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UNAIDS backs ‘combination HIV prevention’

Mar 19, 2009 News

– as Pope plays down condom use

The UNAIDS Secretariat for Guyana and Suriname has come out with a strong statement in support of “combination HIV prevention” following comments by Pope Benedict XVI that handing out condoms increases the problem.
UNAIDS said that its number one priority is universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
The agency said that with more than 7400 new HIV infections each day the world cannot stop the AIDS epidemic without stopping new HIV infections.
According to UNAIDS, condoms are an essential part of combination prevention which includes, among other elements, access to information about HIV, access to treatment, harm reduction measures, waiting longer to become sexually active, being faithful, reducing multiple partners and concurrent relationships, male circumcision, ensuring human rights and the reduction of stigma.
On his first African tour, the Pope is reported by international media as telling an audience in Cameroon that the “AIDS tragedy cannot be overcome by money alone, cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem”.
His comments have sparked an international debate among those working to fight the spread of the epidemic.
UNAIDS works with partner governments and civil society, including networks of people living with HIV, the private sector, faith-based groups, such as the “Guyana National faith-and-HIV Coalition” and others that help countries achieve universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
UNAIDS in Guyana said that countries need to use all available strategies and methods that are informed by evidence and grounded in human rights.
According to UNAIDS, substantial increases in HIV prevention and treatment efforts are producing results in several countries where condom use is increasing, including Cameroon.
“An HIV prevention approach based solely on one element does not work and can hinder the AIDS response.
“…Countries need to use a mix of behavioural, biomedical and structural HIV prevention actions and tactics to suit their actual epidemic and the needs of those most at risk, just as the right combination and proportions of drugs for antiretroviral treatment is now saving millions of lives,” the local UNAIDS office stated.

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