Cyprus is among the first countries to meet the United Nations’ HIV targets, achieving a treatment rate of around 98 per cent, the Aids Solidarity Movement said on Thursday.

“The main driver of Cyprus’ success in HIV has been the close collaboration between the community, patient groups, clinicians and policymakers,” said the organisation’s president, Christos Krasidis.

By meeting the UN’s 95-95-95 targets, Cyprus has ensured that 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95 per cent of those receiving treatment have a suppressed viral load.

Cyprus currently stands at 95 per cent, 98 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.

Krasidis underlined that this level of cooperation has been key to the successful implementation of testing and treatment measures.

The NGO estimates that around 2,000 people in Cyprus are living with HIV, adding that the country’s progress is the result of “several mutually reinforcing factors”.

These include specialised HIV treatment services in Nicosia and Larnaca, strong involvement from community groups, the launch of a nationwide PrEP scheme in autumn 2025 –  offered free of charge regardless of Gesy enrolment – and improved disease monitoring supported by academic research.

The organisation noted that many patients “are now ageing with multiple comorbidities”, stressing the need for broader EU-level policy frameworks that address quality of life, including mental health, social factors and access to long-term care, rather than focusing solely on viral suppression.

It added that European health security and resilience frameworks should incorporate the “enduring lessons of HIV”, including community trust, prevention and continuity of care, and that these should be “integrated into pandemic preparedness planning and the EU’s health resilience frameworks.”

Meanwhile, professor Stavros Malas, having served during Cyprus’ previous EU Council Presidency in 2012, emphasised that Cyprus’ response to HIV was “an example of what can be achieved through adequately funded services, well-connected clinicians, policymakers and patients, as well as effective grassroots outreach.”

“Viral suppression and treatment services represent a major step forward – but HIV care is incomplete without social support and strong collaboration among patients, clinicians and researchers,” said Disy MP and deputy chair of the House health committee Savia Orphanidou.

Dr Georgios Siakallis, from the national HIV focal point, said the next strategic plan for coordinating HIV care is expected to be finalised in September.

“[The plan] will go beyond clinical indicators to address the lived experience of people living with HIV, including stigma – particularly among women, migrant populations and young people,” he said.

Cyprus introduced its first PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) support centre in October 2025, offering a preventive treatment that significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection.

The initial rollout included services at general hospitals in Nicosia and Larnaca, as well as at Cy Checkpoint, the Aids Solidarity Movement’s testing centre for sexually transmitted diseases.

The programme is expected to expand to other districts and eventually be integrated into primary care, with access through personal doctors and pharmacies to ensure wider coverage.