[Viva] Fwd: NEWS STATEMENT: Trial demonstrates that a human rights perspective to treatment for all people living with HIV is now necessary

[Margarite Sanchez]

fyi ...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: GNP+ Communications <newsletter at gnpplus.net>
Date: Fri, Jun 12, 2015 at 3:33 AM
Subject: NEWS STATEMENT: Trial demonstrates that a human rights perspective
to treatment for all people living with HIV is now necessary
To: "margaritesanchez at gmail.com" <margaritesanchez at gmail.com>


As the World Health Organisation (WHO) gathers to discuss the 2015
guidelines for antiretroviral medicines, the Global Network of People
Living with HIV (GNP+) hails the results of the *START* (Strategic Timing
of AntiRetroviral Treatment) trial, which has indicated that a new epoch
for approaches to HIV treatment has dawned[1]
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/t1aFSM5Nu1mNNMfr0D7poA/gAKPEe1WDfggqj892V9tI892zg>
.

“The results show unequivocally that universal access to treatment for all
people living with HIV at diagnosis who want it, regardless of their CD4
count, is a right to health. There is no ethical reason now not to make
treatment accessible to all,” said Suzette Moses-Burton, Executive Director
of GNP+.

Just as existing treatment targets are based around the seminal results of
the HPTN 052 study
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/GS3LOIjVpli8WUa5SVz6wQ/gAKPEe1WDfggqj892V9tI892zg>,
which led to a public health Treatment as Prevention approach, the START
trial highlights the health benefits of early treatment for all people
living with HIV. GNP+ calls on global health officials to heed the message
of the trial as the WHO 2015 antiretroviral guidelines development group
convenes and debates what the new guidelines should include.

“As target-setting debates around the post-2015 Sustainable Development
Goals continue, the community of people living with HIV shouldn’t collude
in austerity arguments of resource allocation, and public health arguments
about prioritising some people over others. To make the end of AIDS a
reality we need treatment to be accessible and affordable for all those who
need and choose to start treatment,” said Suzette Moses-Burton.

However, the availability of treatment comes with some caveats. It is
crucial that treatment is of the best quality, accessible and available,
that some of the root causes of interrupted treatment such as drug stock
outs are tackled, and that freedom to choose when to take treatment remains
a core value. Finally, we need to dispel existing fears that treatment is
for those who are already sick by increasing the treatment literacy amongst
communities. People living with HIV should understand that high quality
treatment is less toxic than HIV, and that it is never too early to start
treatment from a health point of view.

Edwin J. Bernard, Co-ordinator of the HIV Justice Network, points out that
treatment for all will only be effective in the context of tackling a range
of other issues for people living with HIV: “If we don’t also take action
on reducing stigma for people living with HIV and decriminalisation of
populations living with HIV, particularly men who have sex with men, sex
workers and people who use drugs, then the full rights of people living
with HIV, as articulated in the Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention
Framework
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/SAHn1w7JYR8892Qzge4SWVzQ/gAKPEe1WDfggqj892V9tI892zg>,
will never be realized.”



*-ENDS-*

For more information, please contact:

GNP+: Victoria Clarke, External Relations & Communications Officer

vclarke at gnpplus.net

Office: +31 (0)21 Skype: vclarkegnpplus

*The Gl**obal Network of People Living With HIV (GNP+) is the global
network for and by people living with HIV. Its mission is to improve the
quality of life of people living with HIV. The vision is a powerful and
united worldwide social movement of people living with HIV, with their
leadership and voices at the centre of the HIV response. GNP+’s objective
is equitable access to health and social services for people living with
HIV by focusing on social justice, rights and involvement. This will be
achieved through GNP’s purpose, which is to promote the greater and more
meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in programme and policy
development (the GIPA principle). **For more information, please visit
www.gnpplus.net <http://www.gnpplus.net>. You can also connect with us on *
*Facebook*
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/Vv5FNW6YpiqZE7aUkT5I9Q/gAKPEe1WDfggqj892V9tI892zg>*
and **Twitter*
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/JuMRC67iZm00MlU7dX5WYQ/gAKPEe1WDfggqj892V9tI892zg>
*.*



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[1]
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/zh4763892gGvKisORxOBQmJeIw/gAKPEe1WDfggqj892V9tI892zg>
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25711318
<http://newsletter.gnpplus.net//l/spSf2l48Wz9lwUjkOpG9yA/i9nx7634APlkU6Id8920Ef763763LQ/gAKPEe1WDfggqj892V9tI892zg>
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