4047.0: Tuesday, November 18, 2003: 8:30 AM-10:00 AM | |||
Oral | |||
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| This session addresses four key issues related to scaled-up treatment of AIDS patients with HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) in Africa. Treatment programs have not been carried out on a large scale in many poor countries to date. However, even limited experience has produced questions about the long-term feasibility and effectiveness of the approach in resource-poor settings, as well as a renewed sense of optimism about the ability to control the pandemic. Access to the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs at reasonable cost has not yet been assured, and a number of important barriers remain. The potential for rapid development of drug resistance is a critical concern that must be addressed early in the process if it is to be avoided. The potential for using temporary ARV therapy for HIV positive women to prevent transmission to their infant through breastfeeding is a hopeful development. Despite the obstacles, limited experience to date suggests the need to provide treatment with an integrated package of prevention, testing/counseling, support, and other services to meet the needs of affected communities. Reshaping health service systems priorities and donor support policies may be needed as well. | |||
| Learning Objectives: NA | |||
| See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information. | |||
| Mary Anne Mercer, MPH, DrPH | |||
| Overview of the Availability of Antiretroviral (ARV) AIDS Treatment in the Global South John Iversen, BA | |||
| Is Widespread Resistance to Anti-retroviral Agents Inevitable in Africa? Malcolm Bryant, MB MS, MPH, Peter Mugyenyi, Christine Whalen | |||
| International Public Health Guidance on HIV and Breastfeeding: Is it affected by ARVs? Miriam H. Labbok, MD, MPH, FACPM | |||
| HIV Therapy in poor countries: New paradigms of international support Stephen Gloyd, MD, MPH | |||
| Organized by: | International Health | ||
| Endorsed by: | Socialist Caucus | ||
| CE Credits: | CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing, Pharmacy | ||