Who Sets New HIV/Aids Strategy

Evelyn Lirri

2 June 2011

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a new comprehensive HIV/Aids strategy it hopes can avert up to 4.2 million new infections over the next five years. The Global Health Strategy on HIV/Aids 2011-2015 will guide actions by WHO and governments around the world in dealing with the Aids scourge.

It was adopted at the 64th World Health Assembly that concluded recently in Geneva.

Through this strategy, WHO says some two million lives could also be saved if treatment guidelines already in place are fully implemented.

“Under the new strategy, WHO aims to promote greater innovation in HIV prevention, treatment, testing and care services so that countries can achieve the goal of universal access to HIV services,” says a statement from WHO.

With an estimated 7,000 people becoming newly infected with HIV every day and about 5,000 dying, WHO says simpler and more affordable treatment and prevention are urgently needed.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) estimates some 33 million people are living with the virus globally.

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