[Viva] Fwd: GNP+ NEWS RELEASE: Call for human rights-based guidance on PrEP and ART as prevention

[Margarite Sanchez]

>From the Global Network of People living +
Interesting connection to criminalization.
Margarite

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: gcaswell at gnpplus.net(Georgina at GNP+) <gcaswell at gnpplus.net>
Date: Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 3:47 AM
Subject: GNP+ NEWS RELEASE: Call for human rights-based guidance on PrEP and
ART as prevention
To: margaritesanchez at gmail.com


*Two new studies confirm antiretrovirals can prevent HIV transmission: Call
for human rights-based guidance on PrEP and ART as prevention*

Amsterdam, 18 July 2011 - Preliminary results from two large studies have
now shown that a daily antiretroviral tablet taken by people who do not have
HIV reduces their risk of contracting HIV by up to 73%. The Partners PrEP
trial involved 4758 HIV-discordant couples in Kenya and Uganda. The TDF2
trial involved 1219 men and women in Botswana.


The studies looked at both tenofovir or tenofovir plus emtricitabine
(Truvada) and found that each, when taken in advance by the HIV-negative
partner as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), can prevent heterosexual
transmission of HIV from men to women and from women to men.


“The results of these studies highlight yet again the essential role of
affordable ARVs in prevention. They are a major breakthrough allowing a new
vision on current prevention efforts,” says Kevin Moody, International
Coordinator and CEO of the Global Network of People Living with HIV.
“Recently we learnt from the HPTN052 study that antiretrovirals taken by
people living with HIV reduce the risk of HIV transmission to the
HIV-negative partner. Now we have evidence of an additional ARV-based
prevention tool that allows a person not living with HIV to protect
themselves from contracting HIV.”


The full potential of this new HIV prevention tool will only be realised
once cost is not a barrier to access. Provision of antiretrovirals for PrEP
must not come at the expense of scaling up treatment programmes for those
who do need treatment. Furthermore, consideration must be made of how to
deliver PrEP and monitor the health of people taking it, especially in
settings with overburdened health systems.


GNP+ calls on the World Health Organization and Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS to ensure guidance is developed and published for
individuals and couples on how to make informed decisions about the HIV
prevention options that work best for them, as well as guidance for those
providing services to those in need to access ART and PrEP. This guidance
should be developed in collaboration with networks of people living with HIV
and key populations.  Information about the benefits and risks involved in
taking antiretrovirals, and skills to discuss and negotiate the various
options, are essential for good adherence to both prevention and treatment.


Serious concerns remain about the long-term health effects for HIV-negative
people when taking antiretrovirals for HIV prevention. The studies now
published used standard daily doses of tenofovir and Truvada, but more
research is needed to determine whether lower doses or intermittent dosing
might be as effective and if they may improve long-term safety, adherence
and reduce costs.


The impact PrEP might have on ARV resistance is yet to be determined, but it
is likely that people unaware that they are already living with HIV will
develop resistance when taking PrEP. To better manage this risk, there
should be dramatically increased access to high quality human rights-based
HIV testing, counselling and support services, since individuals taking PrEP
will need to test on a regular basis. In-depth and ongoing research remains
necessary in order to support individuals and couples to make informed
decisions.


In jurisdictions where HIV exposure and/or transmission are criminalised,
the use of antiretrovirals for HIV prevention by either HIV-positive or
HIV-negative people, or both, potentially transforms the ethical and legal
landscape in terms of 'shared responsibility' to prevent new infections.
Supportive policy and legal environments are essential to enable individuals
living with HIV, as well as those at risk of HIV from key population groups,
to benefit from the full potential of these new prevention technologies,
without fear of (further) criminalisation.

------------------------------

The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) is a global network for
and by people living with HIV. GNP+ advocates to improve the quality of life
of people living with HIV. The central theme for the work of GNP+ is
Reclaiming Our Lives! GNP+ programmes are organised under four platforms of
action: Empowerment; Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention; Human Rights;
and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

More information about this news release: Please contact GNP+ (Georgina
Caswell, Programme Officer, by email gcaswell at gnpplus.net )


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