On July 16, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched updated Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring: recommendations for a public health approach. READ MORE & DOWNLOAD HERE

These recommendations help to ensure that people with HIV can start and continue treatment during times of service disruption as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide recommendations within a public health, rights-based and person-centred approach.

“The 2021 consolidated guidelines on HIV are an important step in supporting the goals of universal access to ARV drugs for preventing and treating HIV and ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a major public health threat by 2030,” a release from the WHO said.

The publication includes guidance on infant diagnosis, rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, the use of dolutegravir (DTG), the timing of ART for people with TB, and the use of point-of-care technologies for treatment monitoring.

Advanced HIV disease continues to be a global challenge. The guidelines include a new chapter dedicated advanced HIV disease, and summarize current WHO guidance on the management of common coinfections and comorbidities associated with HIV, including a new section on cervical cancer and new recommendations on HIV and Buruli ulcer coinfection and HIV and visceral leishmaniasis coinfection.