infections, discriminatory attitudes, and equity. Ending the epidemic of HIV/AIDS requires a combined response, including prevention and treatment, tailored to key populations and locations, as well as increased funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ethiopia is one of the countries which has scaled up antiretroviral treatment (ART) over the past decade. This study reviews the performance of the ART program in Ethiopia during the past decade, and identifies successes and weaknesses toward ending AIDS in the country. Methods A review and synthesis of data was conducted using multiple data sources: reports from all health facilities in Ethiopia to the Federal Ministry of Health, HIV/AIDS estimates and projections, and retrospective cohort and cross-sectional studies conducted between 2005/6 and 2014/15. Findings The ART program has been successful over several critical areas: (1) ART coverage improved from 4% to 54%; (2) the median CD4 count/mm 3 at the time of ART initiation increased from 125 in 2005/6 to 231 in 2012/13; (3) retention in care after 12 months on ART has increased from 82% to 92%. In spite of these successes, important challenges also remain: (1) ART coverage is not equitable: among regions (5.6%-93%), between children (25%) and adults (60%), and between female (54%) and male patients (69%); (2) retention in care is variable among regions (83%-94%); and, (3) the shift to second-line ART is slow and low (0·58%). Interpretation The findings suggest that the ART program should sustain the successes and reflect on the shortcomings toward the goal of ending AIDS. It is important to capitalize on and calibrate the interventions and approaches utilized to scale up ART in the past. Analysis of the treatment cascade, in order to pinpoint the gaps and identify appropriate solutions, is commendable in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Q-VAX® is a vaccine used to prevent Q fever. Administration of the vaccine is complicated by the need to ensure, using intradermal and serological tests, that individuals have no prior immunity. Previous studies suggest that the vaccine is highly efficacious and long-lasting in adults. However, there has been no systematic follow-up of vaccine efficacy and the longevity of immunity using population-level data. We aimed to investigate the vaccine failure rate and duration of immunity in previously vaccinated individuals. We formulated a retrospective cohort study design within a linked data. We used a Q fever vaccination registry linked to Q fever notifications and hospital admissions (1991–2016) in the state of Queensland, which has Australia's highest incidence of Q fever. Q-VAX® failure was defined as occurrence of Q fever > 14 days' after vaccination. The incidence of Q fever in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals was 5.40 (95% CI: 3.65, 7.72) and 89.50 (95% CI: 70.50, 112.00]) per 100,000 person-years of follow-up, respectively. The hazard ratio (HR) for Q fever was 0.07 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.10) in non-immune vaccinated compared with immune unvaccinated individuals. The overall vaccine effectiveness was found to be 94.37% suggesting that Q-VAX® is highly effective at preventing Q fever. However, the greater incidence observed in unvaccinated individuals considered immune during the pre-vaccination screening may suggest that pre-vaccination screening is sub-optimal among this study population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]