http://www.euro.who.int/mediacentre/PR/2006/20061129_1 Press release, Copenhagen, 29 November 2006
With tens of thousands of Europeans needing treatment for HIV/AIDS, WHO for the first time issues state-of-the-art treatment and care clinical protocols for HIV/AIDS for the European Region. "These protocols will help to address the pressing need for a comprehensive and consistent approach to treating and caring for people with HIV/AIDS in all 53 Member States of the WHO European Region," says Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
The protocols have been two years in preparation, and address all aspects of HIV/AIDS treatment and care.
There are 13 protocols, each with a specific focus such as HIV/hepatitis co-infection, HIV/tuberculosis co-infection, and support for the sexual and reproductive health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Dr Srdan Matic, Regional Adviser, HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, WHO Regional Office for Europe explains: "These protocols are particularly timely, given that concern about the prevalence of hepatitis C infection in HIV-positive patients in Europe is particularly high and in comparison to the rest of the world is still increasing. On average in the European Region, 40% of those infected with HIV are also infected with hepatitis C. In some urban areas, this figure is as high as 50-90%. The importance of testing for hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients must not be underestimated and our protocols address both this and how to treat co-infection".
Other protocols provide comprehensive guidance on antiretroviral treatment for adults, children and, most importantly for the European Region, injecting drug users. Many countries often exclude such users from the treatment they desperately need. This protocol specifically tackles, in a comprehensive way, the difficult problem of providing care for injecting drug users who have HIV/AIDS.
Estimates place the number of people in the European Region living with HIV/AIDS at 2.44 million. The situation is particularly serious in the eastern parts of the Region, where the HIV/AIDS burden is growing fastest.
Estonia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine have the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the Region, with the latter two countries home to about 90% of all the people with HIV/AIDS in eastern Europe. According to AIDS Epidemic Update December 2006, using non-sterile injecting equipment remains the predominant risk factor in the Russian Federation's epidemic.
"The new European HIV/AIDS treatment and care protocols will provide up-to-date, evidence-based guidance on providing optimal services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Europe. They are an important part of assisting Member States in developing effective and efficient health services and systems," says Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Deputy Regional Director for Europe.
The protocols will be available from 1 December 2006 on the WHO Regional Office web site, under sexually transmitted infections/HIV/AIDS. According to Dr Kevin De Cock, Director HIV/AIDS, WHO headquarters: "The comprehensive
European HIV/AIDS treatment and care protocols, released on World AIDS Day, are an essential step towards the ambitious goal of universal access to prevention, treatment and care by 2010".
Detailed data and an analysis of the HIV/AIDS situation in each Member State are also available on the WHO Regional Office web site, under the country information section of the sexually transmitted infections/HIV/AIDS programme pages.
For more information contact:
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Dr Srdan Matic
Regional Adviser, HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 16 06
Fax: +45 39 17 18 75
E-mail: sma@euro.who.int
PRESS INFORMATION:
Ms Liuba Negru
Press and Media Relations
WHO Regional Office for Europe
Scherfigsvej 8, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark
Tel.: +45 39 17 13 44
Fax: +45 39 17 18 80
E-mail: LNE@euro.who.int
