The new Epidemic Updates reflects improved and expanded epidemiological data and analyses that present a better understanding of the global epidemic. These new data and advances in methodology have resulted in substantial revisions from previous estimates. While the global prevalence of HIV infection—the percentage of people infected with HIV — has levelled off, the total number of people living with HIV is increasing because of ongoing acquisition of HIV infection, combined with longer survival times, in a continuously growing
general population. Global HIV incidence — the number of new HIV infections per year — is now estimated to have peaked in the late 1990s at over 3 million [2.4 – 5.1 million] new infections per year, and is estimated in 2007 to be 2.5 million [1.8 – 4.1 million] new infections, an average of more than 6 800 new infections each day. This reflects natural trends in the epidemic, as well as the result of HIV prevention efforts.
Equity and HIV/AIDS
This paper discusses the issue of equity in the distribution of ARV drugs in the Malawi health system. Malawi is one of the countries most severely affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. It is also one of the poorest countries in the world.ARV drugs are expensive.The Malawi government, with assistance from the Global Fund on Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS, started providing free ARV drugs to eligible HIV-infected people in September 2004.The provision of free drugs brought the hope that everyone who was eligible would access them. Based on data collected through a qualitative research methodology, it was found that achieving equity in provision would face several challenges including policy, operational and socio-economic considerations. Specifically, the existing policy framework, shortage of medical personnel, access to information and inadequacy of effective community support groups are some of the key issues affecting equity.
This study aimed to explore perceptions of Uganda-based key decision-makers about the past, present and optimal future roles of FBOs in HIV/AIDS work, including actions to promote or dissuade stigma and discrimination. Uganda's program continues to face challenges, including perceptions among the general population that HIV/AIDS is a cause for secrecy. By virtue of their networks and influence, respondents believe that FBOs are well-positioned to contribute to breaking the silence about HIV/AIDS which undermines prevention, care and treatment efforts.
This paper presents findings from a study on the experiences of orphan care among Langi people of Amach sub-county in Lira District, northern Uganda, and discusses their policy implications.The findings revealed that the Langi people have an inherently problematic orphan concept, which contribute toward discriminatory attitudes and practices against orphans.The clan based decision-making to care for orphans, the category of kin a particular orphan ends up living with, the sex and age of the orphan, as well as the cessation of the ‘widow-inheritance' custom emerged as prominent factors which impact on orphan care.Thus there is the need to draw upon such local knowledge in policy making and intervention planning for orphans.
Successful nutritional care and support of PLWHA requires an inferred partnership between those affected and different levels of care providers. A coordinated effort is required from people in many disciplines. The wide dissemination and use of these Guidelines, as well as supportive policies and services to implement the recommendations herein, will help all stakeholders to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS.
This report and policy brief summarises the key findings and suggested policy options that emerged from rapporteur reports of conference proceedings including the following themes: (1) Orphans and vulnerable children, (2) Treatment, (3) Prevention, (4) Gender and male involvement, (5) Male circumcision, (6) People living with HIV and AIDS, (7) Food and nutrition, (8) Socioeconomics, and (9) Politics/policy. Policy frameworks which are likely to succeed in combating HIV and AIDS need to be updated to cover issues of access, testing, disclosure and stigma.
This report from UNAIDS assesses the implementation of the Global Task Team (GTT) recommendations in two key areas: technical support provision to the national AIDS response as brokered by the UN system; and harmonisation and alignment of international partners. In the area of technical support, the report concludes that the UN has made significant progress in establishing joint teams on AIDS and recognises that they are beginning to enable the UN to speak and act as “one” on HIV/AIDS issues. However differences in commitment to joint working and in skills and capacity between agencies combined with high work loads are putting pressures on these teams. The harmonisation and alignment agenda needs strong leadership from headquarters about the importance of joint working.
The situation in Swaziland has deteriorated since the beginning of the
1990’s.While HIV/AIDS is not solely to blame for the reduction in living standards and life expectancy, it has compounded the effects of other events such as drought and falling foreign direct investment (FDI). Swazi society is in distress - overwhelming sickness, an increasing dependency ratio and thousands of OVC are placing households and communities under extreme duress. In Swaziland, HIV amd AIDS is creating a chronic emergency that is permanently altering development. This demonstrates a ‘new’ disaster that exceeds emergency thresholds and requires a new style of holistic response. While the traditional threshold approach to identifying emergencies remains useful for classifying ‘traditional’ disasters, a new framework of analysis is needed for HIV/AIDS. This could take the form of an index system or a series of thresholds. Within this it is crucial that the indicators measured are considered over time, with a sustained fall being the prime indication of an emergency. The element of ‘time’ has been missing from the debate surrounding humanitarian response.
The overall goal of the National Policy on HIV/AIDS is to provide for a framework for leadership and coordination of the National multisectoral response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This includes formulation, by all sectors, of appropriate interventions which will be effective in preventing transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, protecting and supporting vulnerable groups, mitigating the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS. It also provides for the framework for strengthening the capacity of institutions, communities and individuals in all sectors to arrest the spread of the epidemic.
The Strategic Framework is intended to operationalise the National Policy on HIV/AIDS. It provides strategic guidance for developing and implementing HIV/AIDS interventions by various partners. It identifies priority logical set of goals, principles, objectives and strategies to guide multisectoral responses to ensure a strengthened, effective and coordinated national response to the epidemic. It puts strong emphasis on community-based response, that communities are fully empowered and involved in formulating and implementing own responses. It is closely linked with other national development initiatives including Vision 2025, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).