Africa Science News, 19 August 2014

A new report from amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and AVAC outlines the need for a new approach to tracking data to guide the key decisions that shape the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Critical and expensive decisions made with incomplete data are undermining the response—even as the systems for collecting this data continue to improve, the report found. Data Watch: Closing a Persistent Gap in the AIDS Response outlines corrective steps to sustain and expand the progress made in the past few years in the AIDS response and lays out key areas where better, more complete data is needed.

The report, supported in part by the M•A•C AIDS Fund, makes the case that if we are to achieve ambitious new targets aimed at ending the epidemic by 2030, we must improve our data systems for the HIV response now. Data Watch updates amfAR's and AVAC's 2012 Action Agenda to End AIDS, which made the case for a more businesslike approach to ending the epidemic and proposed a multi-year plan with concrete strategies, targets and timelines.

"There is no doubt that the data we have shows that we are making progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Importantly, we are moving toward a 'tipping point,' when for the first time the number of people with access to HIV treatment will exceed the number of people who become infected," said Mitchell Warren, AVAC executive director. "But to keep up the momentum, we must improve data systems and identify specific milestones that we need to meet over the next one to three years to ensure we get on – and stay on – target to achieve these ambitious goals."

The report documents many cases where data is incomplete or missing, finding that sometimes necessary data collection systems are not in place. For example, in most low- and middle- income countries there is very little tracking of viral load—a measure of the amount of HIV in a person's bloodstream—among people being treated for HIV. In many cases, data exists but is incomplete or not being optimally analyzed. Poor or missing data limits our ability to drive strategic action and accelerate progress toward ending AIDS.

"Good information is critical for making good decisions, and when resources are limited, data matters even more," said Greg Millett, amfAR's vice president and director of public policy. "With global AIDS funding falling far short of what is needed, we must maximize the impact of every dollar. The bottom line is clear: more complete and timely data will help save more lives."

The report calls on UNAIDS, the US-funded PEPFAR program, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to dramatically improve their collection, analysis and reporting of HIV/AIDS information.

Written by Ruth Akinyi

Source: Africa Science News