The 2010 UNAIDS report, released just prior to World AIDS Day on December 1, provides some encouraging news about the trend of the global AIDS epidemic. The number of people newly infected with HIV has decreased nearly 20 percent over the past decade, and in the 15 countries most affected, the transmission rate among young people has declined by 25 percent. The percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women who received treatment to prevent transmission of the virus to their child increased from 35 percent in 2007 to 53 percent in 2009. In 2009 alone, 1.2 million people received HIV antiretroviral therapy for the first time—an increase in the number of people receiving treatment of 30 percent in a single year.
While there have been significant achievements in the battle against the HIV epidemic, the fight is far from over. In a time of financial constraint, continued focus on expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support is critical. More than 33 million people are living with HIV worldwide, and while the number of new infections has decreased over the last 10 years, the number still remains high. There are two new HIV infections for every one person starting HIV treatment and 10 million people still in need of treatment who do not have access.
Direct Relief works to increase access to HIV testing, prevention, care, and treatment in 60 countries worldwide. Direct Relief collaborates with Ministries of Health and nongovernmental organizations to provide an ongoing supply of medical commodities and drugs which are essential for their HIV programs. Through this extensive network of over 9,000 health facilities in countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America, front-line healthcare providers have access to the supplies they need to provide HIV testing, treatment, and support for people living with or at risk of HIV infection.
Focus on Prevention
To support programs that focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Direct Relief distributed 3 million rapid HIV tests in 2010 alone. These rapid HIV tests are used to ensure that pregnant women know their HIV status and can be enrolled in appropriate care and treatment. Once tested, an HIV pregnant women can be put on treatment and can reduce the risk of passing the virus to her child from 40 percent, in the absence of testing and treatment, to as little as 1 percent with appropriate interventions. In 2009, 370,000 children were infected with HIV through mother-to-child transmission, which represents almost a 25 percent reduction from the infection rates five years ago. While the percent of pregnant women in low and middle income countries that received an HIV test increased to 26 percent in 2009, it remains low. Continued effort needs to focus on expanding testing and treatment for pregnant women in order to eliminate mother-to-child transmission, a global UNAIDS goal for 2015.
Treatment for Opportunistic Infections
In 2010, Direct Relief became the implementing partner for the Diflucan® Partnership Program, a Pfizer global initiative that makes available Diflucan® to support treatment of opportunistic infections for people living with HIV. Diflucan® (fluconazole) is an essential anti-fungal medicine which has an important place in many National HIV/AIDS treatment programs. The Diflucan Partnership Program targets two opportunistic infections—esophageal candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis—serious conditions with painful symptoms, and in the case of cryptococcal meningitis, can be life-threatening if gone untreated. Diflucan® helps people living with HIV manage their opportunistic infections and promotes their ability to live more healthy, productive lives. In 2010, which marked the ten-year anniversary of the Partnership, Direct Relief distributed Diflucan to Ministries of Health and non-governmental organizations in 13 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with a total wholesale value of over $80 million.
Hospice and Palliative Care
People with HIV are living longer, more productive lives due in large part to improved access to antiretroviral therapy. However, the number of AIDS-related deaths remains significant. In 2009, 1.8 million people died due to AIDS-related causes, which left over 16.6 million children under age 17 without their parents. Direct Relief supports the palliative care and hospice networks in sub-Saharan Africa that strive to prevent and relieve suffering and to improve quality of life for people facing serious, complex illness, in Sub-Saharan Africa primarily means HIV. Direct Relief works with the African Palliative Care Association and the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa and their member hospice and palliative care sites. In 2010, Direct Relief distributed medicines and medical supplies to 28 sites in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda, to support health providers' care for people living with HIV and other terminal illnesses.