International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - 30 November 2003

A model for treatment programmes will be implemented by six African Red Cross Societies. Globally, Red Cross and Red Crescent HIV/AIDS programmes have traditionally focused on prevention, care and support and since 2002, combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The Red Cross and Red Crescent has also been advocating for affordable drugs for people with HIV/AIDS. But the implementation of this treatment model goes a step further by making drugs accessible and represents a core element of the Red Cross Red Crescent strategy to fight the pandemic. It also builds on the pioneering ARV delivery work of the French Red Cross in Africa.

"The Red Cross and Red Crescent's ability to educate and mobilize communities on treatment issues is essential to the success of treatment programmes in general. It can be a valuable contribution to the WHO's efforts to get three million people on ARV therapy by 2005, especially when these programmes become more widespread," said Juan Manuel Su rez del Toro, president of the International Federation.

"Too many people are dying and our governments do not have enough resources because the level of infection is just too great. People look to an organization like the Red Cross and Red Crescent to help them and we have to respond. There is no other humanitarian mandate like ours," said Dr. Tito Fachi, president of the Zambian Red Cross and vice-chair of the Federation's Health Commission.

Zambia is one of the six African countries where the Red Cross will implement this treatment programme model which, apart from raising funds for drugs, will work to raise awareness on treatment accessibility and support drug adherence to a life-long therapy among communities. This approach, using the Red Cross volunteer network, will complement existing testing and HIV counselling work and anti-stigma and discrimination programmes. Home-based care volunteers will also provide more practical support on nutrition and adherence to life-long treatment.

Other Red Cross Societies where treatment programmes will be initiated include Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. About 30,000 people will be helped with ARV therapy in the next five years in these African countries initially. The success of this programme will mean it would be adopted by other Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa and elsewhere around the world.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Jemini Pandya, Press Officer - Tel: + 41 22 730 45 70 / + 41 79 217 33 74 Media Service duty phone - Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81

031130
IF031107

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