Fight to end HIV infections on track

By Paula Kruger

Posted Wed Dec 1, 2010 7:24pm AEDT

A report by UNICEF shows there has been a big improvement in getting help to deal with HIV infection to mothers in need.

Half of the pregnant women with HIV in developing countries are getting the drugs that prevent their babies from being infected.

But the report also shows there is still a long way to go if UNICEF is to reach its goal of eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV by 2015.

UNICEF Australia CEO Norman Gillespie says some progress is being made.

"There is indeed a message of hope on this World Aids Day that very significant progress is indeed being made and particularly in an area that we are interested in, which was the transmission of HIV from mothers to children," he said.

"We really succeeded in making progress, such that we can probably confidently say that this will be eliminated by 2015."

Mr Gillespie says increased awareness in countries that are being affected through education, supply of drugs, free clinics and breaking down of cultural taboos was the reason for optimism.

"In 2005, only 15 per cent of HIV-positive pregnant women in these developing countries were actually getting access to antiretroviral drugs. And that figure in 2009 has dramatically risen to 53 per cent," he said.

"So we are seeing marked progress, however I would caution that, because there clearly are pockets in the world that we are still not getting to.

"So we must always be conscious that these averages, while sounding very encouraging, really we should be concerned about the least able in that society."

Challenges ahead

With many infected people living in remote areas that do not have established HIV clinics, getting drugs to people who most need it remains an ongoing challenge.

Mr Gillespie says one of the countries that is of particular concern is Papua New Guinea, where only 13 per cent of HIV positive women are receiving treatment due to the combined factors of isolation, cultural and social stigma.

In a bid to address these issues, UNICEF, together with the World Health Organisation and others, have developed a mother-baby pack containing essential drugs and instructions for safe delivery practices for those mothers who cannot get to clinics and hospitals.

"Clearly that's what we'd prefer, but if not, getting these packs out can be a life saver and these packs are very inexpensive. They're selling for about $95 and they really are making a huge difference," Mr Gillespie said.

Mr Gillespie says PNG, along with Cambodia, remain a major focus of UNICEF's HIV reduction efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.

"I've been there recently and seen for myself where things are really working, they've arrested it but there's still a long way to go," Mr Gillespie said.

"These statistics are still only 53 per cent - that's a great increase in five years, but that's not 100 [per cent].

"If you go down the street in Cambodia, you will not miss the banners about preventing aids, about the use of condoms, about encouraging people to go to the free clinics.

"That's really what you need, that widespread education and a reduction in the stigma that's attached to this terrible disease."