In a recent article published on guardian.co.uk it is discussed that the international community has put AIDS and HIV prevention on the forefront of international health concerns. The international health community has put focus on a program called TRAP (Treatment As Prevention) to help curb the spread of the virus. This new approach to AIDS and HIV prevention has shown to be very effective for heterosexual couples, showing almost 100% effectiveness. With aggregate data showing a decline in HIV/AIDS over the past 15 years, but the decompressed data showing a different story in developing countries, TRAP will, in all likelihood, curb the uneven distribution of HIV/AIDS infections rates, so that both the aggregate and decompressed data show a decline in infection. This new prevention method, with the increased funding by developed countries around the world will be attempting to get more than 9 million people on the TRAP treatment by 2015, which will bring the number of people receiving some form of treatment for HIV/AIDS all the way to 15 million. This is a bold new step in trying to irradiate the devastating HIV/AIDS virus that has claimed more than 25 million lives since it was first identified.
It's great that they found an effective method of preventing HIV from spreading. However, implementing it everywhere isn't very easy. There are a variety of obstacles in various regions which may hinder or prevent the possibility of implementing such a program in the first place. And there is also cost; treating HIV is often very costly, often much too expensive for families in developing countries. As with all programs, this would need a strong amount of support and cash to function. It all depends on how much the international scene values international health and how much it recognizes the need to help treat HIV in developing countries.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly true what misoc162 has said. The huge costs involved is but the first of many problems facing the introduction of this program. Despite this, perhaps we can be hopeful that people will be encouraged by this new approach to fighting the Aids pandemic and will dedicate more time and money to this cause.
ReplyDeleteOn a slightly different note, one of the best aspects of this approach is the fact that it effectively halts the spread of HIV by those on the treatment. Unfortunately, those with HIV might not show symptoms for months, and thus can unknowingly pass on the virus. Of course, it will work best for those known to have HIV but it will be interesting to see how well this approach works in practice.