| Summary |
The advent of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 1996 led to a revolution in the care of
patients with HIV/AIDS in the developed world. Although these treatments are not a cure and
present new challenges of their own with respect to side effects and drug resistance, they have
dramatically improved rates of mortality and morbidity, improved quality of life, revitalized
communities and transformed perceptions of HIV/AIDS from a plague to a manageable,
chronic illness.
Unfortunately, most of the 40 million people in the world currently living with HIV/AIDS
reside in the developing world and do not share this vastly improved prognosis35 . WHO
conservatively estimates that as of the end of 2003, some 6 million people in developing
countries are in immediate need of life-sustaining ARV therapy now. Instead, only about
400,000 persons are being treated, and over one-third of these live in one country (Brazil).
At the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS on 22 September 2003, the
World Health Organization has declared the lack of access to HIV treatment a global health
emergency. WHO calls for unprecedented action to ensure that by the end of 2005 at least
3 million people in need of antiretroviral treatment will have access to it. |
| More Details |
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| Publication Webpage |
http://www.who.int |
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| Keywords |
This Item is associated with the Following
Keywords: ART, ARV Treatment Monitor. |
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