AFRICA: Pilot programme offers accelerated HIV/AIDS treatment

A new pilot programme tasked with providing wider access to HIV/AIDS treatment and care was launched in four African countries this week.

The CARE partnership pilot programme, run by Dutch NGO PharmAccess International (PAI) and the drug company Roche, is being initiated in major urban treatment centres in Cote D'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal and Uganda. The first step of the pilot programme will run for two years.

According to a statement released by the NGO, the initiative will deliver Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) by focusing on training and building up local medical infrastructures. Over the last six months, 100 healthcare professionals have already received specialised education to support these treatment programmes.

"In environments with limited resources, partnerships are needed to provide holistic comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, since effective HIV treatment is not solely based upon the supply of drugs," the statement said.

The access programme contains the following components: educational programmes for health-care providers, pharmacists and laboratory technicians, patient education and counseling, HIV awareness programmes and prevention strategies and technical support.

The goal of PAI is to eventually be able to provide treatment in a sustainable way for one million patients in developing countries.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews,

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