WHO calls for making quality testing accessible to all

On the eve of World AIDS Day, the World Health Organisation pitched for making quality testing accessible to all to accelerate progress against HIV/AIDS.

WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Poonam Khetrapal Singh said people living with HIV (PLHIV) across the world lacked access to testing and hence, did not know their HIV status.

"Lack of such testing facilities inhibits access to treatment and enhances the likelihood of AIDS-related complications and death. It also allows the virus to spread.

"Ensuring all people everywhere have access to quality HIV testing and know their status is critical to preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS," she said.

Singh said though in the recent years, member states have made strong progress in all aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, still an estimated 3.5 million people live with the disease.

Between 2010 and 2017, AIDS-related deaths declined by 40 per cent. Between 2000 and 2017, new infections were more than halved i.e. from 3,18,000 to 1,57,000 cases, she said.

"Still, an estimated 3.5 million people region-wide currently live with the disease, with around 51 per cent receiving Antiretroviral treatment (ART) and an estimated
She also asked the countries to ensure WHO