NAPWA

In this current climate of pro-treatment, people who are not taking antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. therapy (ART) can feel like a minority whose voice is not being heard.

This is why NAPWHA has partnered with researchers Limin Mao and Henrike Körner from the National Centre in HIV Social Research to conduct interviews with people who are currently not on ART. read more »

Currently, ART is only subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. for PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHAPerson (or People) Living with HIV/AIDS.. commencing treatment with a CD4 T-cell count of less than 500 or who are symptomatic.

The Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHMAustralasian Society for HIV Medicine. The peak Australasian organisation representing the medical and health sector in HIV/AIDS and related areas. ) has called for a review of these criteria. read more »

Considering treatment? Peter Watts offers some advice. read more »

A review of HIV surveillance, clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. cohortIn epidemiologyThe branch of medical science that deals with the study of incidence and distribution and control of a disease in a population., a group of individuals with some characteristics in common. A cohort study is a special kind of clinical trialA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. which looks at a treatment or treatment strategy in a cohort of people. and social research data suggests that many people living with HIV (PLHIVPerson (or people) Living with HIV. This term is now preferred over the older PLWHAPerson (or People) Living with HIV/AIDS..) in Australia delay, cease or do not take up HIV antriretroviral therapy (ART) due to structural and psychological barriers.

This paper is a Poster presented at the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference, Melbourne, 2012 read more »

A lively debate occurred in a Conference session on when to start HIV treatment.

A key international speaker was Professor Steven Deeks who is based in San Francisco and a member of the US Department of Health and Human Services AntiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. Guidelines Panel. read more »

Why do some of us refuse treatment? And how far will we go before we finally relent? JAMES MAY tells us his story. read more »

Most people on treatment are on a combination that has reduced their viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma. to an undetectable level and keeps it there. And this is a good thing. It means their immune systems are not being destroyed by HIV and they are not going to progress to AIDS.

Neil McKellar-Stewart thought it was time we looked at all the health benefits to us of being on treatment. So, he tracked down the research and here it is. read more »

Experience has shown that health outcomes are better if treatment and care is planned in partnership with your doctor.

That’s why we’ve updated our popular Checklist guide for people with HIV. read more »

Ita Buttrose launched 'Start the Conversation Today' NAPWHA's national multi-media treatments campaign, on Friday 4 May. The campaign urges people living with HIV to get up to date with important new information about the benefits of HIV treatment for themselves and their partners. Many people with HIV are likely to be unaware of these advances. read more »

NAPWHA has welcomed the release of updated guidelines for treating HIV issued yesterday by the US Department of Health and Human Services. In a major shift, the new guidelines recommend that all people with HIV consider going on HIV treatment, whether recently infected or with more advanced HIV disease.

The new guidelines also note recent evidence about the additional benefit of taking HIV treatment in reducing HIV transmission and recommend that HIV treatment be offered to HIV positive people who are at risk of transmitting HIV to sexual partners. read more »