A United Nations progress report on AIDS on Wednesday showed that despite some progress, the goal of universal access to treatment for all those who need it is still a long way off.

Following are details by region on access to testing and counseling services, and to antiretroviral treatment (ART).

* Sub-Saharan Africa

- An estimated 2.9 million people in sub-Saharan Africa received ART in 2008, compared to about 2.1 million in 2007 -- man increase of 39 percent.

- ART coverage in the region -- the proportion of those in need of antiretrovirals who are able to access them -- rose to 44 percent in 2008 from 33 percent in 2007.

- Some 45 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women in the region received antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV transmission to their children, up from 35 percent in 2007.

* North Africa and the Middle East

- Approximately 10,000 people in North Africa and the Middle East had access to ART in 2008, compared to 7,000 in 2007, an increase of 43 percent.

- ART coverage in the region remains low, at 14 percent in 2008 compared with 11 percent in 2007.

- In 2008, only 1 percent of pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

* East, South and South-East Asia

- Approximately 565,000 people received ART in low- and middle-income countries in the region -- up from 420,000 -- a 35 percent increase over the previous year and an eightfold increase since 2003.

- 2008 ART coverage was 37 percent, compared to 29 percent in 2007.

- Some 25 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women in the region had access to antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission in 2008, up from 24 percent in 2007.

* Latin America and the Caribbean

- About 445,000 people were receiving ART in 2008, up from 390,000 in 2007, a 14 percent regional increase.

- ART coverage was 54 percent in 2008, compared to 50 percent in 2007.

- In Latin America, the percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women who received antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission rose from 47 percent to 54 percent between 2007 and 2008. The corresponding percentage in the Caribbean was 52 percent in 2008, up from 29 percent in 2007.

* Europe and Central Asia

- In 2008, 85,000 people were receiving ART in Europe and Central Asia, compared to 54,000 in 2007, up 57 percent.

- ART coverage among low- and middle-income countries in the region was 23 percent in 2008, up from 16 percent in 2007.

- An estimated 94 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women in this region received antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, up from 74 percent in 2007.

SOURCE: United Nations AIDS report 2009

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