Universal Access to Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support

On September 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted the 2005 World Summit outcomes, by which Heads of State and Government committed themselves to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access for all those who need it, through increased resources and efforts towards the elimination of stigma and discrimination, enhanced access to affordable medicines and the reduction of vulnerability of persons affected by HIV and other health issues.

Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support was also considered at the September 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles.  The Summit committed to work with WHO, UNAIDS and other international bodies to support countries to provide universal access to those who need it by 2010.

Universal Access refers to a comprehensive and integrated approach for a more robust national HIV response, whereby the aim is to reach all those in need of information and services, in order to achieve country-specific targets on prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.  Universal Access should build on existing resolutions and declarations, and be implemented within the context of the “Three Ones” principles, UN reform, the Millennium Development Goals, the OECD/Paris Declaration on Aid, and the Global Task Team recommendations, and utilize existing technical guidelines on prevention, treatment, care and support in order to strengthen harmonization and alignment of support for an effective national HIV response.

Throughout 2006 various countries in the MENA region critically reflected on the obstacles and potential solutions to scaling-up the AIDS response within on-going national processes.  These were complimented by two sub-regional consultations which helped to consolidate the dominating obstacles and challenges impeding a comprehensive AIDS response.  These initial efforts paved the way for setting ambitious targets integral to the consolidation of national roadmaps towards a more robust national HIV response.

Within the last two years, the MENA region has been advancing towards the establishment of ambitious targets required for scaling up Universal Access to prevention, treatment, care and support. In most countries, setting targets has been integrated within the National Strategic Plan on AIDS [NSP] process as well as inclusive consensus building exercises. A number of regional and sub-regional processes have also been implemented to engender the participation of civil society and people living with HIV [PLHIV] in the target setting process. National partners are always encouraged and supported to set realistic targets for the expansion of access to information and services and to ensure that new programmes and responses can be developed in a sustainable manner.