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IBEKWE ALEXANDER
IBEKWE ALEXANDER


ICASA 2011 kicks off in a Colorful Ceremony

ICASA 2011 kicks off in a Colorful Ceremony
Heads of State and Government, former presidents, first ladies, members of parliaments, ministers, high level representatives of UN agencies, donors, members of the diplomatic corps, renowned scientists, NGOs, PLHIV, and civil society gathered today at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa for the opening ceremony of the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA 2011). The five-day conference under the theme ‘Own, Scale-up and Sustain’ is expected to actively engage participants through high-level plenary sessions, satellite sessions, skill building sessions, poster exhibition and various side events.

In welcoming the participants, Dr. Yigermu Abebe, President of ICASA 2011 said, “Welcome to the 16th ICASA, which has been organized by the Government of Ethiopia in conjunction with the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), various institutional and community partners as well as the private sector.”

ICASA 2011 takes place at a pivotal time - thirty years since the first case of AIDS was detected; ten years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS, where world leaders declared AIDS as a “global emergency” and called for an “urgent, coordinated and sustained response” to the epidemic; and ten years since the Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other Infectious Diseases.

President of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), Professor Robert Soudre said, “Once again the forefront stakeholders in the response to HIV and AIDS in Africa are meeting in Addis Ababa to address our common enemy - the HIV epidemic and related diseases”.

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) Council has selected Ethiopia to host the 16th ICASA, based on interest expressed by the Ethiopian Government to host the Conference, as well as meeting a set of criteria including adequate logistics, security, communications, accommodation and conference venue. Ethiopia officially accepted the offer during a signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the SAA and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, represented by the Federal Ministry of Health in July 2009 in Lagos, Nigeria.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the AIDS response in sub-Saharan Africa. The total number of new HIV infections in the region has declined by more than 26%, from 2.6 million [2.4 million-2.8 million] to 1.9 million [1.7 million-2.1 million] since the peak of the epidemic in 1997.

Confirming this, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “Over the past decade, Africa has made remarkable progress in its HIV response”.

Never the less, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV. In 2010, an estimated 68% of all people living with HIV resided in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with only 12% of the global population.

“With strengthened political will and increased resources, I am confident that countries across the continent will reach our common goal of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,” Dr. Sidibé added.

In his key note address on behalf of the people and Government of Ethiopia at the official opening, H.E. Meles Zenawi, Ethiopian Prime Minister, said, “It is my distinct pleasure to welcome all delegates to Addis Ababa and the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2011). We are honored to be hosting this major international gathering at this critical juncture in the countdown to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Three decades following the discovery of AIDS, ICASA 2011 provides an important opportunity to take stock of the significant progress made as well as the challenges we still face in reversing the epidemic in countries across our continent”.

“This year’s theme is a particularly fitting one at this critical time. Against the backdrop of growing global economic uncertainty, it is vital that African countries develop innovative and sustainable strategies for mobilizing new resources—human, intellectual, and material — with a view to fortifying and sustaining our response to the epidemic over the coming years. Indeed, the challenge now is for Africa to Own, Scale-up and Sustain the fight and build on the successes of the past to finally turn the tide of the epidemic through greater containment and significantly lower new infections,” the prime minister noted.

A decade ago, HIV prevalence among the 15 to 24 age group in Ethiopia was 12.4%. Today, this figure has stabilized at 2.4%. In 2005, fewer than 1,000 Ethiopians had access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Today, over 333 thousand Ethiopians, an estimated 66%, of those in need are receiving ART.

Dr. Yigeremu Abebe, President of ICASA 2011, highlighted the significance of the conference for Africa and Ethiopia. “This year’s ICASA promises to be unique in that awards will be given to the best abstracts presented by young investigators below the age of 35. This recognition aims to encourage scientific research in Africa, which is currently facing challenges,” he said.Early in the day The ICASA community village was also open. The community village is a melting pot of all cultures to informally exchange ideas and ways forward not only in the HIV and AIDS response, but also other socioeconomic issues.

At the official opening, H.E Ato Kuma Demekisa expressed his warm welcome to the delegates and wished a successful deliberation over the conference period. Similarly, the former president of USA – Mr. George Bush Jr. addressed the gathering.

Mr. Bush was also recognized with an award for his support in the HIV and AIDS response. On the occasion H.E Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Ethiopian Minister of Health, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Bush. This was followed by President Bush receiving his award from H.E Ato Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian Prime Minister.

December 5, 2011 | 5:13 AM Comments  0 comments

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STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AS A BARRIER IN COMPACTING HIV/AIDS
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AS A BARRIER IN COMPACTING HIV/AIDS

Because HIV/AIDS is associated with behaviors that may be considered socially unacceptable by many people, HIV infection is widely stigmatized. People living with the virus are frequently subject to discrimination and human rights abuses: many have been thrown out of jobs and homes, rejected by family and friends, and some have even been killed. Together, stigma and discrimination constitute one of the greatest barriers in dealing effectively with the epidemic. They discourage governments from acknowledging or taking timely action against AIDS. They deter individuals from finding out about their HIV status. And they inhibit those who know they are infected from sharing their diagnosis and taking action to protect others and from seeking treatment and care for themselves. Experience teaches that a strong Network of people living with HIV/AIDS that affords mutual support and a voice at local and national levels is particularly effective in tackling stigma. There is a need to have a special budget from Federal Government for Network of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria both at the National, State and local government level Moreover, the presence of treatment makes this task easier too: where there is hope, people are less afraid of AIDS; they are more willing to be tested for HIV, to disclose their status, and to seek care if necessary. Let us think about bringing treatment to the grass root, let us think of upgrading the health facilities located at the rural area.

March 14, 2009 | 12:13 PM Comments  0 comments

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Combating HIV/AIDS Stigma, a Global Challenge
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Combating HIV/AIDS Stigma, a Global Challenge

Global AIDS numbers have dropped dramatically, but that is only half the battle won. Stigma towards HIV-positive Person needs to be countered if the threat of AIDS is to be overcome.

An Indian soldier discovers he is HIV-positive and is forced to deal with the termination of his services. An HIV-positive pregnant woman from West Bengal has a sticker plastered on her forehead by hospital staff; she is isolated in the ward and refused the urgent medical attention she needed. A couple is stoned, branded outcast by there community because they are HIV-positive. A HIV-positive woman aborts her own baby because hospital staff refuses to assist her. This intense stigma can be painful to endure.

The good news is that the number of people contracting HIV infection is dropping, worldwide. A few months ago, UNAIDS, releases its AIDS Epidemic Update for 2007, said new data show global HIV prevalence (the percentage of people living with HIV) has leveled off and the number of new infections has fallen, in part as a result of the impact of HIV programme.

Nigeria now ranks second among nations with the largest number of people living with HIV (www.globalhealth.org). Taking the optimistic arithmetic apart, the experiences of ordinary people living with HIV tell another story. Stigma and not surveillance, is the biggest problem.

A 25-year-old boy from Obosi Anambra State commits suicide to escape the stigma piled on, because of improper counseling during testing. Private hospitals and laboratories pose a big challenge in compacting HIV/AIDS related Stigma in the rural area of Nigeria. Not only that some of them do not have up to date equipment in diagnosis, they are lacking information about HIV/AIDS where by causing psychological trauma to any body that passes through them which might result to suicide mission.

Stigma is hard to track and its impact even harder to measure. There is a need to generated data on stigma by including surveys on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Overall acceptance measured through indicators like willingness to care for a positive person or accept a positive person, even associate with positive person is also needed.


Those vulnerable to and are experiencing social stigma and discrimination will be puzzled if they were told that awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS is higher than before. Awareness is not translating into tolerance or a shedding of stigma.

Protection against HIV and preventing its spread is certainly a key message, but protection using stigma and alienation will go nowhere. It is always challenging to fight for legislation and better policy outcomes. Nigeria is working on a law against discrimination of HIV-positive person. But laws and policies cannot be substitutes for a humane approach.

