Geneva (People's Daily) - The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, or UNAIDS, expressed on Friday its deep condolences to the families who have lost loved ones following the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. "We stand in solidarity with China and offer our  full support for the measures under way to end the outbreak," said the agency.

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"China has made extraordinary efforts to contain the outbreak and I have full confidence in China's ability to bring the epidemic under control," said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS. "At this difficult time, UNAIDS offers its support to global efforts to stop the spread of the virus."

UNAIDS is working closely with partners and the authorities in China to ensure that people living with and affected by HIV continue to have access to essential HIV services. In areas affected by the 2019-nCoV outbreak, movement may be restricted and access to services limited as hospitals focus on supporting increasing numbers of 2019-nCoV patients.

It is particularly important that people living with HIV and other chronic diseases have access to adequate supplies of medicines in order to enable them to continue treatment and remain healthy. UNAIDS commends the Chinese National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention for taking swift action to ensure that people living with HIV who are away from their home towns during this lock-down period are able to obtain their monthly refills of antiretroviral therapy.

It is still unclear how many people living with HIV have been affected by the 2019-nCoV in China and UNAIDS will continue to monitor developments. UNAIDS will also continue to work with the authorities and community partners to ensure that people living with and affected by HIV have correct information on how to prevent 2019-nCoV and how to access the services they need.