( United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki...)U.N. Secretary-General Ban Renews Goal To Reverse Spread of HIV by 2015,Health

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday at a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly to review the body's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic said he believes it is possible to halt and reverse the spread of the disease by 2015, despite the increasing number of cases worldwide.

U.N. member countries last year renewed pledges and set new targets to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services by 2010. In addition, one of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals calls for stopping and reversing the spread of HIV by 2015.

Ban at the meeting said that ensuring access to treatment, prevention, care and support services is "critical" to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Ban added that fighting the disease worldwide will remain a U.N. priority and that he will work to ensure funding for prevention and treatment services.

Ban also said providing treatment for diseases associated with HIV, such as tuberculosis, and researching vaccines and microbicides are necessary to reduce the spread of the virus. Ban added that meeting U.N. targets "means mustering the political will to address the factors that drive the epidemic -- including gender inequality, stigma and discrimination".

According to a report submitted by Ban to the general assembly on Monday, progress has been made in moving toward universal access to antiretroviral drugs and in expanding care and prevention services. The report noted that despite progress, the number of HIV-positive people has increased in every region of the world since 2005, Xinhuanet reports.

About two million HIV-positive people worldwide, or 28% of the 7.1 million people in need, had access to antiretrovirals in 2006, up from 700,000 in 2005, according to the report. According to U.N. estimates, $18 billion will be needed in 2007 and $22 billion will be needed in 2008 to meet the U.N. goal of providing universal access to prevention and treatmen
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Faster way of producing Bird flu vaccine using Reverse Genetics
2. Researchers Reverse Cell Division
3. Reverse Heart Transplant Surgery On A Little Girl Makes History
4. Neurotoxins might Reverse Mononeuronal Disease – Study Find
5. Muscular Dystrophy Reversed In Lab Mice
6. Long term Sobriety can Reverse Effects of Alcohol Damage
7. Pre-Clinical Study Suggests How Steroid Can Reverse Post-Traumatic Stress
8. Mental Illness Reversed with Anti-retrovirals in HIV Cases
9. Arthritis Drug to Reverse Cirrhosis
10. Can Prunes Reverse Bone Loss After Menopause?
11. Scientists Reverse Mad Cow Disease in Mice