New WHO guidelines on the use of ARVs for treating and preventing HIV

On June 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) released updated Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection. AVAC, Global Network of People of Living with HIV (GNP+), the International HIV/AIDS Alliance (Alliance), and STOP AIDS NOW! (SAN!) held a webinar to discuss the guidelines and a new tool—Community Guide to Treatment as Prevention Programming.

The call included a brief overview of the guidelines by Gottfried Hirnschall, the Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS at WHO, as well as other resource people who were involved in the development of the guidelines and are engaged in translating these guidelines into practice. In addition, Moono Nyambe from GNP+ discussed the "community" reactions toward the guidelines and described the collaborative effort led by GNP+, Alliance and SAN! to develop the Community Guide (to help communities understand the substance of the WHO guidelines and get involved in programming and implementation at country level).