UNAIDS: The First 10 Years

Chapter 9A global reference point247“If there had notbeen a UNAIDS,there would nothave been aglobal awarenessof the epidemic.UNAIDS hasalso highlighted themultidisciplinarynature of AIDS,and the importanceof human rights”.There is a general consensus that UNAIDS is a vital global reference point for a wide rangeof data and information on the AIDS epidemic and the responses to it, as well as the trackingof resource needs.Keith Hansen, Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Manager for Latin America and theCaribbean at the World Bank, commented: “Very quickly the Secretariat became the acceptedauthoritative, legitimate voice for the UN family on AIDS. And I think we quickly realized whatan advantage that was, because you wouldn’t have the agencies sending mixed messages”.Michel Kazatchkine, formerly French AIDS Ambassador and now Executive Director of theGlobal Fund as of April 2007, commented that UNAIDS’ epidemiological work has definedthe areas in which countries must intervene, based on their data, and the great importanceof evaluating resource needs. “If there had not been a UNAIDS, there would not have been aglobal awareness of the epidemic. UNAIDS has also highlighted the multidisciplinary natureof AIDS, and the importance of human rights”.Increasing access to antiretroviral treatmentSince its early Drugs Access Initiative, UNAIDS has campaigned to reduce the price ofantiretroviral treatment so that it would be available to poor people in low-income countries.This and other initiatives, including the work of activists and the strong advocacy of theUN Secretary-General, have led to a major reduction in prices. UNAIDS, treatment activistsand nongovernmental organizations also led the way in showing that providing antiretroviraltreatment was possible in countries where health services were resource limited.