Towards Universal Access”, a progress report on the health sector’s response to the HIV epidemic worldwide found that 20 countries accounted for over 83% of the total number of patients receiving ARV therapy in low and middle-income countries in 2009, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

The report by the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children's Fund, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was released in Nairobi yesterday.

At the end of 2009, 5 254 000 people were receiving ARV therapy in low- and middle-income countries, an increase representing a 30% rise from a year earlier and a 13-fold increase in six years.

However, only 28% of all children in need of ARV therapy accessed the drugs.

Home to the greatest absolute number of people living with HIV – 5,7-million - South Africa now provides ARV therapy to 18% of all patients treated worldwide.

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