The World Health Organisation has said that anyone infected with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon possible after diagnosis thereby removing all limitations on eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV.
In a press release, WHO explained that the expanded use of antiretroviral treatment is supported by recent findings from clinical trials confirming that early use of ART keeps people living with HIV alive, healthier and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to partners.
WHO now also recommends that people at “substantial” risk of HIV should be offered preventive antiretroviral treatment.
The number of people eligible for antiretroviral treatment increases from 28 million to all 37 million people who currently live with HIV globally.
WHO insists that expanding access to treatment is at the heart of a new set of targets for 2020 with the aim to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
These targets include 90% of people living with HIV being aware of their HIV infection, 90% of those receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 90% of people on ART having no detectable virus in their blood.