Treating HIV early after testing positive works!

Treating HIV early after testing positive works! New studies released.

8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment & Prevention 19-22 July 2015

The Executive Director of INA (Māori, Indigenous & South Pacific) HIV/AIDS Foundation Marama Pala attended the above conference in Vancouver, Canada last week.

A final study results provide definitive scientific evident to support earlier initiation of HIV treatment.http://www.ias2015.org/WebContent/File/IAS2015_PR_Early_Tx_TasP_Non-Daily_PrEP_20July2015.pdf “What this will hopefully mean for us in Āotearoa (NZ)” says Marama Pala “that once you have tested positive with HIV, regardless of your CD4, the method your antibodies are calculated by, and the amount of virus in your blood cells, starting medication immediately has multiple benefits - benefits that include prevention of passing on the virus to partners, and children and ends the advancement of HIV to AIDS”

For the first time, Jens Lundgren of the University of Copenhagen presented full results of the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment (START) study, which was halted in May 2015 after preliminary data showed significant health benefits of earlier initiation of HIV treatment, regardless of the state of an individual’s immune health. START is the first large scale randomized clinical trial to establish that all individuals with HIV have a considerably lower risk of developing AIDS or other serious illnesses when they begin treatment right away after diagnosis. The final results released today have important implications for the way HIV antiretroviral therapy is used worldwide.

Preview of new WHO ARV Guidelines: The growing body of evidence on the health and prevention benefits of earlier treatment initiation for HIV-infected individuals, as well as evidence for the use of antiretrovirals to prevent new HIV infections, have led the World Health Organization (WHO) to embark on an extensive review and updating of the global health agency’s guidelines for ARV use. The new guidelines will help shape HIV treatment and prevention for years to come. WHO HIV Director Gottfried Hirnschall previewed the new guidelines currently in development, and their implications for individuals, health systems and the future of the epidemic.

Marama Pala (Ngātiawa ki Taranaki) a noted Māori AIDS advocate gave the community statement at the closing of the conference; Marama praised the changes that WHO have made to their policy, “We need WHO and Country governments, partners, funders - to make treatment available to everyone who wants it - regardless of CD4 or Viral load. First and foremost! Treatment for ALL!!”

ENDS

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