Equity in Health

U.N. General Assembly to Vote Today on Declaration of Commitment

Following Monday's long day of debate over draft language that included references to specific HIV "vulnerable groups," such as sex workers, homosexuals and intravenous drug users, a finalized version of the United Nations' Declaration of Commitment for fighting HIV/AIDS on a global scale was submitted last night to delegates of the U.N. General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS, who are expected to vote to adopt the document this afternoon at the conference's closing session, the Washington Post reports. Islamic groups and the Vatican had objected to the inclusion of such groups in the 20-page document, saying it would be "difficult" for them to endorse a plan that referred to behavior that is "illegal and against religious norms" in their countries. The language was removed after a lengthy debate that threatened to "overshadow" the conference's achievements and replaced with references to "risk behaviors, including sexual activity and drug use," the Post reports.

UN slated by Short for 'hyped' Aids fund

The global health fund conceived by the UN secretary general to combat HIV/Aids has been vastly over-hyped, will not get near its $7bn-$10bn target, and should not be seen as the answer to the pandemic in the developing world, Clare Short, Britain's international development secretary, told the Guardian yesterday.

UN SPECIAL SESSION ON AIDS: DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT ON HIV/AIDS
Global Crisis – Global Action

We, Heads of State and Government and Representatives of States and Governments, assembled at the United Nations, from 25 to 27 June 2001, for the twenty-sixth special session of the General Assembly convened in accordance with resolution 55/13, as a matter of urgency, to review and address the problem of HIV/AIDS in all its aspects as well as to secure a global commitment to enhancing coordination and intensification of national, regional and international efforts to combat it in a comprehensive manner.

ZAMBIA: Youths against AIDS
A special report from IRIN plusnews

A concerted campaign anchored to popular teenage
culture is slowing down the rate of HIV-infection among one of Zambia's most vulnerable demographic groups: older teenagers in urban areas.

Further details: /newsletter/id/28654
ABC of AIDS
Treatment of infections

In those who are severely immunosuppressed, the treatment and prophylaxis of opportunistic infections remains important. This article, an adaptation of the 5th edition of the "ABC of AIDS," covers the management of opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, as well as various viral, bacterial, and fungal infections in those with AIDS.

AIDS Strikes Five Nations Hardest: UN Study

India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa each have at least 2 million adults suffering from AIDS or infected with the HIV virus, according to a new UN statistical analysis released on Thursday.

AIDS-drug cocktail to be given to poor South Africans

The French humanitarian group Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) has launched an independently run and financed programme in Khayelitsha township outside Cape Town, South Africa, that provides a small group of impoverished people with AIDS access to a cocktail of three antiretroviral drugs. The programme will assess the feasibility of providing the therapy in a poor township from primary health-care centers run by local government. "Given the heatedpolitical context, we will be monitoring the project carefully," said Toby Kasper, coordinator of MSF's Access to Essential Medicines Campaign.

Disease May Cause Zero Population Growth In Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe could face zero population growth next year due to the rising death rate caused by HIV/AIDS, state television reported Saturday."It is hitting us where it hurts most," said Health Minister Timothy Stamps, noting that AIDS is killing the country's skilled and productive youth. According to Stamps, 100,000 people died of AIDS last year in Zimbabwe. Official statistics put the weekly AIDS death toll at 2,000 in Zimbabwe, where one-fourth of the population is infected with HIV.

Fund to focus on Aids prevention

A proposed new multi-billion dollar global fund for health will concentrate on Aids prevention rather than the mass purchase of expensive anti-retroviral drugs, a United Nations conference in Geneva concluded on Monday. The proposed fund is likely to be formally launched later this month at a UN conference on Aids in New York or at the Group of Eight meeting in Genoa in July. Kofi Annan, the UN secretary-general, has said the fund needs $7bn-$10bn, but it seems likely to raise only around $1bn this year, with the US pledging $200m.

Glaxo Offers AIDS Drugs to More Countries

GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L) said on Monday it was extending its offer of cheap AIDS drugs to a total of 63 countries, following pressure from activists and charity groups. The medicines will be offered at the cost of production to governments, aid agencies and churches in all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and any country in sub-Saharan Africa.

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