New Aids strategy needed to prevent crisis

A crisis could be on the way in the fight against Aids in developing countries, an expert has claimed.

This has been discussed in research which has been published in the Health Affairs journal.

Robert Hecht, author of research, said that a strategy change is needed if the problem is to be brought under control.

He said that by 2031 developing countries could require $35 billion (£21 billion) each year, which is three times the current annual amount.

Mr Hecht commented that if there is not a major change in approach, the Aids pandemic will remain past its 50th year in 2031.

He told Agence France Presse: "We are on the verge of a serious crisis. The cost of fighting the epidemic for treatment and prevention is rising very rapidly around the world, especially in south-eastern Africa."

HIV and Aids were in the news earlier this week, when a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins found that self testing for HIV could be as effective as hospital examinations.

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