Treat HIV earlier to prolong life says WHO

Published on Sunday 29 November 2009 22:44

NEW advice on treating HIV patients at an earlier stage will inevitably present "an enormous challenge" to the international community, a British minister has warned.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also recommending for the first time that breast- feeding mothers or their babies take the relevant drugs to prevent transmission of the disease.

International development minister Mike Foster said that guidelines from the WHO will "significantly increase the demand for treatment".

WHO now recommends that the drugs are started before their immune system strength falls below 350 cells/mm3, regardless of whether patients are showing symptoms.

It also wants to see the phasing out of the drug Stavudine, which is widely used in developing countries due to its low cost and widespread availability.

The organisation's medical experts recommend instead Zidovudine or Tenofovir which do not have the same long-term and irreversible side-effects.

Dr Hiroki Nakatani, of the WHO, said: "These new recommendations are based on the most up-to-date, available data. Their widespread adoption will enable many more people in high-burden areas to live longer and healthier lives."

Daisy Mafubelu, WHO's assistant director general for family and community health, said: "In the new recommendations, we are sending a clear message that breast-feeding is a good option for every baby, even those with HIV-positive mothers, when they have access to anti-retroviral drugs."

Mr Foster said: "The Department for International Development is committed to increasing access to effective and affordable HIV treatments.

"That is why UK aid supports the cheaper manufacturing of current treatments, and the UNITAID patent pool to help develop new, effective and affordable HIV treatments, particularly for children and for people living in developing countries."