Brendan Maughan-Brown of SALDRU and Ingrid Katz of Harvard Medical School recently published a commentary in The Lancet HIV to accompany a research article that found substantial improvements in mortality reduction and increased life expectancy for HIV-positive patients who initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Europe and North America.
The researchers note that while similar positive effects from ART are possible in SA and people living with HIV can have a near-normal life expectancy, these gains are only achieved if individuals start treatment early in the disease progression. Their commentary highlights the need to ensure universal access to early ART, especially for the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The significance of the study was not lost on the media. The BBC World Service interviewed Ingrid. Cape Talk caught up with Brendan. Listen to Brendan’s interview on Soundcloud.