Dr`Diwakar Tejaswi,13 june: At 2008 High Level meeting on AIDS, General Assembly, United Nations, New York, 10- and 11th June, various speakers at Plenary highlighted the challenging task of achieving Universal Access target for care, support and treatment by 2010. For every 2 persons put on ART there are 5 new infections is a major challenge. More so universal access can’t be seen in isolation. It requires well strengthen health care delivery system which is presently at skeleton level in most of the developing countries having the most of the case burden. Trained` healthcare manpower must fit in the existing huge gap to play their effective role for the Universal Access target by 2010. This is very big task to be achieved within 2 years, i.e. by 2010.
At present 3 million people are put on ART worldwide and by 2010, it is expected that 13 million people will need it.More resource allocation for strengthening of health care delivery system by national government is immediately needed to fit into the Universal target achievement goal.
At TB HIV Global Leaders Forum present emerging trend of Multidrug Resistant TB (MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistant TB ( XDR TB ) in Post HIV era was shared by all the panelist including President Bill Clinton and it was stressed that both treatment programme needs intergrated approach. But where TB diagnosis and treatment is highly decentralised, even at Microscopy Centers at 1 lakh population and DOTS Centers at extreme peripheries and ART availability at Few Medical Colleges and Hospitals remains an additional challenge.
Apart from these concerns, most important highlight of the event was the echoing of voice at UN corridors, probably for the first time with such intensity. Voices of marginalised sections who are having high frequency of infection were heard with respect and concern and removal of travel restrictions of PLHIVs by some countries were strongly decried by the participants.
Dr Diwakar Tejaswi
MBBS(Gold Medalist); MCH; FCCP; Ph.D.
Consultant Physician & Medical Director
Regional AIDS Training Center and Network in India (RATNEI)
International Health Organization
B-33, Indirapuri Colony, Patna 800014
India M: +91-9934361223/ 9835078298