Extra 1.2 million people to gain access to antiretroviral drugs, says UN health agency
The World Health Organisation said at a conference in Vienna that the largest yearly increase in the number of people able to gain access to antiretroviral drugs was an “extremely encouraging development”.
Issued on: Modified:
Official figures show that an extra 1.2 million people were able to obtain medication to repress the virus that causes Aids bringing the total figure to 5.2 million.
The WHO issued new recommendations on Monday for earlier treatment of people with HIV, with the goal of eventually expanding the number of cared-for to 15 million.
Antiretroviral therapy is a combination of powerful drugs that prevent the human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] from replicating in immune cells. Administered at a key stage of infection, it can reduce the virus to negligible levels, allowing the patient to live an almost normal life.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning
Subscribe