Government expands treatment for people with AIDS.
The Ministry of Health announced this Sunday, World AIDS Day, changes in the care provided to people living with HIV; from now on, as soon as a person is diagnosed with the virus, they will receive immediate treatment in the public health system; in Brasília, public testing sites were set up (pictured) this weekend and residents were able to take free HIV and hepatitis C tests.
Isabela Vieira
Reporter from Agência Brasil
Rio de Janeiro - The Ministry of Health announced this Sunday (1st), World AIDS Day, changes in the care provided to people living with HIV. From now on, as soon as a person is diagnosed with the virus, they will receive immediate treatment in the public network.
The measure aims to reduce the possibilities of transmission and offer a better quality of life to the patient, who will be treated with antiretroviral drugs, explained the Secretary of Health Surveillance of the Ministry, Jarbas Barbosa.
According to Barbosa, the treatment reduces the viral load and decreases the spread of HIV. The estimate is to include an additional 100 people in the treatment in 2014 with the change in protocol. Since the beginning of the provision of antiretroviral drugs by the health system, 17 years ago, 313 people have been treated. "This new clinical protocol will change the history of the AIDS epidemic in Brazil," said the secretary, regarding the change in treatment.
The Ministry of Health also announced today in Rio that it is beginning to study expanding prophylaxis against the disease in the primary healthcare network. The goal is to offer preventative medication, which should be taken within 72 hours of likely exposure to HIV.
During an event attended by the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, at Madureira Park in the northern part of the city, the city hall announced that the Christ the Redeemer statue will be illuminated in red today to mark World AIDS Day.