Hillary Clinton Endorses BC-CfE’s Treatment as Prevention Strategy
B.C. Premier Christy Clark lauds call for AIDS-free generation
Hillary Rodham Clinton, the high-profile United States (US) Secretary of State, called the Treatment as Prevention strategy pioneered by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) a vital plank in her comprehensive proposal to combat HIV and AIDS.
Secretary Clinton, speaking on November 8 to a global Internet audience, highlighted Treatment as Prevention as part of a combination approach aimed at creating an “AIDS-free generation,” in which virtually no children are born with the virus, the risks of becoming infected are dramatically reduced, and people with HIV have access to treatment that prevents them from developing AIDS and passing on the virus to others.
“Treating people will not only save lives, it will generate considerable economic returns as well,” said Clinton in her speech at the US National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C., noting that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) allows people with HIV to work, support their families, and contribute to the community.
The Treatment as Prevention strategy was developed, modelled and proven by the BC-CfE and publicly introduced by its director, Dr. Julio Montaner, at the International AIDS Society conference in 2006. The strategy advocates for widespread HIV testing and access to free HAART for all medically eligible HIV-positive individuals. HAART decreases the level of HIV in blood and sexual fluids to undetectable levels, improving the health of individuals with HIV and reducing the likelihood of HIV transmission by more than 95 per cent.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark lauded Clinton’s call for a scaled up Treatment as Prevention strategy based on the BC-CfE’s model.
“It was British Columbia under the leadership of Dr. Julio Montaner and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS that put the pieces of the puzzle together to realize that expanded treatment could prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS,” said Premier Clark. “We are proud to be able to share this effective treatment against the spread of HIV/AIDS with Canada and the world, and look forward to its increased implementation globally resulting from Hillary Clinton’s announcement this morning.”
Montaner provided full support to Hillary Clinton’s impassioned call for increased funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to enable a faster rollout of Treatment as Prevention and other measures to combat HIV globally.
“Some emerging powers and nations that are rich in natural resources can afford to give, but choose not to. To sit on the sidelines now would be devastating. It would cost lives,” said Clinton.
Montaner agreed, and pointed to Canada as a global laggard in funding programs to improve access to HIV therapies in Canada and around the world.
“Canada’s contributions to the Global Fund remain below the country’s stated commitments and far below its ability to pay,” Montaner noted. “As a wealthy country with extensive resources, it is time that Canada stepped up to the plate and met its obligations.”