Vancouver, 1996: Researchers electrify the International AIDS Conference with news of a stunning scientific breakthrough. Using a combination of medicines, they have been able to reduce the amount of virus in the blood of people living with HIV to virtually undetectable levels. In what became known as the “Lazarus Effect,” people once near death were suddenly well again and able to live normal, healthy lives.
This discovery transformed the course of the AIDS response forever and more than 8 million people around the world today have access to the lifesaving treatment.
This week, HIV experts are once again gathering in Vancouver. This time to discuss another important scientific breakthrough-recent research showing that HIV treatment not only protects the health of people living with HIV, it also dramatically reduces the likelihood of transmitting the virus to others.
On the opening day of the conference the Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel SidibÂŽ, together with the United States Global AIDS Coordinator Eric Goosby, led roundtable discussions on the theme ‘What will it take to end AIDS?’
“If we have the evidence that antiretroviral therapy can help someone living with HIV to stay alive and protect their sexual partners from infection by up to 96%, then we have a moral obligation to make it available,” said Mr SidibÂŽ. “Providing HIV treatment as soon as possible is ethically and morally correct, economically and programmatically feasible and consistent with what we have learnt about clinical best practice over the last decade.