PHA-Exchange> Reframing HIV and AIDS

[Claudio]

> Reframing HIV and AIDS
> ----------------------
>  
> BMJ 2003;327:1101-1103 (8 November): 
> http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7423/1101
>  
> In September, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 
> HIV/AIDS epidemic a global health emergency requiring a rapid 
> scaled-up treatment response, but researchers in this week's BMJ 
> argue that governments should go one step further and treat it as 
> a disaster.
>  
> Declaring a state of emergency in a country plagued by HIV and 
> AIDS could speed up the response. It would overcome barriers to 
> co-operation and facilitate access to cheaper drugs. Resources 
> could also be better co-ordinated, eliminating duplication and 
> ensuring everyone is working to the same goal.
>  
> However, declaring a state of emergency forces the government to 
> publicly admit that their country is in a vulnerable condition, 
> which may lead to strained international trade ties, add the au-
> thors.