2015 EDITION Vol.2 Issue 10 DIGITAL

Health
HIV/AIDS: Closing the gap in prevention and treatment
BY SILVIA RUGINA
s the world marks AIDS day on December 1, there are approximately 11.7 million people living with
HIV in low- and middle-income countries and were receiving ART by the end of 2013.
Unfortunately, about 740 000 of those were children.
As the global efforts to achieve the ambitious HIV targets accelerate, the World Health Organization prepares
to issue new recommendations for countries to address important gaps in HIV prevention and treatment
services. A new update to recommend antiretrovirals as an emergency prevention following HIV exposure,
and to prevent infections that affect a large number of people living with HIV.
In 2013, WHO published consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretrovirals that promote earlier, simpler
and less toxic interventions. Since
then, more than three quarters of
WHO priority countries with high
burdens of HIV have adopted these
recommendations. A record 13 million
out of 28 million people in need
received treatment in 2013.
However, WHO remains concerned
about the majority of people living
with HIV who do not have access to
comprehensive prevention and treatment
services. The new update will
include recommendations on postexposure
prophylaxis and the use of
cotrimoxazole prevention.
This is an opportunity to harness the
power of social change to put people
first and close the access gap. Ending
the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible, but only by closing the gap between people who have access to HIV
prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who are being left behind. Closing the gap
means empowering and enabling all people, everywhere, to access the services they need.
In Rwanda, people living with HIV/AIDS have ease of access to the ARV’s wherever they are, and they are free
say Amani Ndayisenga 43 who has been living with HIV/AIDS for 13 years.
“With the drugs available in all health centers and hospitals countrywide, no one should die from HIV/AIDS.
For as long as one takes care of him/herself with proper guidance from the doctor, to avoid opportunistic
diseases, one can live for long into their sunset years” say Ndayisenga.
Early in the year, Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Health signed a $204 million
(aboutRwf138bn) grant with the Global Fund for implementation of the five-year national strategic plan for
HIV/Aids. This fund expected to give Rwanda a lead on the result-based financing- a new approach that the
Global fund has taken in supporting health development initiatives globally.
www.worldhealthorganisation.com
Silvia-rugina@katakata.org
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