| The WHO says preventing
and treating AIDS is the most urgent health challenge the world
has ever faced. Eight thousand people die of AIDS every single day,
although it is now a treatable disease. Six million people, mainly
in the developing world, need antiretroviral
drugs but don't have access to them.
The Three by Five plan wants to ensure that poor countries get the
best quality medicines at the best prices and it aims to improve
care, treatment and diagnosis by
training thousands of new medical and community workers.
The WHO has simplified drug monitoring
regimes in order to make it easier for patients
to follow the treatment successfully. To get three million
people on to antiretroviral drugs by 2005 will cost five and a
half billion dollars. Much of that money is already committed
to the plan through the Global AIDS Fund, the World Bank and President
Bush's AIDS initiative. The WHO
says the Three by Five plan is a way to challenge the unacceptable
inequality surrounding the treatment
of AIDS. But six million people need the drugs and deciding which
three million will benefit will be very difficult. Individual
countries will have the final say,
but a meeting to discuss this is due to be held at the WHO in
the next few weeks.
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antiretroviral drugs: medicines
designed specially to treat certain viruses, in particular the
HIV virus
don't have access to: are unable
to obtain
diagnosis: identifying what is
wrong with someone who is ill
drug monitoring: regular checking of drugs
regimes: systems or methods of
achieving something - a formal use
to follow the treatment: to do
what has been recommended to improve the condition of a sick
person
committed: promised; intended
for use for the project. To commit money or resources to something
means to use them for a particular purpose.
initiative: an important act
that is intended to solve a problem
surrounding: associated with
the final say: if you have a say in something, you have
the right to give your opinion and influence decisions. If you
have the final say then you are the last to give your opinion,
and you make the final decision.
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