Chapter 2
The 3 by 5 strategy
Countries are driving the process of treatment scale-up, supported by WHO, UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and other partners. On 1 December 2003, WHO published its global strategy, outlining how the Organization will contribute to the 3 by 5 target (10). The strategy outlines key areas of activity in a framework of five pillars.
Pillar One: Global leadership, strong partnership and advocacy
WHO is working closely with UNAIDS, the World Bank, and other multilateral organizations and international partners to ensure that the effort is integrated into the broader global development agenda. International resources committed to 3 by 5 should be additional to the support for countries' efforts to achieve targets such as the Millennium Development Goals. WHO advocates for pro-equity approaches that promote gender equity and responsiveness to the needs of vulnerable groups.
Pillar Two: Urgent, sustained country support
WHO is providing essential policy advice and tools, and will cooperate with countries at every stage of the design and implementation of national plans.
Pillar Three: Simplified, standardized tools for delivering antiretroviral therapy
Rapidly scaling up antiretroviral therapy requires user-friendly guidelines and tools to help health workers identify and enrol people living with HIV/AIDS, deliver therapy and monitor results, including drug resistance. WHO is developing these tools.
Pillar Four: Effective, reliable supply of medicines and diagnostics
The AIDS Medicines and Diagnostics Service has been established to help coordinate the many ongoing efforts to improve access to HIV/AIDS medicines. It provides a range of support services tailored to country needs (see Box 2.2).
Pillar Five: Rapid identification and reapplication of new knowledge and successes
WHO is documenting experiences and lessons from successful national antiretroviral therapy programmes and pilot projects in resource-limited areas and is coordinating an agenda for operational research relevant to the needs of antiretroviral therapy programmes (see Chapter 5).