Brazzaville, 27 February 2007 -- Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest burden of HIV infections and HIV/AIDS-related mortality in the world. Countries and partners are working together to accelerate HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care to mitigate the impact of the epidemic in the African region. Progress is being made in scaling-up access to treatment for AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa. The anti-retroviral treatment (ART) coverage improved from less than 2 % in 2003 to 23% in June 2006.

It is in this context that WHO would like to state that:

1. So far, there is no cure for HIV infection or its most severe form of disease - AIDS. The World Health Organization is promoting and supporting the use of combination antiretroviral therapy. When people living with HIV/AIDS take highly active antiretroviral therapy , HIV replication and deterioration of the immune system can be effectively interrupted, and survival and quality of life significantly improved. Such therapy has to be taken continuously and is lifelong.
2. The current antiretroviral treatment offers the best hope for AIDS patients and their families. In this context, countries of the WHO African region have made progress in scaling up anti-retroviral treatment and we need to sustain these gains.
3. Herbal remedies cannot take the place of comprehensive treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS (including prophylaxis and treatment for opportunistic infections, and highly active antiretroviral therapy where indicated). These treatments should therefore not be discontinued in favour of any such remedy.
4. WHO remains available to provide technical support to countries to assess safety, efficacy and quality of herbal remedies.

For more information contact:

Media Contact 

Samuel T. Ajibola

Tel: + 47 241 39378 

Email : ajibolas [at] afro.who (ajibolas[at]afro[dot]who)