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One third of the world’s population who are HIV positive live in southern Africa. No other region in the world has been hit worse by the pandemic.
HIV and AIDS has a devastating effect on individuals, families, communities and the region’s socio-economic stability. Women in southern Africa are much more likely to be infected with HIV than men as their economic, social and political marginalisation increases their vulnerability to the disease.
ACTSA campaigns to ensure the international community supports southern Africa’s efforts to tackle the pandemic. In particular we seek to ensure that gender equality is at the core of the response to HIV and AIDS.
Failing women and children
Vertical transmission of HIV (mother-to-child transmission) has virtually been eliminated in richer countries where HIV positive women receive decent treatment, care and support.
The situation is completely different in southern Africa, where the majority of pregnant women with HIV do not have access to the testing, counselling, prevention and treatment they need.
In 2001 governments made a commitment to halve infant infections by 2010. Yet little has been done to reach this goal.
ACTSA is campaigning for the international community to take immediate action on vertical transmission and address its failure to halve infant infections by 2010.
Push for the Pool
Although the cost of basic HIV and AIDS drugs has gone down in recent years, millions of people need more advanced drugs which are still far too expensive for people and governments in developing countries to afford.
ACTSA has been supporting the Stop AIDS Campaign's calls for a patent pool to make HIV/AIDS treatment affordable. We are delighted that in December 2009 UNITAID approved the implementation of an innovative patent pool for HIV drugs.
The pool should help to save the lives of millions living with HIV across the developing world who are unable to access the life-saving medicines they need. Thank you to everybody who has supported the campaign.
You can find out more at the Join the Push for the Pool website. |