AEGiS-14IAC: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in rural and urban Rajasthan.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in rural and urban Rajasthan.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. G12514)

Haag A, Purohit A, Mora JC, Garg D, Purohit SD
FXB US Foundation, Burlington, United States

ISSUES: By improving access to antiretroviral therapy, clinical benefits similar to those obtained in industrialized countries, can be achieved in favor of people suffering from AIDS in resource limited settings. Low cost medications and community based HAART delivery strategies are the key elements needed to reduce mortality and improve quality of life of those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Project

DESCRIPTION: The Rajasthan project will be a pilot intervention in both urban (Jodhpur) and rural (Sumerpur) areas of Rajasthan. We expect to provide the basis for further expansion of this model to similar settings within India and worldwide. The project will deliver individual counseling, family counseling, social evaluation and intervention, nutritional evaluation and intervention, medical evaluation for diagnosis and treatment of Opportunistic Infections (OI), laboratory and radiology, medical evaluation to determine eligibility to receive HAART, adherence training program, provision of HAART and OI medications, comprehensive follow up and evaluation.

ISSUES: As in most parts of the developing world, high tech monitoring procedures such as CD4 cell count and viral load are not and will not be available for long. Therefore this project will develop clinical criteria to determine when to start HAART. Follow-up will also be based on objective clinical data. Such criteria will serve the majority of those living with HIV/AIDS whom otherwise would not have access to these lifesaving treatments.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Efforts to ensure adherence need to be maximized in order to prevent the development of viral resistance. Strategies to ensure adherence need to be developed according to local social and cultural circumstances. Prevention and treatment must come together as one if medium/long term control of the epidemic is the aim.

Keywords: AEGIS, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Viral Load, Directly Observed Therapy, Drug Therapy, Combination, India, therapy, drug therapyKWDaegis,antiretroviraltherapy,highlyactive,cd4lymphocytecount,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,viralload,directlyobservedtherapy,drugtherapy,combination,india,therapy,drugtherapy

020707
G12514

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.