New Delhi, Sep 30 (Inditop.com) People at high risk of getting HIV infection like sex workers, gays and injecting drug users (IDUs) continue to face legal and sociocultural barriers in getting healthcare services, says a new report released Wednesday.
The report, which was released in Geneva, was jointly launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
It said that in 2008, more data became available on access to HIV services for populations at high risk of HIV infection, including sex workers, gays and injecting drug users.
While HIV interventions are expanding in some settings, population groups at high risk of HIV infection continue to face technical, legal and sociocultural barriers in accessing health care services.
“All indications point to the number of people needing treatment rising dramatically over the next few years,” said Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS.
“Ensuring equitable access will be one of our primary concerns and UNAIDS will continue to act as a voice for the voiceless, ensuring that marginalized groups and people most vulnerable to HIV infection have access to the services that are so vital to their wellbeing and to that of their families and communities,” it added.
However, access to HIV services for women and children had improved.
“About 45 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women received antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV transmission to their children, up from 35 percent in 2007,” the report said.
Some 21 percent of pregnant women in low and middle-income countries received an HIV test, up from 15 percent in 2007, it added.
It also said more children were benefiting from paediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes.
“The number of children under 15 years of age who received ART rose from approximately 198 000 in 2007 to 275 700 in 2008, reaching 38 percent of those in need,” it added.
Globally, AIDS remains the leading cause of mortality among women of reproductive age.
“Although there is increasing emphasis on women and children in the global HIV/AIDS response, the disease continues to have a devastating impact on their health, livelihood and survival,” said Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF executive director.
The report said over four million HIV positive people in low-and middle income countries received (ART) in 2008, a 36 percent jump over the previous year and a 10-fold increase over five years.
India has an estimated 2.3 million people living with HIV and AIDS — there are 800,000 HIV people registered for treatment, of which 270,000 people are on ART.
The Indian government has set a target of reaching out to over 300,000 adults and 40,000 children by 2012. At the moment, only 14,000 children are getting the therapy.
rounak