Access to treatment is fundamentally an issue of justice and human rights.
“…there is an underlying moral issue. While we have the technical capacity to provide access to lifesaving medicines, vaccines or other interventions, which are indeed widely available in the developed world, millions of people, including children, suffer and die in developing countries because such means are not available and accessible there.” Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH), World Health Organisation 2006 12
We focus on treatment because there is an urgent need: millions of people are dying needlessly every year.
We believe they have a right to the treatment that could keep them healthy, the same treatment that people in the West take for granted.
International human rights law enshrines “the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”, obliging states to take all measures within their power to realise these rights, including considering the impact of policies in other areas on the right to health. 13
Joseph Jeune, 26-year-old peasant farmer, Haiti. When the first picture was taken in March 2003, his parents had already bought his coffin. Suffering from the advanced stages of AIDS, Joseph Jeune probably had only weeks to live. The second picture, taken six months later, shows him transformed and 20kg heavier, having received treatment for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis co-infection
Thanks to the World Health Organisation for permission to use this case-study. Taken from http://www.who.int/3by5/treatmentworks/en/
Treatment reduces the social and economic impact of AIDS.
“So if you can give, say, the drug fluconazole to a mother and it means that she will live a few more years rather than dying next week, the difference it makes to her child is indescribable. On an individual level that’s an amazing thing.” Cati Vawda, Child supporter, South Africa
By restoring health and dignity through ARV treatment, parents can bring up their children and continue to work longer, holding societies together and reducing the nightmare scenario which exists in some places, where whole villages are left with only the very young and very old, struggling to support themselves.
A recent report on the impact of AIDS in South Africa concluded that the provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to half of those in need would reduce the economic impact of the epidemic by 17%, and that “on a macroeconomic level the benefits of providing ART…far outweigh the costs.” 14
Providing treatment reduces long-term costs
Apart from combating the antidevelopment and devastating economic impact of AIDS, treatment can also reduce long-term health costs. The Brazilian government provides free access to antretrovirals and has estimated that the provision of treatment early in the epidemic has saved Brazil more than US$2 billion in healthcare costs since the beginning of the epidemic.
Treatment is essential to effective HIV prevention efforts.
People are more willing to be tested if ARVs are available, when they know a positive result doesn´t mean a death sentence. It also means they will receive educational materials and can then avoid risky behaviour. Too often there has been a ‘false choice’ between prevention and treatment of HIV. Rather than choosing between them, a comprehensive programme is needed that acknowledges the importance of both.
In addition, stigma and discrimination are greatly reduced by turning AIDS from a death sentence to a manageable illness
“So often, when people hear they have HIV, they say to me, ‘I want to die’. But now people see me and they say ‘You have AIDS, why are you looking so good?’ and I can explain it to them. Already, there are many people who come in who want to take the tablets. They think, `Maybe I will still live´.” Graca, Mozambique
“You can’t talk about preventing HIV if you don’t talk about treating people who already have the virus. If there is no treatment available there is no reason for people to have a test. But if the health services were offering proper treatment, more people would be willing to find out their status - and once you know your status you can do something about it. If you are negative you can make sure you stay that way by using a condom or abstaining from sex. If you are positive you can take extra care of your health and make sure you eat well, sleep well and exercise.” Neli Khuzwayo, AIDS activist and counsellor in South Africa
(13) UN, 1966, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 12
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