In South Africa, 7.5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and more than 3 million of them do not have access to treatment; in fact, only 70% of people diagnosed with HIV are on sustained treatment in South Africa, making it one of the worst HIV epidemics in the world.
Romano and Tesfaye’s HIV/AIDS Outbreak and Response Plan offers treatment guidelines for people who have already been diagnosed, as well as strategies to address problems with medications. The students emphasize that there must first be effective prevention efforts set in place, which include assessing the structural and social mechanisms that drive new infections, especially for more at-risk communities. Moreover, health facilities and chronic health worker shortages play a crucial role in the accessibility to treatment. The students describe the need for greater efforts to educate infected populations on the availability of easy access and low-cost/free treatments, as well as continued investment in preventative programs.
Click here to read the full response plan.