Treatment and care

People affected by HIV/AIDS need comprehensive treatment and care, including antiretroviral therapy (ART). Medical and psychological care need to be accompanied by nursing, social and material support. The various formal and informal services that provide this care (hospitals, home-based care, social services) need to complement each other in terms of what they provide ("continuum of care").

The development of antiretroviral drugs (ARV) has led to enormous progress in the medical treatment of HIV/AIDS. The quality of life of many HIV/AIDS infected people who have been able to benefit from these drugs has been increased markedly, and they are living considerably longer. Access for all to comprehensive treatment and care is an important goal. Access to ARVs is being rapidly expanded to the world's poorer countries, but still too slowly. Despite initiatives to expand ARV access and affordability, it is unlikely that ARVs for all those who need them - or 'universal access' - will be achieved by the target date of 2010.

"Home-based care" provides wide-ranging care and support for people affected by HIV: training and support for family members who provide care, help with housework, provision of nursing aids, the welfare of surviving dependants, material assistance, food deliveries, etc. This care is provided largely by volunteers working with trained medical staff, hospitals and other health facilities.