March 14, 2009 | 11:40 AM Comments  0 comments

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COMMUNITY DIALOGUE AT EKWULOBIA
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

NEPWHAN SECRETARY AT COMMUNITY DIALOGUE ORGANIZED BY HEALTH LINK ORG. WITH SUPPORT FROM NEPWHAN/ARFH/GFR5 PROJECT

March 14, 2009 | 11:24 AM Comments  0 comments

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HEALTH LINK ORGANIZATION COMMUNITY DIALOGUE ON HIV/AIDS STIGMA REDUCTION
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE HELD AT EKWULOBIA COMMUNITY AGUATA L.G.A ANAMBRA STATE

Health Link Organization with support from (NEPWHAN)/ARFH/Global Fund project, organized community dialogue at Ekwulobia Community Hall, Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State. The community dialogue meeting under the NEPWHAN/ARFH/Global Fund project, was organized and carried out at Omogho Community due to their low level or lack of comprehension on HIV/AIDS in that area.

Objectives of the dialogue:
•To sensitize community members and gatekeepers on HIV and AIDS
•To identify and address issues that fuel stigma and discrimination against PLWHA and PABA in the community
•To identify interventions that will help to reduce stigma and discrimination against PLWHA and PABA in the community
•To establish partnership between community and PLWHA in the fight against stigma and discrimination.

March 14, 2009 | 11:15 AM Comments  0 comments

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NYNETHA LEADERSHIP
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

bring to you compliments of the season even as I acknowledge the onerous task that you are carrying out in the field, I write to thank you all for your support, Contributions, ideas and wonderful postings just because of Election.

I never know that we have such a wonderful, vibrant and active young people in this E- forum that can devote their time energy and resources to talk about NYNETHA issues.

Too many young people die simply for lack of access to the knowledge that can save their lives. This knowledge exists; however it remains inaccessible to those who need it the most. Access to health information is an integral part of all health systems because it can improve people's health.

HIV/AIDS is trying to keep its promise by destroying our economy, increasing the number of orphan and vulnerable children in the country, bringing poverty to our Country, kill our young people, keep our young people out off school, broken homes, taking our love ones from us.
We need to ask ourselves these questions, are we keeping the promise, the promise of care and support PLWHA, the promise of greater involvement of PLWHA, in the planning, implementation and monitoring of HIV/AIDS activities, the promise of accountability, the promise of an HIV/AIDS free society and sustainable development. This and other questions we need to ask ourselves individually as we are in another year of HIV promise. It is a challenge to all of us to become more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and its related promises. The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is increasing on young people and woman.
Some of us, where known and heard only in internet but when you come to their community and grassroots where HIV is keeping its promise they are doing noting. Everybody wants to be heard and known because NYNETHA election is at hand. But since we started this forum, they have not raised any issue, suggestions or shared any best practices for others to emulate. But today every body wants to be noticed ad heard just because of election.
The challenges that we young people are facing today are formidable, over 500 million people ages between 15 and 24 are living below the poverty line (less than $2.00 per day). 6,000 young people are infected with HIV daily And 1,500 women most of whom under 24 years die everyday as a result of Early pregnancy or childbirth World Population Report 2005 indicates That almost a quarter of all individuals living with HIV/AIDS are young People, yet they represent half of all new HIV infection cases. The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is about 4.4% translating to over 3.5 million people. The highest rate (5.6%) of infection is among young people aged 20-29 years. Despite progress in expanding prevention and treatment in the country, only 20% of males and 10 % of females between the ages 14 -25 can correctly identify ways of preventing HIV transmission. 1,200 young people in Nigeria got infected with HIV every day, which shows that one person per minute. World Population Report 2005 indicates Youth even though are important segment of our society lack the necessary information, skills and services that are needed to prevent themselves from contracting HIV. Youth are critical stakeholders in development processes and in the control of HIV/AIDS, we need to be heard and support. My dear brothers and sister, HIV and AIDS is one of the greatest threats to the welfare of Nigerian youths today, if we start to think about these issues and there solution then, this will start to break down the stigma and discrimination barriers that exist, and also provide a way for HIV/AIDS free society which is our vision

March 24, 2008 | 8:40 AM Comments  0 comments

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Combating HIV/AIDS Stigma, a Global Challenge
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Combating HIV/AIDS Stigma, a Global Challenge

Global AIDS numbers have dropped dramatically, but that is only half the battle won. Stigma towards HIV-positive Person needs to be countered if the threat of AIDS is to be overcome.

An Indian soldier discovers he is HIV-positive and is forced to deal with the termination of his services. An HIV-positive pregnant woman from West Bengal has a sticker plastered on her forehead by hospital staff; she is isolated in the ward and refused the urgent medical attention she needed. A couple is stoned, branded outcast by there community because they are HIV-positive. A HIV-positive woman aborts her own baby because hospital staff refuses to assist her. This intense stigma can be painful to endure.

The good news is that the number of people contracting HIV infection is dropping, worldwide. A few months ago, UNAIDS, releases its AIDS Epidemic Update for 2007, said new data show global HIV prevalence (the percentage of people living with HIV) has leveled off and the number of new infections has fallen, in part as a result of the impact of HIV programme.

Nigeria now ranks second among nations with the largest number of people living with HIV (www.globalhealth.org). Taking the optimistic arithmetic apart, the experiences of ordinary people living with HIV tell another story. Stigma and not surveillance, is the biggest problem.

A 25-year-old boy from Obosi Anambra State commits suicide to escape the stigma piled on, because of in proper counseling during testing. Private hospitals and laboratories pose a big challenge in compacting HIV/AIDS related Stigma in the rural area of Nigeria. Not only that some of them do not have up to date equipment in diagnosis, they are lacking information about HIV/AIDS where by causing psychological trauma to any body that passes through them which might result to suicide mission.

Stigma is hard to track and its impact even harder to measure. There is a need to generated data on stigma by including surveys on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Overall acceptance measured through indicators like willingness to care for a positive person or accept a positive person, even associate with positive person is also needed.

Those vulnerable to and are experiencing social stigma and discrimination will be puzzled if they were told that awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS is higher than before. Awareness is not translating into tolerance or a shedding of stigma.
Protection against HIV and preventing its spread is certainly a key message, but protection using stigma and alienation will go nowhere. It is always challenging to fight for legislation and better policy outcomes. Nigeria is working on a law against discrimination of HIV-positive person. But laws and policies cannot be substitutes for a humane approach.

December 18, 2007 | 5:46 AM Comments  0 comments

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HIV/AIDS Stigma as a social process
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

