HIV prevention and treatment must go hand in hand

News from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance

21 November 2005: embargoed until 10.30am GMT

Responding to today’s news from UNAIDS/WHO that nearly 5 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2005, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance called on all governments to urgently scale up funding to allow provision of comprehensive HIV/AIDS programming.

Expressing sadness at the continued rise in HIV infections and another 3.1 million deaths due to AIDS worldwide in 2005, Alliance executive director Alvaro Bermejo said:

“We must all do more to provide the funding and comprehensive programming that we know can make a difference to millions of people. Programmes which provide access to prevention, treatment and care services, and which address issues of stigma and discrimination in society, are essential to outpace the growing pandemic.

“HIV prevention and treatment must go hand in hand. Availability of anti-retroviral treatment gives people a reason to find out whether they are HIV positive. HIV testing and counselling is also a key opportunity to get prevention messages across to those who test HIV positive and HIV negative. And without more successful HIV prevention work, treatment programmes will struggle to stay sustainable under the burden of ever increasing demand. We need to ensure that anti-retroviral treatment programmes are accessible to all – this means they also need to be free at the point of access.

“Strengthened health systems must also be at the centre of these programmes. This means adequate clinics, diagnostics, and facilities for supply, distribution and storage of medicines. It also means tackling the lack of health care workers, a large number of who are HIV positive themselves, or who move to richer nations where they can get treatment, and better pay and conditions.

“Finally, there needs to be clear recognition and resources given to communities and community-based organisations for the work they do. Engaged communities – that participate in decision making, contribute to the delivery of services and hold authorities to account – are the only way to achieve effective and sustainable programmes.”

Ends

Editor’s notes

  1. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance has been supporting community action on AIDS in developing countries since 1993. It has worked with community organisations from over 40 countries, provided financial support to over 3,000 projects (implemented by over 2,000 community and faith-based groups). Expenditure in 2005 alone is expected to reach approximately USD 45 million.
  2. For more information about the work of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and to arrange interviews, please contact Simon Moore. T: 01273 718744. E: smoore@aidsalliance.org or Rhian Evans. T: 01273 718961. E: revans@aidsalliance.org