The biggest conference on a global health or development issue (HIV and AIDS prevention) across the world has just ended. HIV/AIDS has been a critical global challenge for decades, and even then, an event of this extent solely dedicated to it would have been unbelievable recently.

In Durban, South Africa, over 18,000 delegates assembled at one place, and determination to reach the ones lacking access to comprehensive HIV treatment, care, prevention, and support services was vast. In present day, fight against the heartbreaking disease, the glaring question is how nations can reach the ones who are even today left behind.

Around 16 years ago, similar question was raised when the International AIDS Conference was last hosted by Durban. At that time, the HIV epidemic was at a turning point. Antiretroviral treatment’s access in the global north was changing HIV into a chronic disease whereas the insufficient access to antiretroviral treatment in the global south was taking millions of lives. The severe contrast between the two realities was the backdrop for what would be a historic get-together where politicians, activists, and scientists promised to deal with these inequities.

The following year, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria was established with the aid of a cadre of fresh global health funders, contributing to an unparalleled raise in HIV/AIDS funding that make sure HIV hit people worldwide could reach antiretroviral therapy.

Some years later, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the biggest commitment by any country in the fight against any single disease internationally, also kicked off.

Action followed the 2000 Durban conference, and since then, huge steps have been taken in global health and the battle against HIV/AIDS. Worldwide, 17 million people have received treatment and incidences in numerous badly hit communities have seen a decline. But, still a lot more is needed to be done.

A report published in Huffington Post revealed, "The world's largest conference on a global health or development issue has just ended. The issue at hand was HIV and AIDS prevention. For decades, HIV/AIDS has been an urgent global challenge, and yet an event of this magnitude - dedicated solely to it - would have been unimaginable not long ago."

A similar question was raised sixteen years ago when Durban last hosted the International AIDS Conference. When we met then, the HIV epidemic was at a turning point. Access to antiretroviral treatment in the global north was turning HIV into a chronic disease while the lack of access to antiretroviral treatment in the global south was sentencing millions to death.

These goals are achievable if we renew our commitment and invest in community-based service delivery models that target those who have thus far not received the necessary intervention - the people left behind.

According to a report in New Vision by Deusdedit Ruhangariyo, "Thousands of delegates including scientists, HIV/AIDS activists, advocates and journalists were excited at the possibility of getting an HIV cure according to the latest research."

This was during a pre-conference symposium dubbed ‘Towards an HIV cure research’ in the weeklong 2016 International Aids Conference taking place here in Durban, South Africa, from 18th – 22nd July 2016.

Dr. Fauci added that at this level, the virus would not be eliminated from the body but it would be effectively controlled and prevented from transmitting. He said that some scientists are now using the term ‘remission’ borrowed from the cancer field because it is difficult to distinguish these types of cures.