Towards Universal Access: Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector. Progress Report 2008

The close of 2007 marks an important step in the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Nearly 3 million people are now receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries, according to a new report launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Towards Universal Access: Scaling Up Priority HIV/AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector also points to other gains. These include improved access to interventions aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), expanded testing and counselling, and greater country commitment to male circumcision in heavily affected regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, countries are still far from meeting universal access goals. An estimated 2.5 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2007, and overall, ART coverage still remains low—only 31% of people estimated to be in need of treatment in low- and middle-income countries were receiving it in 2007 This report provides in depth information on: - - Treatment and care for people living with HIV - HIV testing and counselling - Health sector interventions for HIV prevention - Scaling up HIV services for women and children - Strengthening health systems and health information - Towards universal access: the way forward