Cost-effectiveness of Option B+ for HIV prevention and treatment of mothers and children in Malawi

30 April 2013 -- The Ministry of Health in Malawi is implementing a pragmatic and innovative approach for the management of all HIV-infected pregnant women, termed Option B+, which consists of providing life-long antiretroviral treatment, regardless of their CD4 count or clinical stage. This article examines if Option B+ represents a cost-effective option.

• Read the analysis of Option B+ in Malawi

5 March 2013 -- WHO welcomes a new case report, which found an HIV-infected infant treated with triple antiretroviral drugs in the first 30 hours of life appeared to be functionally cured after taking treatment for 18 months, but notes the need for more studies to confirm and replicate the findings.

• Read the statement

23 February 2013 – WHO authors publish an article entitled “HIV surveillance in MENA: recent developments and results” in the Sexually Transmitted Infections under Open Access. The article notes improvements in HIV surveillance systems in regional countries, with four countries having fully functional systems. It also highlights an increase in HIV rates among key populations such as people who inject drugs, men-who-have-sex with men and male sex workers in specific countries based on data from 2006 -2011.