HIV/AIDS Stigma as a social process

Since the very early days of HIV, PLWHA have faced stigma and discrimination. Sometimes this is due to lack of information - flawed perceptions of risk based on ignorance of the fact that HIV is hard to catch, apart from a handful of specific - and obvious - routes of transmission.
Sadly, stigma is more than simply paucity of knowledge. Society inevitably constructs hierarchies, and unpopular illnesses like HIV provide useful markers indicating where people should be placed on the hierarchy.
All societies need to have one illness which becomes identified with evil, attaching blame to its victims. This tendency seems locked into our DNA, and is as true now as it was when people with leprosy - and leper colonies - were widespread.
Stigma is therefore founded on a fundamental social process, and has far-reaching effects - not only do PLWHA feel dirty, ashamed and guilty, but stigma has the potential to damage public-health initiatives. If affected person fear stigma, they are much less willing to attend health-centers for testing or treatment. Instead, they are often forced to inhabit a world of denial and paranoia.
The theme of World AIDS Day in 2007 is leadership. What should the priorities be in the next period in the context of HIV stigma?
First, there must be a concerted attempt to confront public discourse around HIV. Stigma - as a social product - lives and thrives within discourse.
Second, political leaders must publicly take a stand against HIV stigma, and consider the impact of public policies on attitudes. The Irish taoiseach Bertie Ahern, for example, personally launched the "stamp out stigma" campaign in the country in December 2006. With such explicit government support, and in collaboration with a range of non-governmental organizations, the campaign expects to have a significant impact on raising the profile of HIV in Ireland, and reducing negative responses to affected people.
Less helpful actions are the proposed policies of the US, China and more recently Australia in refusing entry to PLWHA, suggesting immigration policy may increasingly be influenced not just by fear of terror, but also of infection. In addition, the reluctance of senior politicians in some African countries to clarify issues around HIV and AIDS, and by implication the value of testing and treatment, sends confusing and harmful messages to a populace struggling to cope with communities devastated by HIV.
Third, all agencies engaged with HIV must appreciate that many of their interventions are predicated on a lessening of HIV stigma. The G8 pledge in 2005 aiming for universal access to HIV care and treatment for all by 2010 - also endorsed by UN member states - was clearly a significant development. But if affected people are too afraid to be tested or attend for treatment, then the goal will surely remain aspirational. Adequate funding must be made available for initiatives to address social, as well as physical, components of HIV.
HIV represents a conflation of pathology and social process, and in the final analysis, perhaps the responsibility for confronting stigma starts with ourselves. We readily categorize others according to our own interpretation of acceptability. On a personal level, the Hobbesian notion of an instinctive drive to "war against all" is never far below the surface. Once we confront our own biases, perhaps then we can better understand those of others.
World AIDS Day has come and gone, there is a need to improve awareness of local leaders and policy-makers on the multiple impacts of HIV/AIDS on our society, the economy and psychology of the elderly, let's take time to consider the effects of HIV stigma on the lived experience of people living with HIV/AIDS, and continue to demand policies and interventions from our leaders - and ourselves - that properly address its complex social features.
HIV stigma is alive and well, and as we near the beginning of the epidemic's fourth decade, many people living with HIV (PLHIV) remain marked as different - or dangerous. HIV stigma is "exceptional in its scale, its context, and its causes. Stigma hurts and imprints on the soul.
Let’s join our hand and fight stigma that surround HIV/AIDS, Let us join our hand and support People living with HIV/AIDS I our society.

December 18, 2007 | 5:39 AM Comments  0 comments

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“My own father gave me HIV”

“My own father gave me HIV”


ADDIS ABABA, Selam Tesfaye was born and raised in Mekele, northern Ethiopia. At the age of 13 she was raped by her father, who also infected her with HIV. This is her story.

"When my parents divorced I was very little and I had to stay with my mother and my two sisters. We were living a good life until my mother died and we had to move to our aunt's house. My father then came to my aunt and said we should all move back with him. That was when my life turned upside down.

"One night I had a stomach-ache and went to my father for help. He gave me an injection, saying that it would relieve the pain. Shortly
Afterwards I felt dizzy and become unconscious. The next day I woke up very sick and when I tried to go to the bathroom to urinate discovered that I had been raped.

"My father also openly admitted that he raped me. I ran away from home and went back to my aunt, but I was too shy and ashamed to tell her what my father had done to me. She said I should go back to my father because she was worried that he would accuse her of abduction.

"I was forced to go back to my father's house, and later found out that my older sister has been continuously raped by my father and had even aborted three times.

"That was when I decided to break this cycle of abuse in our family and spoke boldly to the police about what my father did. He was put in prison for a brief period and released on bail.

"After he was released, news of his HIV status reached me, but I could not confirm the story as I had moved in with my aunt again. I was not aware of my own HIV status until I had a disagreement with my cousin and she said that I had AIDS. I was devastated, because even if I was aware that my father had the virus, I did not know that he had given it to me.
"After I confirmed I had the virus, I isolated myself from the family and friends. My aunt gave me a separate plate to use for food; nobody even touched the food I ate or the clothes I wore for fear of the virus. My aunt accused me of promiscuity, as if I slept around to get the disease.
"The conflict at home worsened when I went on national television and told my story about the virus, to teach young people. My aunt became violent because I had not consulted her about my decision in advance; I left her house and started living alone.
"Currently, an NGO that is helping people with HIV is providing me with financial and emotional support. I am now at peace with myself and with the virus; I have come into contact with male and female friends who are kind and supportive."

Her experience replicates those of millions of girls across many parts of the world. Unfortunately, rather than take measures to help cope with the trauma of rape and HIV infection, they are stigmatized by the people and the system that left them vulnerable in the first place.

November 16, 2007 | 7:25 AM Comments  0 comments



Media Needs to do more to tackle Stigma

Too many people die simply for lack of access to the knowledge that can save their lives. This knowledge exists; however it remains inaccessible to those who need it the most. Access to health information is an integral part of all health systems because it can improve people's health
The media needs to do more to tackle the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS in the rural parts of Nigeria. HIV intervention and media's coverage of HIV/AIDS tends to focus on urban area of the country without minding what the Virus is doing in the villages and the effect of the disease has on vulnerable and helpless people that reside in the rural area of our society and also our agriculture because food production is from this rural populace.
I believe that media can help change this situation by presenting facts about the disease and its effect in our rural communities, by featuring stories of people living with HIV/AIDS in the rural area and highlighting support services also available in these communities.
Thousands of people are dying in the rural area of Nigeria without knowing the cause of there death. Majority of the cases where believe that they die of poising. 90% of people living in the rural area did not know there status, because they did not have access to VCT those who have access to VCT did not have access to treatment where by increasing stigma and discrimination.
It is crucial that we tackle HIV stigma, which impacts on the lives of people living with HIV, was very deplorable in the rural area and prevents people from coming forward to be tested. The media can play a vital role in presenting accurate information about HIV and challenging discrimination against those living with it in the rural area.
I also call on development partners, donor agencies, and organised private sector, politicians and decision makers to start encouraging organisations working in the rural area.
As part of the awareness campaign, care and support, Health Link Organization is delivering adherence treatment counselling, nutritional support, community dialogue on stigma reduction and training to PLWHA, PABA and O.VC.

I wish to use this opportunity to thank NEPWHAN and ARFH for this wonderful opportunity giving to health Link Organization Ekwulobia to prove what they can do in HIV interventions under global fund project Round 5.Lives of PLWHA where gradually improving trough this grass root intervention.


November 16, 2007 | 6:35 AM Comments  0 comments



MAN DIE OF AIDS AS A RESULT OF STIGMA

MAN DIE OF AIDS AS A RESULT OF STIGMA

After twelve years of living with HIV, I'm only realizing now that I am one of the few people to count themselves lucky due to the support, care and love I received from my family and friends

A man, die of AIDS after the family abandoned him at the hospital
The man tested positive to HIV 1&2 at Aba, Abia State in the year 2006 and went on to take herbal concoction, after taking herbal concoction for more than six months, He became very sick and was referred to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi (NAUTH) from there he was referred to join Support Group of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Ekwulobia (Health Link Organization). The man joined the group and was placed on ARV after undergoing series of test not knowing that the Herbal concoction he took in the past has destroyed his body system.
His illness got worsens and his family abandoned him to die since they are aware of his status. His elder sister took him to her family where she cared for him for one week and decides taking him back to their parents who refused to accept him back.

With financial assistance and commitment of Health Link Organization, he was admitted in a private hospital at Ekwulobia. None of the family members cared to look after him even while he was in the hospital. The doctor discharged him and he died two days after he was discharged from the hospital. When he was discharged, the family members do not want to touch him. It was the Coordinator of Health Link Organization and some members of the Organization that came and assists him to enter the vehicle.

