AfricaFocus: Health

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AfricaFocus on HIV/AIDS and Health as a Human Right: Ten Talking Points
Health is a fundamental human right. National governments and the international community share responsibility for providing equal access for all to the highest attainable standard of health. The number of people needing anti-retroviral treatment for AIDS was estimated in 2011 at 14.2 million, 10.4 million of them in Africa. AIDS activists and medical professionals have mobilized to provide treatment for almost 7 million people, 5 million of them in Africa.	That leaves more than 7 million people, more than 5 million in Africa, without the treatment they need. An "AIDS-free generation" is possible, but only by continuing to expand mutually reinforcing treatment and prevention. The Global Fund and bilateral programs such as PEPFAR have pioneered in providing new international support to fight AIDS, TB, and malaria.	The growth of funding has stalled due to "AIDS fatigue" and the international recession. Treatment for AIDS and other diseases is also threatened by pharmaceutical companies and rich countries trying to restrict generic drugs. "Health for all" requires both fighting specific diseases and sustainable health care systems prioritizing primary care.