An International Research Consortium to Maximise Benefits & Equity of HIV Treatment & Care Systems

Key Messages from five years of research in Africa and Asia PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 18 May 2011 11:31
Evidence for Action have realeased a report summarising key messages from five years of research on HIV treatment and care systems (pdf, 2MB). The report draws together some of the main findings from the research programme, which has included over 70 projects. The report covers:
  • What 'package' of HIV treatment and care services should be provided in different settings? This includes the needs of specific subgroups of the population; mental health; and monitoring and evaluation.
  • How should HIV treatment and care services be delivered? This includes ways of decentralising HIV treatment and care; and groups involved in providing care.
  • How should HIV treatment and care be integrated into existing health and social systems? This includes integration of HIV services into the wider health system; and HIV and TB integration.
  • How best can new evidence from research be rapidly translated into new policies and actions? This includes research on how evidence about cotrimoxazole has influenced policy in three African countries, and the sources of information policymakers in Africa and Asia use.

Key messages reportThe report was launched at an event at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Commenting on the report, Professor Baron Peter Piot said "It's an impressive piece of work on what sounds like a simple issue, but is actually an incredibly complex challenge... The results are highly relevant for Ministries of Health, National AIDS Commissions, international organisations, bilateral and multilateral [funders], but also groups of people living with HIV".

Professor David Ross outlined some of the key achievements of the Evidence for Action programme. Dr Deborah Watson-Jones then summarised findings from research in Kenya and Tanzania on missed opportunities for women identified HIV-positive in prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes.