HIV Focus - Edition 1 - 2023

Introduction

A practical approach to injectable antiretrovirals

Long-Acting Antiretrovirals (ARVs) have ushered in an exciting new era by providing a treatment option for people living with HIV (PLWH) who are suppressed on their first-line treatment. Long-acting injections (LAIs) may potentially address adherence issues, simplify therapy and reduce stigma associated with the daily oral antiretroviral treatment. In preparation for LAI rollout in Southern Africa, it is important to integrate this into current practices and allocate necessary resources.

ADVANCE study in context

HIV treatment programmes continue to expand in efforts to reach the estimated 38 million people living with HIV globally. At the end of 2021, around 75% of this population was recorded to be accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART), with constant efforts to improve accessibility of available therapies and improve antiretroviral (ARV) delivery modalities.

The evolution of HIV Care in Zimbabwe - two decades of experience from Newlands Clinic (2004 – 2023)

The landscape for people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa has changed over the past two decades. The primary reasons for this are the evolution of antiretroviral treatment (ART) from toxic, multi-tablet regimens to single tablet, potent, fixed drug combinations with minimal side effects, and the rollout of national ART programmes. The net result has been a marked reduction in deaths due to HIV infection and its complications and the emerging causes of morbidity and mortality now include non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity and metabolic syndromes.