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Fighting COVID-19 and HIV

The end of AIDS will also depend on reliable HIV testing

Roche has partnered with (RED) on a shared mission to bring awareness to the importance of diagnostics and testing in the global fight against HIV/AIDS through educational creative content.

Together, as a community, we can emphasize the importance of diagnostic testing as a critical step to reach the goal of an AIDS-free generation by 2030. Meeting  UNAIDS elimination goals1 is impossible without testing.

 

Let's show the world how reliable HIV tests can change the future of a generation

 

According to  UNAIDS, there are nearly 38 million people living with HIV around the world.  Through partnerships across international health organizations,  NGOs, governments and the private sector, great progress has been made with more than 25 million people receiving antiretroviral therapy today.  However, there is significant work to be done as more than 7 million people are unaware of their HIV status, and of all people living with HIV, only 59% are virally suppressed.2

 

Let's show the world how access to reliable diagnostics tests for COVID-19 and HIV can change the future of a generation

 

We know we cannot win the fight against one pandemic without combatting the other. COVID-19 has had a devastating global impact. As of the end of June 2021, there have been over 180 million cases of COVID-19 globally, with new cases surging in Africa and access to testing, treatment and vaccines remaining severely limited across the continent.1  COVID-19 has also severely disrupted access to critical health and prevention services, particularly among people living with HIV.  According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Global Fund across over 500 health facilities in 34 countries, compared to 2019, HIV testing fell 41%. 

Testing is a vital first step in providing the initial diagnosis for people to learn their status, assess treatment options, and to provide ongoing monitoring for both HIV and COVID-19. As a leader in  HIV testing, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, this partnership deepens Roche’s commitment to ending both pandemics.

 

RED

“Through our Global Access Program, Roche is committed to providing more widespread

access to diagnostics in the fight against COVID-19 and the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic for patients where access is limited,”

says Bernard Colombo, President Europe Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Roche Diagnostics International.

 

“We are proud to continue our partnership with (RED) on our shared mission to stand up to pandemics and mitigate the further impact on health systems from COVID-19.”  

 

The ongoing battle with HIV/AIDS has helped enable some countries in Africa to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Systems built to improve HIV disease diagnostics and management quickly shifted to also test for COVID-19.

Testing for the HIV Generations

 

Accurate testing is the backbone of ending any pandemic. A reliable HIV test provides empowering, life-saving information.

Monitoring & treatment

 

With treatment,  viral load can be suppressed to the point where it’s unlikely the virus will be transmitted to others. This is particularly critical for HIV positive pregnant women and their unborn children. An early positive diagnosis for a pregnant woman can provide life-saving information to help her stay healthy and ensure her child is born HIV-free.  In combination with consistent treatment, monitoring viral levels with regular testing puts them on the path to having HIV negative children.

The importance of testing

Testing doesn’t end once a person discovers their HIV status. Regular viral load monitoring  of the virus arms people with the information they need to stay healthy and empowers them to pursue their dreams.

About (RED)®

(RED), named for the color of emergency, was founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to turn companies into a cavalry to fight the AIDS pandemic. Today, that cavalry is also fighting the urgent threat of COVID and its devastating impact on the world's most vulnerable communities, answering the need for a truly global response.

(RED) partners with the most iconic brands and people to create (RED) products and experiences — all of which raise money for the Global Fund, one of the world's largest funders of global health. (RED) partners include:  Amazon, Apple, Balmain, Bank of America, Beats by Dr. Dre, Buffalo Games, Calm, Claro, Durex, eos, Girl Skateboards, Louis Vuitton, Mavin Records, Montblanc, NTWRK, Primark, Salesforce, Starbucks, Telcel, Therabody, TRUFF, U-Mask and Vespa. (RED) Supporters include: Merck and Roche.

To date, (RED) has generated more than $650 million for the Global Fund, helping more than 220 million people. The money raised by (RED)'s partners and campaigns goes directly to strengthen health systems and support life-saving programs in the communities where pandemics hit hardest

 

References

1.  https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html.  Accessed 25June2021