Access to treatment for HIV/AIDS

The discussions of a meeting on how access to treatment of HIV/AIDS can be made possible through research are presented in this report. Although the HIV/AIDS treatment discussed focuses on treatment using ARVs, other treatments discussed included treatment of opportunistic infections, palliative and end-of-life care. It provides evidence of how the availability of HAART has reduced AIDS-related mortality; however the number of PLHA in many countries continues to increase. it suggests that although most countries see the cost of providing ARVs as high it is more costly for them when they do not provide in terms of morbidity and mortality, declining agricultural and industrial productivity, increased numbers of orphans, and great economic hardships for affected families. It recommends that for any treatment program to be successful there should be synergy between all the components involved.