World AIDS Day 2014 is an opportunity to harness the power of social change to put people first and close the access gap.
Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible, but only by closing the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who are being left behind.
Closing the gap means empowering and enabling all people, everywhere, to access the services they need.
- By closing the HIV testing gap, the 19 million people who are unaware of their HIV-positive status can begin to get support.
- By closing the treatment gap, all 35 million people living with HIV will have access to life-saving medicine.
- By closing the gap in access to medicines for children, all children living with HIV will be able to access treatment, not just the 24% who have access today.
- By closing the access gap, all people can be included as part of the solution.
Closing the gap means that ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is possible.
Closing the gap in HIV prevention and treatment
On World AIDS Day 2014 WHO will release new guidelines on providing antiretrovirals (ARVs) as an emergency prevention following HIV exposure, and on the use of the antibiotic co-trimoxazole to prevent HIV-related infections.
The guidelines provide advice on providing ARVs as post-exposure prophylaxis (“PEP”) for people who have been exposed to HIV – such as health workers, sex workers, and survivors of rape.
In 2013, WHO published consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretrovirals that promote earlier, simpler and less toxic interventions to keep people healthier for longer, and to help prevent HIV transmission. A growing number of countries with a high burden of HIV have adopted these guidelines. In 2013, a record 13 million people were able to access life-saving ARVs.
But too many people still lack access to comprehensive HIV treatment and prevention services. The 1 December supplement to the WHO consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection, released in June 2013, aims to help bridge that gap.
