Developing Nations

This policy paper discusses "debt swaps" as a way of funding the expansion of HIV/AIDS programs for countries that have problems paying or are unable to pay their external debt. The paper presents definitions and categories of swaps such as debt-for-equity swaps, debt buy-backs, debt-for-nature swaps, and debt-for- development swaps. It also discusses advantages and disadvantages of debt swaps, and provides information on the use of debt swaps by low-income countries severely affected by HIV/AIDS in order to scale up their HIV/AIDS programs.

This report describes the progress toward “3 by 5,” the target that 3 million persons with in developing and transitional countries would be receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) by 2005. The report discusses global efforts to increase access to ART and the reasons for the successes and failures. It highlights the progress and challenges in some countries and obstacles to scaling up ART and HIV prevention.

This report outlines some of the strategies, tools and policies that have supported the scaling up of treatment during the past decade as well as those that can address persistent or new challenges. The results are presented from a 23-country survey of how consistently these strategies are being implemented. The findings demonstrate encouraging progress by some health ministries in adopting many of the enabling policies needed to facilitate scale-up and improve care. Nevertheless, the adoption and implementation of these strategies, tools and policies are lagging in some countries.