Delegates attending the 15th World Aids Conference currently underway in Bangkok, Thailand, have endorsed a new 12-point 'Plan of Action' targeting improved global access to current and future HIV and Aids treatments and prevention products at local and community level.

Representatives from numerous treatment, microbicides and vaccine organisations, on Wednesday endorsed the plan, which is a tool to help governments, industry and civil society organisations.

It calls, amongst others, for improvements in health care services and the boosting of public and private research into both treatment and prevention products.

A microbicide is any substance that can substantially reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and like today's spermicides, it could be produced in many forms, including; gels, creams, suppositories, films, or in the form of a sponge or a vaginal ring that slowly releases the active ingredient over time.

Microbicides are not currently available, but scientists are pursuing over 60 product leads. With sufficient investment and commitment, an effective topical microbicide could be on the market by 2007.

Policy Advisor with the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Saul Walker said rapidly expanding the development and accessibility of new HIV prevention technologies was critical to reducing infections in the coming years.

"Even a partially effective vaccine could reduce infections by as much as 60%, which would have a dramatic impact on a disease expected to take 70% lives by the year 2020.

"Treatment strategies will not succeed if prevention efforts are failing, as there will always be more people requiring treatment. But prevention strategies are less likely to succeed if treatments are not accessible," he said.

Head of the Law and Treatment Access Unit of the Aids Law Project, South African Jonathan Berger, said where treatments were accessible, the nexus between Aids and death was broken.

"When people with HIV/Aids are able to live longer and healthier lives, hope is restored and stigma is reduced. As a result, people are more willing to come forward for testing and are more likely to access prevention services.

"Treatment access provides a supportive context for peer-based prevention work with and by people living with HIV/Aids," he said.

The Plan of Action can be used as a point of reference for advocates and policy makers worldwide and is intended for people working at local, national, regional or international levels, and in all sectors, including advocates and policy makers located in community, not-for-profit, public sector or industry bodies.

Objectives of the plan include reaching vaccination clinical trial stages, enabling legislative and fiscal environment to stimulate HIV product development, improved communication and strategic coordination between advocacy organisations. – BuaNews.