Cities play a critical role in both the HIV epidemic and the response. More than half of the world’s population currently live in cities, and in most countries, cities account for a large and growing proportion of the national HIV burden. City dynamics and networks can contribute to an increased risk of HIV transmission, but cities offer advantages and important opportunities for programming, effective action and innovations to end AIDS.
Of the 10 priority cities included in the first year of the joint UNAIDS and International Association of Providers of AIDS Care Fast-Track Cities Project, up to 25% of the national HIV burden rests in just one city. A quarter of all people living with HIV in Rwanda live in Kigali, and while the population of Jakarta represents only 4% of the total population of Indonesia, the city accounts for 17% of the national HIV burden.
The Fast-Track Cities Project is providing essential strategic technical support to selected high-burden cities in order to assist them to reach the 90–90–90 targets and end AIDS in cities by 2030.