What shall we say, what hope is there for the future of people living with HIV in the rural communities? Life with HIV can be as normal as life without HIV. We all have a role to play in spreading the word. Stigma and discrimination pose major barriers to controlling the spread of HIV in the rural area. There is acceptance of the virus at the highest level in urban cities, lots needs to be done to make it (the disease) acceptable in the society especially in the rural areas, which is still in a denial mode. We need to step up the level of awareness about HIV/AIDS and make sure we are able to deal with it more like a public health issue. Undoubtedly, information is readily available to all of us, but until it reaches the hearts and minds of people and until we move to support CSOs working in the rural communities so as to bring about a change in behaviors in these rural communities, the stigma and discrimination will continue to fester.
Hearing and knowing is one thing, but feeling it is something else. Often we do not understand what someone is going through until the shoe is on our foot and that need not be. Perhaps, if we all open our minds, hearts and accept PLWHA, not just letting the information being disseminated come through one ear and go through the other, but listen, ponder and embrace it, then compassion would come much easier.
Let us joins our hand and support people living with HIV and AIDS in our country let us look down to the rural populace, let us support CSOs working in the rural area,
Together we will win.

July 31, 2007 | 3:42 AM Comments  0 comments



HIV/AIDS -THE SCOURGE OF OUR TIME


The challenges that we young people are facing today are formidable, over 500 million people ages between 15 and 24 are living below the poverty line (less than $2.00 per day). 6,000 young people are infected with HIV daily And 1,500 women most of whom under 24 years die everyday as a result of Early pregnancy or childbirth World Population Report 2005 indicates That almost a quarter of all individuals living with HIV/AIDS are young People, yet they represent half of all new HIV infection cases. 63% of those infected with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa in 2003 were between the ages of 15 and 24

HOW do we fight the stigma and discrimination that has become synonymous with HIV/AIDS and young women? How do we achieve universal access? Young women are biologically more prone to HIV infection than men and that the younger they are the greater is their risk of acquiring the virus, nothing that the risk is greater in young women aged between 15 and 24 years.

The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is about 4.4% translating to over 3.5 million people. The highest rate (5.6%) of infection is among young people aged 20-29 years. Despite progress in expanding prevention and treatment in the country, only 20% of males and 10 % of females between the ages 14 -25 can correctly identify ways of preventing HIV transmission. 1,200 young people in Nigeria got infected with HIV every day, which shows that one person per minute. World Population Report 2005 indicates Youth even though are important segment of our society lack the necessary information, skills and services that are needed to prevent themselves from contracting the Virus yet the scourge is the scourge of our time.

The issue of youths participation in the control of HIV/AIDS has suffered set back. Since the formation of Youth network on HIV/AIDS (NYNETHA) and Association of Positive Youths in Nigeria (APYIN). The two networks that is youths focus mainly for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria have never received any financial support to address the spread of the Virus among youth.

I am of the opinion that it is essential that top political leadership and ministerial officials should become more directly engaged in trying to control HIV/AIDS, in resolving difficult and enduring policy issues and in directing a truly multi-sector approach.
Nigeria will have to overcome significant barriers such as pervasive stigma and discrimination, youth involvement both in planning and implementation and meaningful involvement of PLWHA.

As we are entering into new political era, only high-level national leadership, Greater involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS and Youth participation can effectively confront the deep stigma and discrimination that surrounds HIV/AIDS and the high-risk behaviors at the center of the epidemic. Youth are critical stakeholders in development processes and in the control of HIV/AIDS, we need to be heard and support.
This will start to break down the stigma and discrimination barriers that exist, and also provide a way for zero tolerance in our Country.

June 30, 2007 | 6:35 AM Comments  0 comments



Media to take a better place in the Control of HIV/AIDS

Media is a better placed to help demystify the HIV/AIDS epidemic by dispel misconceptions that often lead to stigma and discrimination of People Living with HIV/AIDS in our Country.

"STOP AIDS, KEEP THE PROMISE-ONE WEEK, ONE VOICE" theme of global week on HIV/AIDS have come and gone, let it be the opportunity of stakeholders for an over all assessment of the success attained over the year under review with regards the campaign against the HIV/AIDS, and to re-align their strategies for the future.
"Stop AIDS Keep the promise" theme adopted in 2001, came after a review of the Declaration of Commitment in the campaign against HIV/AIDS by all countries of the world including NigeriaThe prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is about 4.4% translating to over 3.5 million people. The highest rate (5.6%) of infection is among young people aged 20-29 years. Despite progress in expanding prevention and treatment in the country, only 20% of males and 10 % of females between the ages 14 and 25 can correctly identify ways of preventing HIV transmission.

Only 30% of HIV positive pregnant women in the country are receiving Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART), free less than 10% of the population of People Living with HIV/AIDS has had access to free treatment without one problem or another
So call Federal Government Drug is no longer available, the one that is available has expired. They are now migrating people who are on government to PEPFAR.
The question is if PEPFAR stop now what is the fate of people on drug already? "Are we keeping our promises?" I asked, we know what works and we need to find out why programmes that work have not been implemented in the light of universal access. Leaders across the board, including civil society organizations (CSOs) should be aware that the public and the world are watching which is why we must be very serious about the promises we have pledged ourselves to keep.
Promise of treating (250,000) PLWHA by 2005, care and support for PLWHA, promise of greater involvement of PLWHA, promise of youth participation and other promises.
Progress in the attainment of these promises is being monitored around the world which, imply that leaders need to speak out and show more commitment.
It is in this regard that the media comes in as a strong partner in the health development of the country as well as a contributing factor in the spread of essential health messages to the general population.


The will and commitment of leaders across the spectrum including those at the highest level have been pivotal in countries experiencing a decline in the HIV prevalence rate.

Journalists should keep to their promises by getting more involved in "a positive way" and know the terms they will be using that are not stigmatized. Opinion leaders and media houses should devote time for HIV/AIDS activities free of charge. The role and contribution of journalists and the media is critical in this national campaign against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Let us take the advantage of the free Voluntary Confidential and Counseling Testing opportunities provided across the country, it is a key entry point for individuals and their families to know their HIV status. For universal access to be achieved, many people will need to have access to prevention, treatment and care services as they relate to HIV.
Testing and Counseling, are closely linked to prevention, treatment and care, the success of which, must be accompanied by concerted efforts aimed at increasing the demands for these facilities especially in communities that are most at risk.

Confidentiality and human rights as well as stigmatization and discrimination and the disclosure of the status of persons are major conditions that need to be protected since they are causes of people’s non-compliance. HIV/AIDS treatment and care programmes include nutritional support is a core intervention mechanism. Adequate nutrition is essential to the maintenance of the immune system and ensuring optimal benefits from the use of anti-retroviral therapy and other medicines.
There is need to have budget for nutritional support for Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NEPWHAN) for the support group that make up the Network

June 13, 2007 | 1:25 PM Comments  0 comments



Bush Calls for Continued Funding for International HIV/AIDS, Malaria Programs
Related to country: United States


President Bush in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday called on Congress to continue funding programs for overseas HIV/AIDS and malaria initiatives, the Wall Street Journal reports (McKinnon et al., Wall Street Journal, 1/24). "We hear the call to take on the challenges of hunger, poverty and disease," Bush said, adding, "We must continue to fight HIV/AIDS, especially on the continent of Africa" (AP/Santa Fe New Mexican, 1/23). Bush said that the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has helped increase the number of people worldwide with access to antiretroviral drugs from 50,000 to more than 800,000 in three years, adding that Congress should continue to provide funding for U.S. HIV/AIDS efforts. He also urged Congress to provide $1.2 billion over five years to the President's Malaria Initiative, which aims to combat the disease in 15 African countries. In addition, Bush called on Congress to provide funding for the Millennium Challenge Account, a program aimed at encouraging economic and political reforms in developing countries, as well as to support expanded trade and debt relief efforts (Speech text, 1/23).

