HIV Treatment
HIV is a rare type of virus called a retrovirus, and drugs designed to disrupt the action of HIV are known as antiretrovirals or ARVs. They come in a variety of formulations designed to act at different stages of the life cycle of HIV.
The AIDS virus mutates rapidly, making it very adept at developing resistance to drugs. To minimize this risk, people living with HIV are usually treated with a combination of antiretroviral drugs that attack the virus on several fronts at once.
The introduction of ARVs in 1996 has transformed the treatment of HIV and AIDS, improve quality and significantly prolong the lives of many people live in places where drugs are available. However, ARVs do not cure. If treatment is interrupted, the virus becomes active, so people are taking antiretroviral drugs for life.
Although the price of antiretrovirals has fallen significantly in recent years, its cost remains a barrier to access in the developing world. In addition, the health infrastructure needed to provide antiretroviral therapy is lacking in many places.
Access to drugs depends not only on financial and human resources. It also depends on people who need to be aware of their HIV status, with knowledge of the treatment, and empowered to locate.
Thus the elements, information and education play an important role in expanding access, and efforts to build or strengthen health services. The campaign for universal access to lifesaving drugs against HIV and AIDS, launched at the beginning of the base by AIDS activists is now the main target of United Nations agencies and other influential organizations across National and worldwide.
The Declaration of Commitment on HIV / AIDS, adopted unanimously by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2001 that equal access to care and treatment as a fundamental component of a comprehensive and effective HIV in the world. Since then, many countries, with the support of intergovernmental organizations and donors, have finally proved the viability of HIV treatment in the majority of resources, including limited. Access to treatment has helped to mobilize communities in the response to HIV, the health and viability of households most vulnerable to HIV and increased efforts to prevent HIV in many parts of the world.
With the goal of achieving universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support, national leadership is needed to establish policies to encourage the dynamic expansion of treatment through efforts to: increase the number people who choose to know their HIV status, HIV care to reduce the stigma of HIV, the human capacity development for the treatment through training and better use of human resources, improve supply management and the ‘integration with other health services.