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As the number of worldwide AIDS-related deaths fell to 1.7 million in 2011 and fewer people infected with HIV globally are dying as more of them get access to crucial antiretroviral drugs, a new report has noted that new financial investments and renewed commitments from countries around the world will be critical to fully implement proven treatment and prevention tools already at hand and to continue essential scientific research.

The report will be published in a special supplement in the August Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiencies (JAIDS).

According to researchers, there are seven key areas where money and political will must be focused to end AIDS. They are:

The promise and challenges of using antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to prevent HIV transmission

New AIDS treatments, improving the ARV pipeline to treat those infected, and working toward a cure

Enhancing the role of government leaders, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOS) in driving local and national responses to the epidemic

Narrowing health disparities in preventing and treating AIDS caused by economic disempowerment, discrimination, and stigma

Preventing AIDS transmission from mothers to babies in low- and middle-income countries where access to prevention services are most limited, but where new drug interventions show AIDS could be virtually eliminated in infants and children

Funding the pursuit for AIDS vaccines, which are necessary to actually eliminate the disease

Maximizing and growing current investments in the global AIDS response, rather than decreasing funding. In addition to its humanitarian impact, money spent going forward is a good global and local investment because improving and sustaining people's health enables them to be productive members of society contributing to the growth of their nations' economies.

Researchers say that one these areas are addressed, only then will an AIDS-free generation be possible. 

The supplement may be reviewed online at https://journals.lww.com/jaids/toc/2012/08012 .