The World Health Organization changes HIV drug advice
Published:Monday | November 30, 2009 | 6:04 PM
The World Health Organization (WHO) is for the first time recommending that HIV positive mothers be given anti-retroviral drugs while breastfeeding to reduce the transmission of the virus to their infants.
The WHO is also recommending earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy for adults and adolescents.
Experts say the advice is based on the most up-to-date available information. But it will mean many more people needing treatment, which will cost more money and time.
An estimated 33.4 million people are said to be living with HIV/AIDS globally and the disease is said to be the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age.
The WHO also wants the drug Stavudine, which is widely used in developing countries, to be phased out in favour of Zidovudine or Tenofovir, which do not have the same long-term and irreversible side effects.