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Global AIDS Alliance: World Health Organization Cites Progress on AIDS Treatment
Global AIDS Alliance: World Health Organization Cites Progress on AIDS Treatment
Published 06-02-08
Submitted by Global Aids Alliance
WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/02/08 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the world has now reached the goal of delivering AIDS treatment to at least 3 million people, out of the total of 9.7 million people who need the drugs to survive. This goal was originally supposed to have been reached by 2005.
"We are reaching this goal two years late, but progress would have been even slower had the target never been set," said Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. "The WHO set a challenging target, and it helped spur the world to faster action. Now we must redouble our energy to get services to everyone in need. We urgently need leadership from Japan and the UK to succeed."
The WHO report lists specific steps needed to reach the goal which was set three years ago: universal access to all HIV/AIDS services, including prevention, by 2010. The G8 leaders agreed to the target in 2005, followed by the heads of states and governments at the 2005 UN World Summit.
The report cites several obstacles to achieving universal access, including a funding gap of $8.1 billion. It says to meet agreed upon targets the fight against AIDS will need more than four times the funding now available.
"This new goal is also challenging, and we can reach it if we follow the WHO's recommendations. Unfortunately, we see alarming signs that world leaders are not truly serious about reaching the target which they themselves agreed to," stated Zeitz.
"For instance, it is unclear whether the goal will be reaffirmed at next week's High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS at the UN," he said.
"And, the G8 leaders seem to be divided about whether to reaffirm the goal at their Summit in July, with the US supporting and with Japan and others opposing an emphasis on universal access. And, today, the UK has announced a proposal on AIDS that fails to mention any spending target specific to AIDS."
"Japan has also passed up its chance to lead on this issue by pledging only a small increase in its contribution to the Global Fund, a crucial source of funding for AIDS, TB and malaria programs," said Zeitz. "It is very unclear over what time-frame Japan intends to make its contribution, and it should specify the pledge will be paid over two years."
"It is also very troubling to see that, in the US, the expansion of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is stalled in the Senate."
"Some world leaders seem to be hoping people will forget the promise of universal access was ever made," said Zeitz. "But this is a solemn promise which leaders must not ignore."
Most people who are HIV positive do not know they are infected, the report states. The delays in diagnosis and initiation of treatment mean more people die during the first six months of treatment than in the US and other developed countries. The biggest killer of people who are HIV positive is tuberculosis, but most do not receive appropriate treatment.
The report also makes a strong call for much faster action to expand diagnosis of HIV in infants as well as access to prevention services, including male circumcision.
