ONE.ORG - New report says 5.25 million people are receiving AIDS treatment

Great news — more than 5.25 million people are currently receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for AIDS in low-and middle-income countries, says a report released this morning by UNAIDS, WHO and UNICEF.
This represents an impressive 30 percent increase in treatment coverage from just one year earlier. Sub-Saharan Africa had the greatest increase in the number of people receiving treatment — from 2.95 million in 2008 to 3.91 million in 2009.
Eight low-and middle-income countries, including Botswana and Rwanda, the only two African countries to have achieved universal access — treatment that reaches at least 80 percent of patients in need — for antiretroviral therapy,
Almost 21 additional countries — including Benin, Ethiopia, Mali, Namibia, Senegal, Swaziland and Zambia — had coverage rates between 50 to 80 percent, demonstrating progress towards universal access.
Other achievements have been made over the last year, including improved HIV testing and counseling services, treatment and care for persons living with HIV, and improved prevention interventions among at risk populations. Notably, in light of our “No Child Born with HIV by 2015” campaign, 54 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa received drugs to prevent the transmission of HIV to their children in 2009. This figure is up from 25 percent in 2008, and four African countries— Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, and South Africa — have reached the target of 80 percent coverage.
While there has been significant progress made in addressing the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa over the last year, we must be mindful that much work remains. The regional coverage level for treatment (based on new WHO guidelines) is still at only 37 percent, albeit up from 28 percent in 2008. Additional resources will be needed from mechanisms, including the Global Fund and PEPFAR, in order to provide those currently without treatment with the necessary life-saving drugs in the coming years.

By Brooke Riley
source : http://www.one.org/