NPR program examines Brazil's antiretroviral program, efforts to collaborate with other countries to fight HIV

Jun 17 2008

NPR's "Tell Me More" on Thursday included a discussion with Brazil's HIV/AIDS program director Mariangela Simao. Simao discussed progress in Brazil's no-cost antiretroviral program and the country's efforts to collaborate with Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa on HIV prevention.

According to Simao, 180,000 Brazilians are receiving no-cost antiretroviral treatment, one of the highest numbers among developing countries. An additional 15,000 to 17,000 people annually enroll in the treatment program, Simao said. Brazil aims to achieve universal access to HIV treatment and to make the country's antiretroviral program sustainable in the long term, Simao added.

Simao also discussed Brazil's efforts to provide materials on HIV/AIDS and collaborate on prevention activities with Portuguese-language speaking countries in Africa. According to Simao, the United Nations, Brazilian government, and health and women's affairs ministries from Portuguese-speaking countries met in Brazil last month to discuss ways to address HIV/AIDS and gender issues (Corley, "Tell Me More," NPR, 6/12).