Share & more
HIV/AIDS will continue to devour much of the progress made towards global development, unless the role of poverty in advancing the virus is also acknowledged, an international charity organisation has warned.
In its new report, 'If not now, when? HIV, drugs and prevention', Christian Aid says HIV/AIDS cannot be controlled by cheap drugs alone, and effective poverty-reduction policies that include trade policy changes, debt relief and aid provision must be introduced.
According to Dr Rachel Baggaley, head of the charity's HIV unit, providing antiretrovirals without taking account of these issues will not work against the pandemic in the long term.
The BBC quoted Baggaley as saying: "Poverty is one of the key drivers of this epidemic. Unless we tackle issues of trade, debt and the lack of trained healthcare workers, we cannot begin to win the battle."
Access the full report: http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/indepth/0411worldaids/ifnotnow.pdf
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions