Integrating HIV care and HIV prevention: legal, policy and programmatic recommendations.
Since the start of the HIV epidemic we have witnessed significant advances in our understanding of the impact of HIV disease worldwide. Furthermore, breakthroughs in treatment and the rapid expansion of HIV care and treatment programmes in heavily impacted countries over the past 5 years are potentially critical assets in a comprehensive approach to controlling the continued spread of HIV globally. A strategic approach to controlling the epidemic requires continued and comparable expansion and integration of care, treatment and prevention programmes. As every new infection involves transmission, whether vertically or horizontally, from a person living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), the integration of HIV prevention into HIV care settings has the potential to prevent thousands of new infections, as well as to improve the lives of PLWHA. In this paper, we highlight how to better utilize opportunities created by the antiretroviral roll-out to achieve more effective prevention, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We offer specific recommendations for action in the domains of healthcare policy and practice in order better to utilize the advances in HIV treatment to advance HIV prevention.
Remien
Robert H
RH
HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, NY State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. rhr1@columbia.edu
Berkman
Alan
A
Myer
Landon
L
Bastos
Francisco I
FI
Kagee
Ashraf
A
El-Sadr
Wafaa M
WM
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011640:Public Policy
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents