AIDS conference in Australia to generalize access to treatment

The conference of the International AIDS Society (IAS), which brings together experts from around the world, began on Sunday in Sydney with a call for easier access of the poorest countries to progress in treatment and prevention.

"Science has given us the tools to prevent and treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) effectively (...) The fact that we have not yet implemented is a failure for which the international community should be ashamed" , said IAS President, Pedro Cahn, opening the fourth conference of the society.The IAS brings together 11,000 experts from around the world.Just 11,000 are every day people get HIV in the world, despite the great advances in the study and treatment from the onset of the disease 25 years ago, lamented Cahn.IAS President stressed that in poor countries only a third of HIV-positive receive effective treatment. This figure is even lower when it comes to access to condoms or clean needles.The conference will conclude on Wednesday, brings together 5,000 delegates. Meeting is expected to review the new generation of AIDS drugs, which are more effective and have fewer side effects than antiretrovirals.It is also hoped that the meeting ended with the signing of a "Sydney Declaration" to pressure governments and donors to grant to research by 10%. This effort should enhance the efficiency of research programs."We need more resources," stressed the Frenchman Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.Created in 2002 and based in Geneva, the agency receives public and private funds.Kazatchkine also called for the development progress in recent years.In 2001, only some hundreds of thousands of HIV positive have access to antiretrovirals in developing countries. Currently there are 2.2 million.The figure goes far beyond what most of us thought possible, "Kazatchkine welcomed.The U.S. government adviser on AIDS, Anthony Fauci, praised the "progress" made in the treatment of the disease but warned that they only cover a portion of the affected population."Today is attended only by 28% of people who need treatment," lamented the head.Some 40 million people worldwide living with HIV. More than 25 million patients have already died because of disease.