Strategic use of HIV medicines could help end transmission
Experts say that strategic use of anti-retroviral HIV medications can save lives and keep people living with HIV healthy and can radically stop transmitting the virus to those who are non-ifected. Prophylactic use of drugs could even prevent high risk people from contacting the virus. PHOTO: AP
More strategic use of antiretroviral HIV medications can significantly reduce the transmission of the virus and reduce new infections dramatically, says World Health Organisation (WHO). On the basis of this evidence, WHO advice for more strategic use of antiretrovirals includes: * New guidelines for treating people with HIV who have uninfected partners ('serodiscordant' couples), recommending that antiretroviral therapy (ARVs ) be offered to the HIV-positive partner, regardless of the strength of his or her immune system, to reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission to the uninfected partner. Up to 50% of HIV-positive people in on-going relationships are estimated to have HIV-negative partners. * ARVs should be given to all HIV positive pregnant women, regardless of the strength of their immune system, and has them continue taking the medicines for life. This not only treats HIV infected women and prevents transmission to their infants, it can also protect their partners. * Evidence suggests that early treatment of HIV infected persons can make the virus silent, prevent the rebound of virus, reduce the need of lifelong medication. WHO is now reviewing recent studies that point to the potential health benefits of giving ARVs earlier, before the immune system starts to weaken. * In addition to more targeted treatment approaches recent studies suggest ARVs can also be used to protect people who are currently HIV-negative, but are at high risk of becoming infected like intravenous drug users, sex workers etc.
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