Millions receive HIV treatment

More than four million people in low and middle-income countries were getting treatment for HIV by the end of last year, new figures have shown.

Research from the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that antiretroviral therapy is on the rise.

Over the past five years there has been a ten-fold increase in the treatment, with the amount of people benefiting from the therapy rising by 36 per cent in one year.

The report, titled Towards Universal Access: Scaling Up Priority HIV/Aids Interventions in the Health Sector, also noted improved access to services to help stop mothers transmitting the virus to children.

Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, said that the study highlights the progress made in the fight against Aids.

"But we need to do more. At least five million people living with HIV still do not have access to life-prolonging treatment and care," she commented.

"Prevention services fail to reach many in need. Governments and international partners must accelerate their efforts to achieve universal access to treatment."

Unicef and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids also contributed to the report.

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