Reaction
Bill Clapp, co-founder of the Initiative for Global Development, said that Bush deserves credit for showing a "strong interest in health-related issues" during his speech. "Our reputation abroad was somewhat at risk," Clapp said, adding, "The United States doesn't want to be known as a warrior; it wants to be known as a beacon of light in the world" (Heim/Doughton, Seattle Times, 1/24). Although Bush is "right to point out the contribution the United States has made to the fight against global HIV/AIDS," the "U.S. effort must be part of a global response aimed at reaching specific goals," Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance Paul Zeitz said. Bush "has not mapped out a strategy to leverage a global response that would put this goal within reach," Zeitz added (GAA release, 1/23). Bush in his speech "failed to address the domestic HIV epidemic," a release by AIDS Action Council said, adding, "In particular, the president failed to call upon lawmakers to prioritize the needs of people living with HIV by making lifesaving drugs and medical treatment available to all who are HIV infected, nor did he highlight the importance of HIV prevention" (AAC release, 1/23). Jack Valenti, president of Friends of the Global Fight, said that global HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis programs -- as well as the U.S. contribution to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria -- are "saving the lives of millions of children and families around the world." Valenti added that he is "hopeful that these programs will continue to be a vital priority in the new Congress, and that we as a country maintain our commitment to those, mostly children, who will die without this vital support" (Friends of the Global Fight release, 1/23).

January 25, 2007 | 5:05 AM Comments  0 comments

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More than 70,000 Malaysians were HIV-positive
Related to country: Malaysia


What is more worrying is that ignorance and prejudice are continuing to fuel the spread of AIDS, says the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF).

"People with HIV/AIDS are not just drug addicts and prostitutes. Housewives, children and mothers have the virus as well. We must get rid of the stigma associated with AIDS," said MAF trustee Datuk Mohd Zaman Khan.

He added the public should sympathise with HIV/AIDS sufferers and accept them into the community instead of avoiding them.

Mohd Zaman was speaking to newsmen at a cheque presentation ceremony for the Hope Campaign yesterday.

The campaign, with the slogan "Think not of charity, but of giving hope", was held by the Renaissance Group of Hotels from September to December last year. It raised RM45,000, which was presented to MAF yesterday.

Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel general manager Robert Frager said besides collecting donations, the hotel also sold MAF merchandise to raise funds for the campaign.

"This is the second year we are supporting the MAF. We wanted to create awareness and spread the message to hotel guests and their associates to spare a thought for HIV/AIDS sufferers," he said.

January 25, 2007 | 4:49 AM Comments  0 comments

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DANIDA supports HIV entertainment-education radio programmes

Nhan Dan Online) The minor project called “Support to the Voice of Vietnam in producing and broadcasting an entertainment-education radio programme for positive behaviour change on HIV/AIDS Prevention” is supported by the Danish International Development Agency with US $770,000. The Long-term objective is to contribute to improving the quality of life for the Vietnamese people through improved quality of and access to reproductive health services.
This new minor DANIDA-project in co-operation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will support information for the Vietnamese people, especially young people. This will be done through strengthening the capacity of the Voice of Vietnam radio (VOV) in producing and broadcasting an entertainment programme for behaviour change on HIV/AIDS prevention.
This is the second project funded by DANIDA to support the VOV in broadcasting an education/counselling programme on reproductive health for young people. The former project with VOV was to broadcast a phone-in radio programme called “Window of Love”. This programme was well received by young listeners and the government officers.
The lack of awareness and inappropriate understanding of HIV/AIDS are the main factors that contribute to stigma and discrimination of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. Vietnam’s mass media organisations (radio, television, print newspapers, online newspapers, films, etc) have made active contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS through long-standing and systematic campaigns.
This project will use a serialised radio drama to improve the awareness and change behaviour towards healthy behaviours for HIV/AIDS prevention, especially focusing on stigma and discrimination reduction.
After the signing ceremony on 24 January 2007, the project will be officially implemented to December 2009, as a serialised radio drama of 104 episodes, following the entertainment-education methodology pioneered by Miguel Sabido of Mexico.
There is ample evidence from Sabido style serial dramas of their effectiveness in changing behaviour with regard to HIV prevention and stigma reductions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The reasons for its effectiveness include the high entertainment value that attracts large audiences, the emotional content of the dramas that improves retention of the information learned, and the use of role modelling rather than the messages as a way to influence audience behaviour.
The radio soap opera in Vietnamese on VOV will cater to listeners in all 64 provinces and cities and will be transcript into Khmer, Mong and Thai language to serve ethnic listeners in various provinces including those living in border areas.



January 22, 2007 | 5:16 AM Comments  0 comments

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Tuberculosis Experts Outline Proposals to Speed Up Drug

New York — Proposals to accelerate the development of tuberculosis
(TB) drugs were outlined today at the conclusion of a two-day symposium
titled "No Time to Wait," convened in New York this week by the
international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without
Borders/Médecins Sans Frontires (MSF) with the support of Howard P. Milstein and
Weill Cornell Medical College's Abby and Howard P. Milstein Program in
Chemical Biology. The symposium brought together more than 100 TB
specialists, drug developers and regulators, policy makers, donors and activists
to outline practical proposals to fill the gaps in TB drug research and
development (R&D).

"We are failing people with TB," said Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer,
Director of MSF's Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. "Diagnosing
and treating TB is one of the greatest challenges facing health care
providers around the world. Things are going from bad to worse with
multi-drug resistant TB and even extensively drug resistant (XDR) TB,
particularly in settings with high HIV prevalence. The urgency for new tools
could not be greater — there is no time to wait."

TB kills nearly two million people per year, primarily because of
inadequate diagnostic and treatment tools. While roughly one drug for HIV
has been developed each year since the start of the epidemic 25 years
ago, the latest novel TB drug in today's standard therapy was developed in
the 1960s. Basic science is not being translated into new TB drugs
needed to improve treatment, according to an MSF analysis of the TB drug
pipeline. There are not enough promising drugs in the pipeline and
serious funding gaps prevent the development of candidate drug compounds
through to clinical trials.

Resistance to TB drugs is growing at a rapid pace, with 450,000 new
cases of drug-resistant TB detected each year. The recent detection of
hundreds of cases of XDR-TB, which is extremely difficult and sometimes
impossible to treat, adds further urgency to the situation. TB remains
the main killer of people with HIV, in large part because existing TB
drugs and tests are poorly adapted for use in people with HIV/AIDS.

"In TB research, there needs to be a convergence of innovation,
incentive, and access," said Dr. Carl Nathan, Rees Pritchett Professor of
Microbiology and Chairman of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell
Medical College. "We need to see openness, leadership and collaboration
among all TB actors."

Experts attending the symposium emphasized several actions that
urgently need to be taken to improve the situation:

Drastically increase funding of TB R&D
Accelerate drug discovery
Expand clinical trial capacity and speed up clinical development
Commit to global TB R&D leadership
Support new approaches to R&D, such as a global R&D framework
"We need increased clinical trial capacity, fast-tracked clinical
trials, and criteria for compassionate use of important candidate drugs,"
said Dr. von Schoen-Angerer. "To make any real difference, we need to see
a dramatic increase in funding and political will."

The symposium emphasized a need to build a global TB R&D movement, as
was critical to the advancements in HIV drug development. Strong
political leadership is required to improve collaboration between scientists,
drug developers, care providers, and affected individuals. Symposium
participants agreed on the need for a massive increase in funding by
governments for TB R&D, as current TB drug discovery initiatives are
insufficient. Participants voiced support for an effort launched by
governments at the World Health Assembly in May 2006 to examine alternative ways
to prioritize and finance health-needs-driven R&D.

Source: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/pr/2007/01-12-2007.cfm

January 18, 2007 | 7:32 AM Comments  0 comments

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API health advocates secure HIV/AIDS program funding

National Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) HIV/AIDS advocates applauded the recent passage of a three-year reauthorization of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act as the legislation contained key provisions that would benefit AAPI communities.

The Ryan White CARE Act provides life-sustaining care and support services to an estimated 500,000 HIV-positive people and their families in the U.S. API leaders stated that it is critical as the only source of public funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and care for the many AAPIs living with HIV/AIDS.

AAPIs had the highest estimated annual percentage change (8.1 percent for AAPI men and 14.3 percent for AAPI women) in annual HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates according to recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"It has become increasingly important to address the needs of AAPIs living with AIDS and their families because our community was the only racial/ethnic group to experience statistically significant increases in HIV/AIDS diagnosis rates.

