PHA-Exchange> WHO's 3 by 5 HIV Initiative at Risk of Failing, says Lancet editorial

[claudio at hcmc.netnam.vn]

 from Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel at undp.org> -----

08 May 2005

Lack of financial resources, staff, and commitment
from key countries, may hamper WHO's goal to provide
life-long antiretroviral therapy to 3 million people
with HIV/AIDS in developing countries by the end of
2005 (3 by 5), states an editorial in this week's
issue of The Lancet.

Though progress has been made with 720,000 people in
developing countries receiving antiretroviral
treatment and three times the target number of outlets
providing antiretrovirals, the financial resources
allocated to 3 by 5 are below what are needed (US$ 163
million vs 174million), and the number of WHO staff
deployed to the initiative is well below what it
should be (112 vs400). Only 30 countries have
established treatment goals instead of the December
target of 50. Three countries in particular need to
show their commitment-India, South Africa and Nigeria.


Overall it is in Africa that the greatest barrier
exists, states the editorial. Of the estimated 4
million in Africa who need antiretrovirals, only
325000 (8%) were on treatment by December. Despite
huge successes in Uganda and Botswana, for example,
with both countries already delivering antiretrovirals
to half their affected populations, the burden of
disease remains great and the distribution of
antiretrovirals is poor in South Africa, Nigeria,
Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

The Lancet comments: “If the 3 by 5 programme had the
political clout to influence South Africa alone to
implement all its recommendations, where the necessary
infrastructure largely exists, then the 3 million
target would be more likely to be attained. Without
South Africa on board, with its 837 000 people
affected by HIV/AIDS and its leadership position
within Africa, 3 by 5 is but a pipe dream.”

The Lancet
42 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3SL
United Kingdom
http://www.thelancet.com

Greetings

HDP




health-vn List UNDP and AVSL
Bringing Millennium Development Goals Closer to the People
Interim administrator Vern Weitzel <vern/weitzel at undp.org>
archive: http://www.undp.org.vn/forums1/forums.htm
email the list: <health-vn at cairo.anu.edu.au>
To subscribe/unsubscribe send message to <majordomo at cairo.anu.edu.au>
with the body reading:
unsubscribe health-vn <your email address>
or
subscribe health-vn <your email address>

*** Other valuable elists: http://www.undp.org.vn/forums1/other.htm

----- End forwarded message -----




------------------------------------------------------------------
This mail sent through Netnam-HCMC ISP: http://www.hcmc.netnam.vn/