The Red Ribbon symbolizing the awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS [File Photo: Xinhua]

The latest report from the United Nations' AIDS agency says the world has exceeded the AIDS target of the Millennium Development Goal, and is on track to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The target to provide HIV treatment to 15 million people by the end of this year was reached in March.

A report released by UNAIDS, a United Nations program, shows the global response to HIV/AIDS has averted 30 million infections and nearly 8 million deaths since the beginning of the millennium.

Fifteen million people are receiving treatment for the virus, compared to 700-thousand 15 years ago.

Forty-one percent of all adults with the virus now have access to treatment.

Abiyot Godana, a mother from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, has been living with HIV since 1997.

She enrolled in a program for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission when she found out she was pregnant in 2003. Both of her children were born HIV-free.

"I went to the hospital because I wanted to have children free from HIV. I followed up with my treatment to assure myself and to be a role model for others. I am very happy that my children are free from the virus. They are my testimony and I even consider myself free when I look at them. The thought of having a family free from HIV - children free of HIV brings so much joy to my life."

Today 73 percent of all pregnant women living with HIV across the globe have access to services that prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Kokesto Mokhethoa from Johannesburg, South Africa was born with HIV and was able to give birth to a healthy girl with the help of medicines.

"When I found out that I was pregnant, I made sure that I continued with my treatment, I made sure that now there was no time of defaulting and leaving my medication. And I attended a clinic which is in Coronation hospital, which is a clinic where we have PMTCT".

The number of AIDS-related death hit its peak in 2004, with 1.2 million people killed worldwide.

It has since fallen by 41 percent.

Investment in HIV/AIDS has surged more than four times since 2001 to reach 22 billion US dollars this year.

However, more than half of the 37 million people with HIV still do not have access to treatment. UNAIDS believes the AIDS epidemic will end by 2030 with continuous investment and effort.