• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 09 / 30 / 2010

---

2010.09.29 - 13:46:01 / [email protected]. HAVANA, CUBA.- UN’s Joint Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) presented a study in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday in which Cuba and Brazil’s were recognized for their significant progress in the treatment of the epidemics.

The report, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reviews the situation concerning HIV-AIDS of 144 countries, Prensa Latina reported.

On the study WHO expert Yves Souteyrand commented that Cuba is one of the eight nations of the world that with full access to antiretroviral treatments.

According to official sources from the island, HIV-AIDS is under control in Cuba and the estimated prevalence rate in the sexually active population is 0.05 percent, recognized as one of the lowest figures of the world.

Cuban HIV-AIDS patients receive free antiretroviral treatment produced in the country, which has allowed a fall in mortality rates.

Regarding the drugs used in the antiretroviral therapy, Souteyrand noted that South Africa has been able to cover the preventative actions in mother-to-children transmission, while Brazil has done it in the pediatric field.

According to the www.envio.org.ni website, UNAIDS has calculated that around 600,000 people total live with HIV-AIDS in Brazil and of them all 116,000 who need antiretroviral treatment, receive the therapy for free from the public health system.

The study yields that 37 developing nations have made significant progress in the improvement of access to services related to HIV-AIDS.

However, UNICEF specialist Jimmy Kolker revealed that more than 1,000 are infected by the virus every day during the pregnancy, delivery or by breastfeeding.

The report adds that more than 5.2 million people need antiretroviral treatment in middle and low-income countries and only 36 percent of them have it. (ACN)

Source: Radio Rebelde