Hope rises for HIV cure as the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, has called for support for state health system.
She made the call while speaking at the 12th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Brisbane, Australia.
There is a rising hope for HIV cure as advancements in taming HIV were discussed at the conference, held from 23 to 26 July, 2023.
The conference is the world’s most influential meeting on HIV research and its applications.
Mrs Makinde, who led the Oyo State contingent to the conference, used the opportunity to solicit support not just for HIV programme in the state, but also for the state health system, especially data management.
She held discussions with the teams on the need to support the efforts of the government to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
The teams were from the University of Manitoba, Canada, led by the Project Coordinator, Institute of Global Public Health, Dr. Kalada Green and the Global Fund team through Dr. Greg Ashefor.
She also interacted with the World President of the International AIDS Society (IAS), Sharon Lewin.
At the conference, hope for the cure of HIV was raised as delegates were introduced to the “Geneva patient”, the sixth person considered to have been cured of the disease.
The Geneva patient is a Caucasian male whose viral load remains undetectable, 20 months after discontinuing antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The reported over 5000 people who participated at the conference physically and virtually were regaled with progress being recorded in taming HIV.
This included the discovery of a drug that can preferentially prime latent cells to die and facilitate clearance of the viral reservoir.
Using a humanised mouse model, researchers found that daily doses of the drug for a few weeks significantly delayed viral rebound following cessation of ART.
Sessions of the IAS 2023 explored all aspects of long-acting injectable options, including how to ensure these injectables reach all who need them.
Long-acting ARVs were described as probably the greatest advancement in HIV field in recent years.
