Experts examine improvements in treating, preventing AIDS
Posted 5th August 2008 at 04:07 PM by NewsTracker
By Proffesor Ndawonde
Mexico - HIV and AIDS experts attending the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico have examined the recent progress made towards treating people living with HIV and AIDS and prevention programmes.
They have called for sustained action to eliminate the barriers to universal access.
The panel of global researchers, public health and civil society leaders on Monday presented their perspectives on recent advancements and challenges in the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS and held a discussion on the state of the epidemic.
With only two years to go until the 2010 deadline for universal access to treatment set by world leaders, the world must redouble it’s commitments to scaling up all proven HIV prevention strategies, said Dr Luis Soto Ramirez, Local Co-Chair of AIDS 2008 and Coordinator of the Clinical Care Committee of CONASIDA which is Mexico’s National AIDS Council.
“The fact that last year 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV, a disease that is entirely preventable, is unacceptable,” said Dr Ramirez.
The panel also called for a greater leadership and the recognition and inclusion of the youth as paths towards meeting the challenges ahead.
Noting that 40 percent of new infections worldwide were among young people aged between 15 and 24, HIV prevention and treatment programmes are failing to effectively reach young people, said Elisabet Fadul of the Dominican Republic Network for Youth Rights/Global Partners.
Ms Fadul called for actions and policies that engage youth, especially those living with HIV and AIDS, as respected partners in developing and implementing programmes that address their needs and diversity.
Ugandan Alex Coutinho, of the Infectious Disease Institute of Makerere University, said most countries will not achieve universal access by 2010 and that the majority of people living with HIV are still unaware of their HIV status.
He said, however, said there had been a marked increase in the access to HIV testing and counseling, to prevention of mother to child transmission services and to paediatric care and intervention.
Mr Coutinho urged greater investment in prevention, and financial resources flexible enough to support health systems, and systems that reach into rural and other inaccessible areas.
Dr Geoffrey Garnet from the United Kingdom said new methods of analysing HIV prevalence and risks of infection were improving understanding of current trends in HIV incidence and associated patterns of risk. - BuaNews
Mexico - HIV and AIDS experts attending the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico have examined the recent progress made towards treating people living with HIV and AIDS and prevention programmes.
They have called for sustained action to eliminate the barriers to universal access.
The panel of global researchers, public health and civil society leaders on Monday presented their perspectives on recent advancements and challenges in the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS and held a discussion on the state of the epidemic.
With only two years to go until the 2010 deadline for universal access to treatment set by world leaders, the world must redouble it’s commitments to scaling up all proven HIV prevention strategies, said Dr Luis Soto Ramirez, Local Co-Chair of AIDS 2008 and Coordinator of the Clinical Care Committee of CONASIDA which is Mexico’s National AIDS Council.
“The fact that last year 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV, a disease that is entirely preventable, is unacceptable,” said Dr Ramirez.
The panel also called for a greater leadership and the recognition and inclusion of the youth as paths towards meeting the challenges ahead.
Noting that 40 percent of new infections worldwide were among young people aged between 15 and 24, HIV prevention and treatment programmes are failing to effectively reach young people, said Elisabet Fadul of the Dominican Republic Network for Youth Rights/Global Partners.
Ms Fadul called for actions and policies that engage youth, especially those living with HIV and AIDS, as respected partners in developing and implementing programmes that address their needs and diversity.
Ugandan Alex Coutinho, of the Infectious Disease Institute of Makerere University, said most countries will not achieve universal access by 2010 and that the majority of people living with HIV are still unaware of their HIV status.
He said, however, said there had been a marked increase in the access to HIV testing and counseling, to prevention of mother to child transmission services and to paediatric care and intervention.
Mr Coutinho urged greater investment in prevention, and financial resources flexible enough to support health systems, and systems that reach into rural and other inaccessible areas.
Dr Geoffrey Garnet from the United Kingdom said new methods of analysing HIV prevalence and risks of infection were improving understanding of current trends in HIV incidence and associated patterns of risk. - BuaNews
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