Given the AAPI community's high rates of being uninsured and under-insured for healthcare and the shrinking of public health and assistance programs such as Medicaid, the Ryan White CARE Act has become even more critical for AAPIs who would otherwise not have access to HIV/AIDS treatment and care", commented Ms. ManChui Leung, Program Director at the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum.

For 83 year old Los Angeles native Hazel Young, the transformation from a Chinese American public service employee to a vocal HIV/AIDS activist was driven by her passion to educate Asian Americans that HIV/AIDS can happen in their families. Her son died of AIDS shortly after his 30th birthday twelve years ago.

Even though Mrs. Young was completely supportive of her son and was his primary care giver until his death, she experienced first-hand the stigma and denial from her community that has discouraged many AAPI HIV/AIDS patients from seeking care and support.

"As a community, we still have many myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. It may be difficult to accept, but we need to recognize that HIV/AIDS can happen to any of us. Wouldn't you want to know that there are programs and services available to provide the best care possible for your loved ones?" asked Mrs. Young.

Throughout the past decade, community awareness about HIV/AIDS in the AAPI community has improved.

Yet, AAPIs are still more likely than other racial/ethnic groups to access care and treatment very late in their disease, thereby limiting healthcare options.

The Ryan White CARE Act will provide funding for earlier care and treatment to hard to reach communities such as the AAPI communities. "As more AAPIs are infected with HIV/AIDS, access to culturally and linguistically competent care is increasingly important to the patients and their families. As with any other community, AAPIs deserve the highest level of quality health care possible. It can make the difference between life and death," stressed Leung.

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum is a national policy advocacy organization dedicated to improve the health status of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The twenty-year old organization is headquartered in San Francisco with a legislative office in Washington, D.C.

The Ryan White CARE Act was named after Ryan White, an Indiana teenager whose courageous struggle with HIV/AIDS and against AIDS-related discrimination helped educate the nation.

January 9, 2007 | 7:32 AM Comments  2 comments

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HIV PERSON DIES AFTER HOSPITAL REFUSES TREATMENT

A 26-year-old man died of renal failure after doctors in a government-run hospital in Delhi refused to treat him because he was HIV- positive, a newspaper report said .
The Hindustan Times newspaper said the unnamed man was admitted with a fever at the Lok Nayak Hospital, but that tests conducted revealed he was HIV positive.
"His case sheet says that he was refused treatment because he was HIV-positive," a doctor at the hospital, who declined to be named, told the newspaper.
"He was referred for dialysis. But doctors there turned him away because he was suspected to be HIV-positive," the doctor said. "He died within two hours."

Widespread stigma and discrimination forces millions of people living with HIV and AIDS underground where they shy away from social life and hide their infection.
A top UN official said in the absence of vaccine against the virus, the ‘social vaccine’ of mass awareness needs to be strengthened.
"Social vaccine is the main weapon to fight against the HIV/AIDS," Peter Piot, executive director of United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS) said in the eastern city of Patna.
"By social vaccine I mean to create a mass awareness to educate the people about the killer disease and on how to prevent it" said Piot, who was a member of a delegation on a daylong visit to Bihar along with Suma Chakrabarti of the International Development (DFID) of Britain.
Bihar is a focus state for both DFID and UNAIDS. "The latest study showed that Bihar is vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to poverty and large-scale migration from the state," he said.
"If the people know how to protect themselves, we will win the battle against HIV/AIDS in India and across the world," Piot said.
According to the United Nations, 5.7mn Indians are living with HIV/AIDS the world’s largest caseload.
What happes in India, is also happinig in other country.
Let let the Government and international Agencies support people living with HIV and AIDS Economically and legally to live a normal life.
We have the right to live.


December 18, 2006 | 10:29 AM Comments  0 comments



Stigma, not HIV, that kills people, says a person living with HIV

KATHMANDU, Dec. 14: Raju Pokharel, 34, is the vice president of Lumbini plus, a network of HIV positive people. He has been living a positive life for the last eleven years. Initially, he did not know what it meant to be a positive.

In 2004, he participated in a youth camp on discrimination organised by Nepal Red Cross Communication and Humanitarian Values Department it was only there that he revealed of being HIV positive. There he met with other fellow participants, including women, and was encouraged in sharing openly on how they acquired HIV.

They received counselling training and entertained different experiences of sharing positive life through Red Cross and other organisations working in the area of HIV/AIDS. More importantly, he has been working as a peer educator for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

After that he started providing counselling to ones like himself. At a youth camp organised by NRCS in Dadeldhura, Raju said "It was me who happen to transfer HIV to my wife, who is 32, and we are still living happily."It is stigma and discrimination not HIV that kills people, he said.

"The best treatment for HIV/AIDS is not medicine but family care,"he told the participants.

He is treated as normal by his family and the community also does so. The more he worked, the better he established himself as resource person in the community about HIV. Dozens of others look towards him for counselling.

Now, even his wife accompanies him in his mission. The couple believes that people infected with HIV today does not face such discrimination they used to in the past. "The level of discrimination has diminished gradually,"said Sujata. "Everyone should die one day but we are living a meaningful life before we remain no longer." We have very good understanding, and we support each other,"she added.

Nowadays, counselling is Raju's mission and his passion. He emphasises that the meaning of life is in saving lives. His morning starts with HIV people and their families, when it is dusk he is still with them ? talking and giving them support and encouragement.
(Adhikari is an intern with TRN)

December 18, 2006 | 8:49 AM Comments  0 comments

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Youths take leading role in HIV/AIDS fight: Bill Clinton

Young people and people living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam are those who have made direct and most effective contributions to the fight against the disease, said former US President Bill Clinton.

At a round-table discussion with Vietnamese youths in Hanoi on December 6, Clinton said the best way to prevent the spread of the deadly epidemic is to increase public awareness of preventative measures.

The discussion saw the attendance of students from a number of universities in Hanoi, as well as representatives from some international organisations, the embassies of the United States and Australia, and members of the Hoa Phuong Do (Red Flamboyant) Group, which has been dedicated to disseminating information about HIV/AIDS.

Emphasising the role of the local youth in disseminating information about HIV/AIDS, the founder of the Clinton Foundation said it was necessary to talk more about HIV/AIDS as the Vietnamese Government has been putting efforts into planning and strictly implementing the law related to the disease.

Clinton spoke highly of the role played by propagandists like Pham Thi Hue, who is a founding member of the Hoa Phuong Do Group and a UN volunteer, saying the recruitment of propagandists like Hue in the HIV/AIDS fight was an effective method.

The former US President urged students at universities and schools to establish forums on HIV/AIDS, not only in Hanoi but also in remote and isolated areas.

He also stressed that stigma and discrimination were making the situation more difficult for many HIV/AIDS patients.

On behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS, Hue called on all people who share the same misfortune to overcome themselves and integrate into the community. She also appealed to society to fight the stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS carriers.

Earlier, former US President Clinton signed an accord with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health under which the Clinton Foundation will provide medicines and necessary tests for 1,200 children infected with HIV/AIDS in the country until late 2007.

The project is part of the cooperation programme between the Clinton Foundation and the International Drug Purchase Facility (UNITAID), which was designed to provide anti-retroviral drugs and health care services for more than 100,000 children living with HIV/AIDS around the world. (VNA)

December 14, 2006 | 8:56 AM Comments  0 comments

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Beyond the HIV/AIDS stigma

Jamaica is part of a regional initiative to reduce stigma and discrimination against persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. While efforts to combat this challenge both in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean are still in their early stages, anti-HIV-related stigma and discrimination efforts have already begun to reap some success.

Annesha Taylor, one of two HIV- positive Jamaicans who went public about their status in September this year as part of the Ministry of Health's HIV anti-stigma campaign, believes that while stigma is still a problem in Jamaica, it is declining somewhat.

