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Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)

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Family Health International works to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS by decreasing morbidity and mortality through access to comprehensive HIV care including the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART has transformed the care of HIV infection into a manageable chronic illness. People living with HIV/AIDS benefit by having restored health, economic productivity, and social functioning. In resource-constrained countries, providing ART demonstrates respect for people living with HIV/AIDS and has the potential to decrease stigma and boost prevention efforts.

Combining at least three drugs from the various classes of antiretrovirals (ARVs) into a "cocktail" typically produces a dramatic reduction in viral load (the level of virus in the blood) and allows immune restoration. This combination is often called "highly active antiretroviral therapy" (HAART). Each class of ARV attacks the virus at a different stage of its replication, preventing it from replicating further or, at a minimum, slowing down replication. 

Less than 10 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the most affected areas of the world in need of HAART have access to antiretroviral drugs. Use and benefit of the drugs can be limited by their cost, side effects, drug resistance, drug interactions, schedule and storage requirements, and the necessity of lifelong adherence.