Economic crisis poses a threat to AIDS treatment worldwide

The recent economic crisis may pose a threat to HIV/AIDS patients worldwide. With the financial future of so many countries in question, it appears that the funding that has provided retro viral therapy for over 300 million people may be cut. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS, gave a strong warning about cutting funding.

“Interrupting that…or slowing down would not only be a disaster for millions of people but also, it would undermine the huge investments that have been made over the last few years, just when the return of the investment is starting to come now.”

Speaking at a Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion on “the past and present challenges for Global Health and AIDS”, Piot said that the U.S.’s effort in combating AIDS internationally has saved millions of lives.

“It was really heartening to hear President Bush and Secretary Rice…at the summit on development, to make a plea for continuing American leadership here, and I hope the next President will follow on the same lines.”

Piot stated that the world’s funding must continue to be a priority to guarantee that 3 million people on retro viral therapy can remain in treatment, those who do not have treatment find it, and that AIDS prevention continues to be pursued.

Piot discussed the necessary steps to continue fighting AIDS, including confronting HIV/AIDS with a multilateral approach; using an approach that blends science with human rights, and adopting an attitude of immediate action.

“If we would have waited until Health systems and Health services [were] functioning very well before starting with retro viral therapy, which was the conventional wisdom of every single donor, I know what would have happened with the 3 or 4 million people on retroviral therapy today. They would be dead,” said Piot.