International AIDS Conference

While gains made in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the past decade are encouraging, countries most affected by the pandemic continue to struggle to place enough people on treatment and implement the best science and strategies to fight the disease.

A first-of-its-kind study released today at the International AIDS Conference by MSF maps progress across 23 countries on HIV treatment strategies, tools, and policies needed to increase treatment scale-up. 

As HIV treatment is scaled up in developing countries, the lack of access to viral load monitoring, a method of measuring the level of HIV in a patient that is routinely used in wealthy countries, must be addressed. 

Mexico City, 3 August 2008 – On the opening day of the XVII International Aids Conference, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned of the deadly impact that the lack of health care workers is having on AIDS treatment and care in southern Africa.  In a satellite meeting called “Mind the Gaps” organized by MSF here today, experts described the scope and impact of the health care worker shortage as well as the critical need to increase government and donor commitment to taking immediate concrete steps to retain and support health care workers now.

Dr Eric Goemaere, medical co-ordinator for MSF in South Africa, discusses diagnosing and managing HIV-TB co-infection.

Karen Day, Pharmacist Coordinator for MSF’s Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, provides an overview of some of the key issues in the 11th edition report ‘Untangling the Web of Antiretroviral Price Reductions.’

Elena Alonso, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical advisor for HIV/AIDS-TB programs.

Dr. Mit Philips of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) answers questions about how the lack of health care workers threatens further roll-out of HIV/AIDS treatment to those in urgent need of it in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Peter Saranchuk was the medical coordinator at MSF’s HIV/AIDS project in Lesotho. Here, he explains the reasons behind the dangerous relationship between TB and HIV.

Ellen ‘t Hoen, Policy Advocacy Director of MSF’s Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, outlines how the a patent pool would work and what benefits it could bring.

MSF began treating MDR-TB in Kenya in May of 2006. With four patients enrolled at "Blue House" and three on the shores of Lake Victoria in a town called Homa Bay, MSF remains the only provider of MDR-TB treatment in the country today. Around Nairobi alone, it is estimated there are about 50 cases, but there is no capacity to absorb them.