"I think it (the HIV-related stigma) is gradually cutting down based on the campaign that the MoH has put out. We have gone to a number of workplaces to speak about HIV and help them (the workplaces) write their (HIV) workplace policy."

Annesha said while many HIV- positive persons are not disclosing their status to Jamaica and by extension, the rest of the world, anti-stigma efforts have resulted in many of them being comfortable enough to disclose their status to smaller groups.

"Most people are (now) more comfortable talking to their family about their status even if they don't go public to the entire Jamaica. They are disclosing their status to smaller groups, such as in workshops," she stated.

She pointed out that HIV- positive people have a key role to play in reducing the level of HIV-related stigma that is directed at them.

"They have to accept that they are living with the virus and they have to move on and get on with their lives."

The Ministry of Health's current HIV anti-stigma campaign is just one of the initiatives aimed at reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination being pursued in Jamaica.

JN+ an eight-year old organisation comprising 260 members who are HIV-positive, has been making some progress in documenting and investigating HIV-related discrimination against its members. However, the organisation's advocacy officer, Tony Hron, revealed that an accurate picture has not yet emerged from the data that they have collected so far.

He said JN+ has been collecting complaints of HIV-related discrimination informally since 1997 when the organisation was founded. However, he said that the organisation only started doing so in an organised manner, recently.

"The formal, systematic process began in January 2005 and since August 2006, there have been 49 cases of HIV-related discrimi-nation cases reported to us," he disclosed.

According to Mr. Hron, the health sector accounted for 61 per cent of the 49 reports of HIV- related discrimination.

He said it is possible that the number of cases reported in the health sector is higher than other sectors because adherence counsellors who know the complaints reporting procedures are present at the public treatment sites.

worst offenders

"It is hard to say if the health sector is the worst offender as the level of discrimination in other sectors is not known," Hron explained.

However, he said most people are not aware that they can formally report cases of discrimination, and so, the problem is much bigger than what is reflected in the number of reported cases.

According to Mr. Hron, more persons should be able to make reports of HIV-related discrimi-nation soon, as an online HIV-related discrimination reporting feature would be a part of a website that JN+ should launch by the end of 2006.

"There will be a short online reporting form that anybody can fill out and submit. The agency, (JN+) will contact them and follow-up on their complaints," Mr. Hron disclosed.

He said the reports from the website would be fed into the national programme's monitoring and evaluation database.

The Ministry of Health also recently began to document and investigate reports of discrimi-nation.

Acting Director National Aids Committee, Vivian Gray, says the National Aids Committee, the Ministry of Health, and the Jamaica Aids Support for Life, has begun making attempts to capture reports of discrimination, since June 2006. However, he said very little data have been collected so far.

"It is just in its infant stages. So far, we don't have a full picture of how widespread it (discrimination) is and which sectors are the worst offenders," he stated.

However, he said eventually, the Health Ministry hopes to get an idea of the type of discrimination that people face and from what sectors.

Decreasing HIV-related stigma and discrimination is now being given priority by the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), a regional body which was set up in 2001 and given the mandate to scale up the region's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The group is in the process of developing a website which will place special emphasis on the importance of decreasing HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

stigmatised

Volderine Hackett, senior project officer at PANCAP, said fear of being stigmatised prevents people from going to get tested for HIV and drives the disease under-ground.

"Research has shown that stigma and discrimination are the major driver of the disease, therefore, any prevention and support programme has to tackle stigma and discrimination," she stated.

PANCAP is hosting a series of seminars aimed at raising the awareness of the media of the issue and forging a partnership with media workers and employers to assist in reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the region. The first meeting was held in The British Virgin Islands in November and another one is to be held in Barbados in early December.

The above article was commissioned by Panos Caribbean.


"Most people are (now) more comfortable talking to their family about their status even if they don't go public to the entire Jamaica. They are disclosing their status to smaller groups, such as in workshops," she stated


December 14, 2006 | 8:34 AM Comments  0 comments

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KEEPING THE PROMISE

This year’s theme, Accountability, Stop AIDS – Keep the Promise, with a focus on stigma and discrimination, is once again a call for everyone to take action and responsibility for ensuring the necessary precautions are taken against this preventable disease.
HIV/AIDS has decided to keep its promise by destroying our economy, increasing the number of orphan in the country, bringing poverty to our Country, taking our young people out off school, broken homes, taking our love ones from us.

we need to ask ourselves these questions, are we keeping the promise, the promise to support PLWHAs, the promise of greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS, in the planning, implementation and monitoring of HIV/AIDS activities, the promise of access to treatment, can we give an account of the HIV money giving to us to care for People living with HIV/AIDS, how are young people involve to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDSD in our country especially Young people living with HIV/AIDS, how many young people living with HIV/AIDS are economically balanced, what policy do we have to support people living with HIV/AIDS to fight for their fundamental human right. This and other questions we need to ask ourselves individually as we are approaching another year of HIV promise.
“It is a challenge to all of us to become more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and its related promises next year,
The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is increasing on young people and woman, despite the awareness in the Country.
HIV and AIDS is one of the greatest threats to the welfare of Nigerian young people today. there is a need to initiate a programme that will revolved around them and which dealt with the issues of major concern to them and manage by them.

We must be vigilant in our family life education and health promotion initiatives among young people, to ensure that they were protected from contracting the virus.
“In doing so, new ways of ensuring behaviour change among young people must be explored, like using young people living with HIV/AIDS to educate other young people so that we can build a high awareness level within youths of the devastating consequences of this Virus. With the appropriate levels of behaviour change among young people, we can Stop AIDS and Keep the Promise.”

December 14, 2006 | 7:25 AM Comments  0 comments

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Churches to strengthen AIDS initiatives


Churches in Nigeria have a very crucial role it must play in seeking to reduce the stigma and discrimination that is associated with the HIV/AIDS.
The churches have their part to play in the prevention, care and support programmes; they could also help in reducing the high level of discrimination associated with the disease.
“Stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV have helped to drive the epidemic underground and have accelerated the spread of the epidemic. The leaders of many churches and faith-based organizations are in a unique position to bring attention to the stigma and discrimination and encourage a change in attitude and practices across the region.”
Champions for Change 11 Conference held in Georgetown, in 2005, church leaders were encouraged to work alongside people living with HIV/AIDS to understand their needs and the impact the stigma and discrimination of the disease has had on their lives.
Churches and faith-based organizations generally provide a wide range of help and support to the needy and that people living with HIV and AIDS need that type of support more than most.
Home based care was not a replacement for hospital care; it merely forms part of a range of prevention, care, treatment and support services that include the family, the community and health care providers.
With appropriate care and education, people with HIV/AIDS can live full and healthy lives and this home based care initiative is designed to focus on health and well-being.
Every priest irrespective of your denomination have a role to play in strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS and, “it is important that we work together and not in isolation.



November 7, 2006 | 5:16 AM Comments  0 comments



Fighting AIDS-related stigma through meaningful YPLWHA involvement

How do we fight the stigma and discrimination that has become
synonymous with HIV/AIDS? How do we show people who are not
infected with HIV or affected by it that people living with HIV
deserve our compassion? These persons have not committed any sin
and even if they did,does God not forgive sinners?

These are three of the many questions that have been floating
in my mind that we need to address, and it has become clear
to me that while we need legislation against stigma and
discrimination(and that legislation must be the bedrock of the
fight against HIV in general)our people must also be educated
which we need to champion through young people living with HIV
and AIDS in Nigeria, for they are the vital organ that have been
forgotten both in decision making, planning and implementation
of HIV and AIDS activities.

There's been some awareness creation,but I think that the relevant
authorities need to go a step further in the education campaign to
show people that anyone, black or white; young or old; educated or
uneducated can be infected by this virus, and that it is really not
something that we should be afraid of contracting when dealing with
people on an everyday basis.

Undoubtedly, information is readily available to all of us, but until
it reaches the hearts and minds of people so as to bring about a change
in behaviors, the stigma and discrimination will continue to fester.
I am of the belief that one way of combating stigma is the
decentralization of the treatment programme offered by Government to
all General hospitals in the country, whereby persons who need
treatment
can go to any General hospital and health center near by to obtain
treatment.

