Australia has become the fourth country to sign on to the Multinational Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U) Call-To-Action, marking a major milestone in the country’s response to HIV.
‘U=U’ refers to the fact that when a person living with HIV is on effective antiretroviral treatment for HIV, they will reach an ‘undetectable’ viral load and will be unable to transmit the virus to sexual partners.
Signing on to the Call-To-Action means embedding its nine strategies and U=U in the country’s HIV response.
At an event on Tuesday evening, the Hon Mark Butler MP, federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, said becoming a signatory was an important reflection of Australia’s approach to HIV.
“Australia has a reputation as a leader in the HIV response, and we’ve always taken an evidence-based, community-led stance,” said Minister Butler.
“We are confident that embedding U=U into our approach to HIV will accelerate progress towards national and global goals to end the HIV epidemic,” he said.
Bruce Richman, Founding Executive Director of the Prevention Access Campaign (PAC) which launched the U=U campaign in 2016, welcomed Australia as a signatory to the Call-To-Action.
“Australia has already set a very high bar when it comes to ensuring the community response to HIV and the healthcare workforce are working in tandem to achieve the best possible outcomes for people living with HIV,” said Mr Richman.
“Becoming a signatory to the declaration will ensure the principles of U=U are integrated into the country’s HIV response, and that communities continue to lead the way,” he said.
“PAC and the U=U campaign are delighted that Australia has officially signed onto this declaration, setting the example as a world leader in the HIV response and being community led. We congratulate HEM, NAPWHA and ASHM along with the Australian Health Minister Mark Butler for making this happen.”
Read the press release here: https://ashm.org.au/about/news/australia-signs-on-to-global-uu-declaration-for-hiv/
