Access to treatment, women and young people, those were the key points of the 14th International Conference on AIDS held in Barcelona, Spain. More than half of new infections occur among young people between the ages of 15 and 24 worldwide, yet young people's needs and concerns are rarely taken into account when planning strategic interventions to halt the spread of HIV. This was clear in regards to the number of young people attending the conference; out of the 15,000 delegates only 200 were young people.
Equity in Health
EU to donate funds to fill gap left by withdrawal US funding
The European Union will grant 32 million euros, or about $31.8 million, to the United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation in an effort to "fill the gap" left by the Bush administration's decision to withdraw the United States' $34 million contribution to UNFPA. The funding will go to reproductive health care projects operated by UNFPA and IPPF in 22 developing nations. The money will be used to fund pre- and postnatal care programs, family planning services, sexually transmitted disease prevention, counseling on "avoiding [unintended] pregnancies and unsafe abortion".
Genomics and World Health
The most up-to-date WHO publication on the subject, the report attempts to help WHO Member States to ensure that genome technology is used to reduce rather than exacerbate global inequalities in health status.
New UNAIDS report warns AIDS epidemic still in early phase
A new report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) warns that the AIDS epidemic is still in an early phase. HIV prevalence is climbing higher than previously believed possible in the worst-affected countries and is continuing to spread rapidly into new populations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Malaria threat on heels of drought
The coming of the rains in Southern Africa in the next few months will end the region's drought but usher in a new threat - an upsurge in malaria, Africa's number one killer. "Our past experiences from the '92 drought and other droughts is that after the drought breaks and the first rains fall there is a natural biological response from the mosquitoes. They move in large numbers. We must prepare to keep malaria down when the rains come," said Shiva Marugasampillay, chairman of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) 2002 Southern Africa Malaria Control Conference.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29261
TANZANIA: Government stands by malaria policy
Following recent confusion over the potential side effects of a new malaria drug - Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP)- the Tanzanian health ministry has reiterated its faith in the drug as the most effective method of treating the deadly disease.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29259
Testing the market for the female condom in Zambia
The female condom could reduce the spread of HIV by increasing the prevention options available to sexually active adults. Marketing of the female condom at subsidised prices began in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1997. How effective has this been? Do people know about female condoms and are they likely to use them?
Treatment Action Campaign Threatens Court Action
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) on Monday threatened to challenge the Medicines Control Council (MCC) in court if it decided to ban the anti-Aids drug, nevirapine. "We haven't decided on an exact legal route yet but we will make sure that any reverse decision is heard. We're not going to quietly sit by if this is a serious threat," the TAC's Mark Heywood told reporters in Johannesburg. He was reacting to newspaper reports at the weekend that the MCC was reviewing its approval of nevirapine because it had concerns about its effectiveness and toxicity.
Week-Old Infant Raped in South Africa
Police are investigating the rape of a one-week-old South African baby girl, the youngest child ever to be raped in the country, Reuters/Toronto Star reports. The attack occurred on Sunday in the city of Kwaminya in KwaZulu-Natal province. The infant is seriously injured but is in stable condition, Police Superintendent Lawrence Zondi said. It is not known who committed the rape. The incident is the latest in a "spate of child rapes fueled by the myth that sex with a virgin" can cure HIV/AIDS.
WSSD: Briefing paper on HIV/AIDS
In a briefing paper for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the devastating toll of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is examined. Its present and future impact on global sustainable development, especially for the poorest members of society and least developed countries, is discussed. Some of the suggested strategies for dealing with the most critical aspects of the disease are also reviewed.