How much emphasis is placed on HIV prevention versus treatment?
Today, in 2006, we don’t see a dichotomy between prevention and treatment. Both are important components of our response to AIDS, they have to go hand in hand. But ten years ago, there was confrontation between prevention and treatment. When I was at the WHO I remember making the point that an organization that focuses on prevention can’t disregard those who are infected. We’re very encouraged by the recent progress on treatment, but there’s still a long way to go on prevention. We are developing a broad prevention portfolio, including microbicides, vaccines, pre-exposure prophylaxis, behavioral components like the Avahan initiative in India to empower disenfranchised populations, and others. We work with other partners to ensure that the response to the epidemic is not skewed in any direction but remains comprehensive, rational, and durable. There have been major efforts in the last three years, like PEPFAR and the ‘3 by 5’ program, to increase access to therapy. That’s wonderful, and
