UNDETECTABLE = UNTRANSMISSIBLE
When a person diagnosed with HIV is on effective treatment and their viral load is suppressed to undetectable levels, they cannot pass on HIV during sex.
ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY
HIV prevention should not be targeted solely at HIV-negative people. The spread of the epidemic can also be controlled by ensuring people living with HIV are on effective treatment.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has existed since the 1990s, when scientists discovered a combination of several drugs could reduce the viral load of HIV and restore immune function.
Multiple studies have since shown that if ART is taken properly and the level of HIV in the blood is undetectable (below 200 copies/ml) then a person living with HIV effectively has no risk of passing the virus on to an HIV-negative partner even if a condom isn’t used.
This only applies to sexual transmission, and other STIs can still be passed on if sex is unprotected.
HOW DO WE GET MORE PEOPLE ON EFFECTIVE TREATMENT?
QUALITY HIV CARE: Ensuring a baseline standard in HIV healthcare, with services resourced to treat HIV patients without stigma and discrimination.
TESTING AND TREATMENT: Making testing and treatment accessible and affordable, with regular viral load testing for people living with HIV.
RETENTION: Keeping people living with HIV engaged with health services and making sure they are taking ART as directed.
WHAT CAN LEGISLATORS DO?
Pass laws that contribute to a legal environment free of discrimination, making marginalised communities more assured to access testing and treatment
Scale up testing programmes, ensuring they are properly funded and community groups are supported in delivery
Pressure governments to ensure HIV treatment is free and accessible for all who need it
Promote U=U education campaigns, especially those targeted at communities with high rates of HIV incidence
Train clinicians to discuss U=U
Support healthcare providers to make the pipeline from diagnosis to treatment as short as possible
USEFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/understanding-the-aids-cocktail#drug-classes
https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/faq/what-does-undetectable-untransmittable-uu-mean
https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/undetectable-untransmittable_en.pdf
https://preventionaccess.org/resources/
https://www.apcom.org/getting-to-zero-leveraging-uu-for-community-empowerment-eliminating-stigma/
https://vietnam.un.org/en/209347-equal-and-equitable-access-hiv-services-across-viet-nam