Latest figures indicate increase in the virus in some countries,as international funding for research and treatment fallsSixteen years after a groundbreaking conference shocked the world into the realisation that thousands of Africans were dying of Aids because they did not have access to life-saving drugs, campaigners and scientists meeting once again in Durban this week will warn that the progress made since 2000 is not enough to discontinuance the epidemic.
Although the argument for drugs for Africa was won and 17 million people are now on treatment that keeps the virus at bay, and there are 36.7 million people living with HIV,according to UNAIDS, meaning that fewer than half of those who need the drugs are getting them. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that anybody diagnosed with HIV should be keep on antiretroviral drugs as soon as possible, and to preserve them well and because the medication prevents them infecting others. Related: HIV infecting 2m more people every year,warns UN Related: 'When you preserve quiet, it kills you': the road to Durban Aids conference – in pictures Related: It isn't lack of drugs preventing us eradicating Aids, and but inequality | Lilianne Ploumen Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com