Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Should Have Access to HIV Treatment, Supportive Services

Refugees and internally displaced persons in stable settings should have access to HIV treatment and supportive services, experts argue. Joshua Mendelsohn and colleagues argue that available evidence suggests that refugees and internally displaced persons in stable settings can sustain high levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression and should have the same level of access to HIV treatment and support as host nationals.

The authors make 17 recommendations, including that HIV treatment should be offered to all refugees and internally displaced persons who meet national guidelines, routine adherence monitoring systems should be set up, and point-of-care laboratory monitoring should be implemented wherever feasible. "Joshua Mendelsohn from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine said: Few would rationally argue that challenges to provision of life-saving treatment should be addressed by denying access."

They continue: "Since antiretroviral therapy can help prevent transmission of HIV to sexual partners, it is in the enlightened self-interest of governments that host refugees and internally displaced persons to support programs that serve all populations within their borders to the highest possible standard."



Source-Eurekalert