PHA-Exchange> HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS SIGN UP FOR AIDS DRUGS UNDER NEW PROGRAMME, UN SAYS

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from Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel at undp.org> -----
 
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS SIGN UP FOR AIDS DRUGS UNDER NEW PROGRAMME, UN SAYS
New York, Jul 10 2004  7:00PM

The United Nations health agency and HIV/AIDS programme today reported progress 
in the past six months in creating national 
frameworks that increase the access of infected people to appropriate drugs.

Under the "3x5" programme, unveiled in December 2003 on World AIDS Day, the 
World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint UN 
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) would provide treatment to 3 million people in 
developing countries by the end of 2005.

The WHO acknowledged, however, that the 440,000 currently receiving treatment 
was "less than the 500,000 milestone" set when the 
'3x5' strategy had been published in December.

According to the agency, lack of financial support delayed the start of the 
programme, but pledges of donations from Canada, 
Sweden and the United Kingdom has permitted recruitment of staff to work in 
developing countries.

"There is clear evidence that simplified AIDS treatment works in poor settings. 
Now, the commitment, significant financing and 
building blocks are in place and there are no more excuses. The time to learn 
by doing and scale up treatment is now," said Dr. 
Jim Yong Kim, Director of HIV/AIDS at WHO.

"We are moving in the right direction, but too slowly. We now have 18 months 
for governments, non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) and other partners to rapidly increase the availability of prevention, 
treatment and care in developing countries," he added.

An additional 100,000 health and community workers will soon be needed 
globally, as millions of people seek to learn their HIV 
status and demand any needed treatment in many more locations. The total cost 
is estimated at $5.5 billion, WHO said.

Meanwhile, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) says Thailand saved millions of 
lives by implementing a well-funded, broad-based 
response to the epidemic in the 1990s.

According to a UNDP report launched ahead of the 15th International AIDS 
Conference next week in Bangkok, Thailand was th
launch a serious, large-scale prevention campaign and it thus became the 
world's most successful country in combating HIV/AIDS.

After peaking at 143,000 in 1991, the annual number of new HIV infections fell 
to 19,000 in 2003, making Thailand one of a very 
few countries to have beaten back a serious HIV/AIDS threat, UNDP said.



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