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01/12/2004
Severe shortage of Aids treatments warn WHO
Health experts have warned that failure to provide cheap treatment for HIV/Aids sufferers is putting many more lives at risk.
In advance of World Aids Day the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement yesterday highlighting the urgent need for women and girls living with the HIV virus to be able to access treatment. WHO called on countries "to set specific national targets for treatment of women and girls and to take measures to ensure equitable access to AIDS prevention and treatment services".
According to UNAids an estimated 39.4 million people worldwide are now living with HIV, up from 36.6 million in 2002. Almost half of those with the virus are women, while North Africa and the Middle East have experienced a surge in the number of cases.
Referring to the importance of each country setting a national target, Dr Lee Jong-wook, WHO Director-General said: "The targets must match the proportion of men, women and children who are living with HIV and in need of treatment".
WHO has highlighted the widespread incidence of violence against women as a major factor in the spread of the epidemic and studies from Rwanda and South Africa showed a threefold increase of risk of HIV in women who were assaulted.
Antiretrovirals (ARVs), which are widely used in the treatment of Aids, work by delaying the onset of the disease by slowing the attack on the immune system.
WHO has set up strict quality tests for HIV drugs and under these guidelines up to 13 medicines have been withdrawn for use.
Dr Rowan Gillies, president of MSF International said that unless substantial funding is directed to support WHO's quality checks to enable more generic drugs for treatment, five million people would die within the next two years.
(mmcg/sp)
In advance of World Aids Day the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement yesterday highlighting the urgent need for women and girls living with the HIV virus to be able to access treatment. WHO called on countries "to set specific national targets for treatment of women and girls and to take measures to ensure equitable access to AIDS prevention and treatment services".
According to UNAids an estimated 39.4 million people worldwide are now living with HIV, up from 36.6 million in 2002. Almost half of those with the virus are women, while North Africa and the Middle East have experienced a surge in the number of cases.
Referring to the importance of each country setting a national target, Dr Lee Jong-wook, WHO Director-General said: "The targets must match the proportion of men, women and children who are living with HIV and in need of treatment".
WHO has highlighted the widespread incidence of violence against women as a major factor in the spread of the epidemic and studies from Rwanda and South Africa showed a threefold increase of risk of HIV in women who were assaulted.
Antiretrovirals (ARVs), which are widely used in the treatment of Aids, work by delaying the onset of the disease by slowing the attack on the immune system.
WHO has set up strict quality tests for HIV drugs and under these guidelines up to 13 medicines have been withdrawn for use.
Dr Rowan Gillies, president of MSF International said that unless substantial funding is directed to support WHO's quality checks to enable more generic drugs for treatment, five million people would die within the next two years.
(mmcg/sp)
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Latest AIDS research offers fresh treatment hopes
A study by Medical Research Council scientists has revealed fresh hope for developing ways to combat HIV the virus which causes AIDS. The research team at the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research has uncovered crucial differences in a gene found in rhesus monkeys and its human counterpart.
Latest AIDS research offers fresh treatment hopes
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