| HIV/AIDS services must be integrated with sexual and reproductive health services if the goal of reducing HIV transmission is to succeed, according to a special issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The journal published on Tuesday highlights the theme of "Strengthening the linkages between sexual and reproductive health and HIV".
WHO experts say that HIV and other sexually transmitted infections must be tackled at the same time, because each one encourages the spread of the other.
For example, an HIV-positive person with a sexually transmitted disease, such as genital herpes, can transmit HIV more easily.
At the same time, it is more difficult to treat sexually transmitted diseases in people infected with HIV.
The experts stress that while the response to HIV has resulted in major achievements, such as putting four million people on anti-retroviral treatment, there is need to step up prevention efforts.
They also call for intensified efforts to provide sexual and reproductive health services that meet the needs of people living with HIV. |
