On the occasion of World AIDS Day, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, has called for urgent action to close the gap in HIV awareness and testing across the region.

With an estimated 530,000 people living with HIV in the Eastern Mediterranean, only 38% are aware of their status, a stark reminder of the barriers to voluntary testing. Dr. Balkhy stressed the critical importance of testing as the first step toward accessing treatment, maintaining health, and preventing further transmission.  “Only those who know their status can access treatment, live healthy lives, and prevent transmission to others,” Dr. Balkhy said.

A significant challenge highlighted is the inequity in testing services. Despite nearly two-thirds of new HIV infections occurring among key populations, less than 10% of tests currently reach these groups. Dr. Balkhy urged countries to adopt differentiated approaches to ensure testing is accessible to at-risk people.

To address these issues, the WHO is launching HIV Testing Week from December 1 to 7 under the theme, “I did it for me. Do it for you.” The campaign aims to emphasize personal responsibility and the benefits of knowing one’s HIV status. “Testing services must prioritize those who need them most,” Dr. Balkhy added, recommending innovative methods such as self-testing, network-based testing, and digital platforms to make testing more accessible and convenient.

Dr. Balkhy’s message aligns with the global commitment to end AIDS as a public health problem by 2030. She reaffirmed WHO’s readiness to support countries in their efforts to expand testing and prevention services.

“This is an opportunity to promote testing and make it more accessible. Let us all work together to meet our commitment to #EndAIDS,” she concluded.

Dr. Balkhy’s remarks underscore the urgent need for regional collaboration to address testing inequities and ensure access to life-saving treatment and prevention services. On this World AIDS Day, the call to action is clear: testing must be a priority to bridge the gap and save lives.