Cuba made progress in 2025 toward the sustained reduction in new infections and mortality from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as a result of the national prevention and control program, the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) reported.

Jacqueline Sánchez Fuentes, head of the Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Strategy, stated that the country recorded 1,708 diagnoses in the year, representing a 14.5 percent decrease compared to the previous period.

The official specified that AIDS-related deaths fell to 114, a figure that meant a 39 percent reduction, according to data from the Program for the Prevention and Control of STIs, HIV, and Hepatitis.

According to Sánchez Fuentes, these results stemmed from the state's political will and the strategies of the National Health System, which prioritized universal access to antiretroviral treatment and the strengthening of preventive actions.

The Caribbean nation set out to achieve and sustain 95 percent coverage in diagnosis and treatment, in addition to expanding prophylaxis and combined prevention for key populations, to reduce inequalities and eliminate stigma.

GLOBAL CONTEXT

In contrast, the World Health Organization and UNAIDS estimated that in 2025, approximately 40.8 million people were living with HIV worldwide, 27 percent more than in 2010, with 1.3 million new annual cases and about 630,000 related deaths.

Nevertheless, globally, a 40 percent decline in new infections and a 54 percent decline in mortality since 2010 were reported, demonstrating progress in the international response.

In the Americas region, where some 4.2 million people live with the virus, Cuba maintained positive indicators and reaffirmed the principle that health constitutes a right for all people. (CubaSí)