Although a humanitarian crisis had been mitigated in Southern Africa through swift food aid deliveries, a horrifying new disaster was looming in Southern Africa in the form of HIV/AIDS, James Morris, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for humanitarian needs in Southern Africa has warned. "The impact of HIV/AIDS on this part of the world is enormous and the impact on women and children is devastating," Morris told journalists after a visit to four of the six southern African countries battling critical food shortages affecting over 14 million people.
Equity in Health
HIV/AIDS a "horrifying new disaster" in Southern Africa
Major AIDS Group Files Complaint Against Drug Giant in South Africa
AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest AIDS organisation in the United States has filed a complaint with South Africa’s Competition Commission against GlaxoSmithKline. AHF filed the complaint over the company’s drug pricing and AIDS policies in South Africa, which it described as “having a stranglehold on key AIDS drug patents” and exercising “unfettered monopoly pricing on these life-saving medications.” AHF wants the commission, an independent body ensuring that companies compete fairly and do not abuse positions of power, to overturn GlaxoSmithKline’s sole right of manufacturing drugs in the country.
still no wto agreement on drug access
Although delegates from 22 World Trade Organization member nations failed to break gridlock on the issue of how to relax patent protection to give developing nations better access to drugs to fight public health epidemics, including HIV/AIDS, a proposal by Brazil may offer a "glimmer of hope" in the talks, Reuters reports. Under the new plan, introduced during a three-day meeting in Tokyo, the World Health Organisation would determine if low-income nations have the infrastructure to manufacture generic versions of drugs.
THOUSANDS DEMAND HIV TREATMENT in South Africa
Thousands marched in Cape Town in February in a massive show of support for the demand that the South African government sign and implement a national HIV treatment programme. Estimates on the amount of marchers attending the march organised by AIDS-lobby group the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and taking place on the occasion of the opening of South Africa's Parliament for 2003 ranged from between 10 000 and 30 000. The material available through the link below includes a report on the march, a letter from TAC activist Zackie Achmat about the march, the memorandum presented to government and a memorandum to President Bush and Members of US Congress dealing with the Doha agreement.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29613
Unsafe sex still main cause of HIV infection in Africa
New research findings suggesting that unsafe medical practices are the main cause of HIV transmission have been rejected by medical experts in South Africa. They insist that unsafe sex continues to be the main cause of infection. The controversy began when a team of eight researchers from three countries who reviewed data on HIV infection in Africa estimated only about a third of adult cases are sexually transmitted. They said healthcare practices, especially contaminated medical injections, could also be a major cause.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29614
WHO Rejects Charges Of Food Industry Infiltration
The World Health Organisation has rejected allegations in the London Guardian that its policies on diet and nutrition were unduly influenced by the food industry, saying it welcomed open debate with all stakeholders and had strengthened its procedures against covert lobbying. The agency said it welcomed open and transparent debate on the issue from all interested groups as the agency sought to develop a global strategy on diet, physical activity and health.
ACTIVISTS "FRUSTRATED" BY DELAYS IN WTO TALKS
World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks held late last year failed to resolve the issue of access to generic medicines in developing countries after the United States blocked an agreement on granting easier access to the drugs. "Its a tragedy that there is no solution after one year of talks ... millions of people have died from [infectious] diseases this year. The rich countries don't realise how much this has affected poor countries," head of international affairs for treatment lobby group Act-Up Paris, Gaëlle Krikorian, told PlusNews.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29538
AFRICA ACTION DEMANDS DOLLARS TO MATCH ANNOUNCEMENT ON AIDS
Africa Action has welcomed the announcement of new money to fight HIV/AIDS by the Bush administration, but Africa Action Executive Director Salih Booker noted that this money must be made available immediately if it is to save lives and have a real impact on the course of the pandemic in Africa and globally.
Further details: /newsletter/id/29585
Church Supports Call for Cheaper AIDS Drugs
The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) has appealed for the provision of cheaper antiretroviral drugs for HIV -positive people. In a media statement, issued on Tuesday January 7, 2003, the AIDS Office of the SACBC said it "supports the cause of the National Association of People living with AIDS (NAPWA) in the calling of government and pharmaceutical companies to provide cheaper generic antiretrovirals to all people living with AIDS."
Dr. Jong Wook Lee Narrowly Defeats UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot for WHO Head Position
Dr. Jong Wook Lee, 57, of South Korea, was on Tuesday January 28 chosen by a World Health Organisation executive committee vote of 17-15 to take over the position of WHO director general, BBC News reports. Lee, who will succeed Norway's Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, narrowly defeated Peter Piot, a Belgian epidemiologist who heads UNAIDS.