WASHINGTON, D.C. (NEWS1130) – Vancouver AIDS researchers will be pushing their HIV treatment-as-prevention plan at the massive international AIDS conference, starting today in Washington D.C.

The man behind the pioneering effort says it has to apply to rich and poor countries.

“It has been a long-term concern for us that anything that we do here in BC and North America or in the rich parts of the world, we find the means to translate it in a way that can be readily applicable to other jurisdictions in the world,” says Dr. Julio Montaner, the head of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.

He says they’ve been able to do that in some areas.
    
“Latin America, China – China  has been incredible. They’ve embraced our treatment-as-prevention strategy full heartily,” Montaner explains. “We’re doing it in Africa, so this is happening.”

He says there needs to be global strategy to fight the virus and help countries who might struggle on their own.
    
“That’s the reason why it’s so important that we get together at an international AIDS conference and we pressure our governments, including Mr. Harper, to do the right thing for those in the world that can not do it for themselves,” he stresses. “Canada has an obligation in implementing or facilitating the implementation of this very successful medical strategy in the rest of the world.”

The triple-drug cocktail has dramatically-improved the life span of someone diagnosed with HIV and is very effective is stopping the virus’s transmission between people.

Montaner says not treating HIV is so expensive in the long run, it can’t be afforded, which is why we need to invest now.

He adds that small investments in testing and treatment won’t stop the epidemic, and the so-called “AIDS mortgage” will just keep growing.