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AIDS 2010 is officially opened on the 18th of July 2010. New researches, approaches and scientist progress will be discussed and shared. The AIDS conference is widely known for its unique features in that it’s focusing on single epidemic HIV/AIDS and it’s held every two years. It was expected that new approaches and programs will be introduced and discussed during the week. Treatment 2.0 is one of such approaches being introduced by Michel Sidibé, the new outspoken Executive Director of UNAIDS.
The latest studies show that a reduction in new HIV infections of up to a third can be achieved globally if there is a radical overhaul of the way that the world provides antiretroviral therapy and if global leaders meet their commitments of ensuring that all people in need of treatment are on it.
It’s called treatment as prevention and it is one of the five pillars of the new treatment 2.0 platform. In an effort to maximize the value of antiretroviral therapy, a radical simplified approach is needed. This includes the development of better combination treatment regimens, cheaper and simplified diagnostic tools, and a low cost community led approach to delivery. Treatment 2.0 has five pillars:
- Creating a better pill and diagnostics
- Treatment as prevention
- Stop cost being an obstacle
- Improve uptake of HIV testing and linkage to care
- Strengthening community mobilization
The rationality behind Treatment 2.0 is everyone wants to do things smarter, faster and better but the reality is that treatment today is complicated. From starting HIV treatment to maintenance, the treatment process works, but each step is cumbersome and expensive. Up to 80% of the cost of treatment isn’t for the medication but for the systems to get it to a person and to keep him or her on it. Globally, only one thirds of people who need treatment are on it. HIV testing is underutilized – most people still find out that they are HIV positive when they develop clinical systems of AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy is not homogenous in cost, effectives or tolerability. And resistance can build up, making it necessary to maintain costly labs to monitor each on treatment.
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