Bleak Prospects for Those Living With AIDS. 28/11/10

Best option would be to scale up access to all those living with AIDS

Nairobi — For almost three decades, the best brains in science and medical research have unsuccessfully struggled to find a vaccine or cure for the Aids causing virus.

In the first years of the epidemic, scientists thought it would be just a matter of time before a decisive solution was discovered.

This was not to be as one concept after another failed to offer significant protection against the virus, or cure.

But as the global community observes this year's World Aids Day on Wednesday, there are indications of a decline in new infection rates, and better treatment for those infected by the virus.

Using a combination of tools such as education and safe sex, most regions of the world have managed to slow down the rate of new infections.

On this score, the last 18 months have been significant, with the first evidence that indeed, an HIV vaccine is possible, while it was established that a topical gel can protect against the virus.

The most recent was a breakthrough finding indicating that a pill, which is already in use, can prevent new HIV infection in some high-risk groups, rekindling hopes of a medical solution.

The other challenge is to reduce the suffering of those already infected by making sure they can access the right treatment and healthcare.

Fortunately, there exists effective and affordable medicines for those affected, but due to funding and other constraints, only about half of those in need of treatment are covered.

The best option would be to scale up access to all those living with Aids, but this may prove difficult unless we come up with innovative ways of financing the health sector.

The Global Fund, which is the major donor to the HIV campaign, is currently facing a big financing gap that will eventually affect local programmes