Treating HIV in war zones -- Public health emergencies need rapid advic...( In this weeks press release: ...),Health

In this weeks press release:

• HIV treatment can be effectively delivered in conflict settings

• Public health emergencies require urgent advice from the WHO

Please mention PLoS Medicine in your report and use the links below to take your readers straight to the online articles

HIV treatment can be effectively delivered in conflict settings

HIV treatment can be delivered even in settings of armed conflict, and humanitarian health agencies should not wait until a conflict is over before launching HIV care programs, say a team from Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) in this weeks PLoS Medicine.

Heather Culbert and colleagues report their results of three years experience of providing HIV care, including antiretroviral therapy (ART), to a conflict-affected population in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The reported treatment outcomes were similar to those in HIV projects in non-conflict settings.

"Our experience has shown us that one of the keys to successful provision of ART in conflict settings is preparation for disruption," say the authors. Some of the crucial contingency measures include:

• Providing patients with extra emergency drug supplies that can be taken in case of program interruption.
• Stockpiling emergency supplies of ART and securing them against vandals and looters
• Distributing clinics widely throughout the treatment area, thus reducing travel requirements and making it easier and safer for staff and patients to access the clinics in times of insecurity
• Establishing links with HIV care programs in neighboring regions, allowing displaced patients to continue to receive care
• Educating patients on the importance of not conserving their pills and trying to take them on time even during periods of instability.

Culbert and colleagues' paper includes powerful
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Contact: Andrew Hyde
ahyde@plos.org
44-012-234-63330
Public Library of Science
28-May-2007