Scaling up access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support: the next steps

This is a review of country and regional consultations undertaken by UNAIDS, following the United Nations' Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS in June 2006. It explores barriers to UNAIDS' commitment to ensure universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010; and it identifies the next steps that need to be taken for this to become a reality. The key messages are the need for: supportive and protective legislation and programmes to ensure the rights of people living with HIV, women and most-at-risk populations; predictable and sustainable funding for all credible AIDS plans; more trained health care professionals and improved health care systems; and affordable medication, testing and prevention programmes. The review also examines the role of civil society and of faith-based organisations in supporting people with HIV through treatment compliance, prevention, support, care and reducing stigma. It recommends that the high level of response should continue, that targets need to be set and accountability mechanisms improved