Home

The BALI Declaration on Oral Health in HIV/AIDS

Having reviewed the evidence presented to the 8th World Workshop on OralHealth in HIV/AIDS, held in Indonesia, the delegates agreed that the UNAIDSobjective of ending the global HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030 could be significantly enhanced by improving the current level of knowledge in health care professionals and the public at large.

The workshop concluded that it is necessary to eliminate the stigma of HIV/AIDS, and to improve accessibility and compliance with effective therapy in order to stop HIV transmission. To achieve this, targeted educational input is required to ensure:]

  1. That the role of dental professionals is recognized as an integral part of the healthcare team committed to achieving the aims of UNAIDS.
  2. HIV education of dental students and dental healthcare workers should be an essential element of the dental curriculum to ensure the profession has the appropriate knowledge and attitudes to manage people living with HIV.
  3. That public health programs make certain that the general public is aware of HIV testing and the role of dental healthcare workers in facilitating this: thereby further normalizing attitudes to people living with HIV.

Research into oral health serves to improve the diagnosis and care of patients and provides the evidence base that underpins future education. High quality research and educational initiatives for doctors, dentists, and the community, are urgently required to achieve the UNAIDS objectives.

Notes

  • In 2014, the Joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) launched the 90–90–90 targets; the aim was to diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 90% of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by 2020, to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030
  • Details of the UNAIDS90-90-90 targets can be downloaded from https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/SDGsandHIV_en.pdf
  • Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by Grant 1R13DE28504-01A1 by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

For further information about the Bali Declaration on oral health in HIV/AIDS, please contact the Workshop Chair, Professor Anwar Tappuni. Email: a.r.tappuni@qmul.ac.uk