SPC secures life-saving drugs for HIV+ people

SPC secures life-saving drugs for HIV+ people

8 April 2013, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji

The Public Health Division of SPC, in partnership with the Pacific Islands HIV and STI Response Fund has secured continuity of access to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for Pacific Islanders, beginning in July 2013. The new agreement ensures that Pacific Islanders living with HIV have uninterrupted access to life-saving drugs, despite recent global and regional cuts in funding for HIV and AIDS.

The cost of the ARVs will be borne by the Response Fund, supported by the Australian and New Zealand Aid Programmes, together with a USD 100,000 contribution from SPC.

‘This agreement gives people living with HIV peace of mind, as we pursue the continuation of programming on HIV and other STIs in the Pacific’, said Dr Dennie Iniakwala, HIV and STI Team Leader at SPC.

ARVs stop the multiplication of HIV and the progression of the disease, prolonging life. But to be effective, People Living with HIV (PLHIV) must adhere to treatment. It is therefore essential that PLHIV currently receiving treatment are able to maintain access to ARV drugs, and that any PLHIV eligible for antiretroviral therapy receive it.

‘SPC has negotiated ongoing access to ARVs by PLHIV for 18 months from July 2013. This provides a window of opportunity to secure longer term and sustained supply of these essential drugs,’ said Dr Iniakwala.

Since 2004, over USD 330,000 has been spent on ARVs for Pacific people living with HIV by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a grant managed by SPC that is due to close in June 2013.

Regional consultations were held with Pacific HIV/ STI and reproductive health managers in Fiji and Guam late last month, as part of the effort to develop the next five year regional strategy for HIV and other STIs in the Pacific.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates that in 2012 there were up to 60,000 people living with HIV in the Pacific region, including in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Background information:

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) celebrated 65 years of service to Pacific Island countries and territories in 2012.

SPC works in the following sectors: agriculture, aquaculture, culture, disaster reduction, education and educational assessment, energy, fisheries, forestry, geosciences, ICT, human rights, media, oceanography, public health, statistics and demography, transport, water and sanitation, and cross-cutting areas including climate change, food security and gender and youth issues.

Publications: SPC publications are available on its website (www.spc.int/en/publications.html).

SPC member countries and territories: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States of America, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

ENDS

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