UN 2008 AIDS Meet- Universal Access by 2010 Very Challenging

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Greetings from UN 2008 High Level Meet on AIDS, New York, USA

At 2008 High Level meeting on AIDS, General Assembly, United Nations, New York,

10- and 11th June, various speakers at Plenary highlighted the challenging task

of achieving Universal Access target for care, support and treatment ;by 2010.

For every 2 persons put on ART there are 5 new infections is a major challenge.

More so universal access can't be seen in isolation. It requires well strengthen

health care delivery system which is presently at skeleton level in most of the

developing countries having the most of the case burden.

Trained` healthcare manpower must fit in the existing huge gap to play their

effective role for the Universal Access target by 2010.

This is very big task to be achieved within 2 years, i.e. by 2010.

At present 3 million people are put on ART worldwide and by 2010, it is expected

that 13 million people will need it.

More resource allocation for strengthening of health care delivery system by

national government is immediately needed to fit into the & nbsp;Universal target

achievement goal.

At TB HIV Global Leaders Forum present emerging trend of Multidrug Resistant TB

(MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistant TB ( XDR TB ) in Post HIV era was shared by

all the panelist including President Bill Clinton and it was stressed that both

treatment programme needs intergrated approach. & nbsp;But where TB diagnosis and

treatment is & nbsp;highly decentralised, even & nbsp;at Microscopy Centers at 1

lakh population and DOTS Centers & nbsp;at extreme peripheries and

ART & nbsp;availability at Few Medical Colleges and Hospitals & nbsp;remains an

additional challenge.

Apart from these concerns, most important highlight of the event was the echoing

of voice at UN corridors, probably for the first time with such intensity.

Voices of marginalised sections who are having high frequency of infection were

heard with respect and & nbsp;concern and & nbsp;removal of travel restrictions of

PLHIVs & nbsp;by some countries were strongly decried by the participants.

Dr Diwakar Tejaswi MBBS(Gold Medalist); MCH; FCCP; Ph.D.

Consultant Physician ; Medical Director

Regional AIDS Training Center and Network in India (RATNEI)

International Health Organization

B-33, Indirapuri Colony, Patna 800014

India

www.ihousa.org

M: +91-9934361223/ 9835078298