I think that would be ideal because no one would be able
to look at a person and tell if he or she has HIV/AIDS.

This will start to break down the stigma and discrimination barriers
that exist, but will also provide a gateway for persons living with
HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to feel comfortable when accessing treatment.

I must therefore commend GHAIN Anambra State, UNFPA Anambra State and
ANSACA for taking voluntary counseling and testing services to all
corners of Anambra State and making it accessible to the people this
was indeed a bold step and has resulted in many more people, coming
forward to know their HIV status.

But young people are still not coming fro test,they never involve
young people living with HIV in planning these programmes as
stated in NSF and GIPA principles.

Yet we have Association of Positive Youths in Nigeria (APYIN) which
is a Network of young people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and
Youth Network in Nigeria (NYNETHA).

World Population Report 2005 indicates that almost a quarter of
all individuals living with HIV/AIDS are young People, yet they
represent half of all new HIV infection cases.There is a need to
have youth friendly centers in the country which young people can
own.

Youth even though are important segment of our society lack the
necessary information, skills and services that are needed to
prevent themselves from contracting HIV.

Nigerias can combat HIV epidemic when their Government, Donor
agencies and other stakeholders begin to regard young people
living with HIV and AIDS as a critical stakeholder.



November 3, 2006 | 9:45 AM Comments  0 comments

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NIGERIA HAVE WHAT IT TAKE TO COMPACT HIV/AIDS

HOW do we fight the stigma and discrimination that has become synonymous with HIV/AIDS? How do we show people who are not infected with the virus or affected by it that those who have been dealt this "bad hand" deserve our compassion? These persons have not committed any sin and even if they did, does God not forgive sinners?
Those are but three of the many questions that have been floating around in my mind that we need to address, and it has become clear to me that while we need legislation to speak to stigma and discrimination, and that legislation must be the bedrock of the fight against HIV in general, our people must also be educated which we need to champion through Young people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, For they are the vital organ that has been forgotten both in decision making, planning and implementation of HIV and AIDS activities.
But, you may say we have been educated already, we are bombarded with messages everyday as we drive to work, read the newspaper, listen to the radio and even as we watch television. So what more can be done? While I admit that this is true, I think that the relevant authorities need to go a step further in the education campaign to show people that anyone, black or white; young or old; educated or uneducated can be infected by this virus, and that it is really not something that we should be afraid of contracting when dealing with people on an everyday basis.
Undoubtedly, information is readily available to all of us, but until it reaches the hearts and minds of people so as to bring about a change in behaviors, the stigma and discrimination will continue to fester.
I am of the firm belief that one way of combating this is the decentralization of the treatment programme offered by Government to all General hospitals in the country, whereby persons who is HIV positive or who have full blown AIDS can go to any General hospital and health center near by to obtain treatment. I think that would be ideal because no one would be able to look at a person and tell if he or she has HIV/AIDS.
This will start to break down the stigma and discrimination barriers that exist, but will also provide a gateway for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) to feel comfortable when accessing treatment.
I must therefore commend GHAIN Anambra State, UNFPA Anambra State and ANSACA for taking the voluntary counseling and testing to all corners of Anambra State and making it accessible to the people this was indeed a bold step and has resulted in many more people, coming forward to be tested though they never involve young people living with HIV in all this setting as stated in NSF and GIPA principles, and other young people both in there planning and implementation that is why young people are not accessing them. yet we have Association of positive youth in Nigeria (APYIN) which is a Network of young people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and Youth Network in Nigeria (NYNETHA) which have never get any support from Government yet every day 1,200 young people in Nigeria got infected, Which shows that one person per minute. World Population Report 2005 indicates
That almost a quarter of all individuals living with HIV/AIDS are young
People, yet they represent half of all new HIV infection cases. There is a need to have a youth friendly centers in the country which young people will claim the ownership.

Youth even though are important segment of our society lack the necessary information, skills and services that are needed to prevent themselves from contracting HIV.
Nigeria can combat HIV epidemic when their Government, Donor agencies and stakeholders begin to regard young people living with HIV and AIDS which has an umbrella net work known as Association of positive youth in Nigeria (APYIN) as partners in their effort to achieve sustainable development and mitigate the impact of HIV in the country.
There is a need to promote participation of young people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria in addressing Political, socio-economic and cultural issues to reduce stigma and discrimination among them.
Nevertheless, there is a need for a legislative framework that speaks to how we deal with those who discriminate against PLWHA, not only in the workplace, but with respect to housing, education and other social services.
Despite some opposition, I think that a sound legal and policy framework where PLWHA at the end of the day can have some sort of recourse is imperative; this coupled with education is the key. Hearing and knowing is one thing, but feeling it is something else. Often we do not understand what someone is going through until the shoe is on our foot and that need not be.
Perhaps, if we were to all just open our minds and our hearts, not just letting the information being disseminated go through one ear and come through the other, but listen, ponder and embrace it, then compassion would come much easier.
Let us joins our hand and support young people living with HIV and AIDS in our country, for they have been relegated to the background yet some of them are the one spreading the virus. Until we learn how to empower them to live a positive life, HIV will continue to move from one young person to another young person.
Let us save our future generation. I am suggesting that it was essential that government, donor agencies, top political leadership and ministerial officials should become more directly engaged with young people living with HIV and AIDS in trying to control HIV/AIDS, in resolving difficult and enduring policy issues and in directing a truly multi-sector approach.
Only high-level national leadership can effectively confront the deep stigma that surrounds young people and HIV/AIDS.


October 30, 2006 | 6:52 AM Comments  0 comments



Governments Worldwide Should Increase Efforts To Fight TB, HIV/AIDS
About this event: AIDS 2006 – XVI International AIDS Conference


Although the HIV/AIDS pandemic is leading to increased numbers of tuberculosis cases worldwide, and more people are dying of AIDS-related causes because of TB, governments are not adequately addressing the interaction between the two diseases, according to a Report release by the Public Health Watch project of the Open Society Institute, Reuters Health Reports
. The report, which was released in advance of the XVI International AIDS Conference
in Toronto next week -- examines the relationship between TB and HIV/AIDS and governmental responses to the two diseases in Bangladesh, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania and Thailand. It finds that widespread stigma; a lack of awareness; uncoordinated services; and a need for local, national and international mobilization are intensifying the TB/HIV co-epidemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments and the international community have got to realize they have on their hands two simultaneous and interrelated catastrophes," UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis said, adding, "We must confront both together. We need more resources. We need diagnostics. We need better drugs"
Although Bangladesh, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania and Thailand have varying TB/HIV co-epidemics, the governments of all five countries need to increase coordination of TB and HIV/AIDS policies and programs. The stigma and discrimination associated with TB and HIV/AIDS keep many people living with the diseases from seeking treatment -- an issue compounded by a lack of adequate diagnostic tools. One-third of all sputum smear samples from HIV-positive people are correctly diagnosed as positive for TB, and any delay in TB treatment among people living with HIV can be fatal, there is a lack of knowledge about TB and TB/HIV co-infection among the public and policymakers in the five countries. People living with HIV/AIDS often do not have basic knowledge about TB even though they are at an increased risk of developing the disease. Advocates, donors and policymakers need to make a commitment to improve social mobilization around TB and TB/HIV co-infection and reduce TB incidence and mortality among HIV-positive people worldwide Let us generate interest in the relationship between TB and HIV/AIDS during the International AIDS Conference.



August 10, 2006 | 6:04 AM Comments  1 comments

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YOUNG LEADERS SEEN AS A RESOURCE FOR PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, GENDER EQUALITY
About this event: AIDS 2006 – XVI International AIDS Conference


Young leaders have been encouraged to use their power as peer educators
to help the voiceless and the most marginalized worldwide by Andres
Guerrrero, Programme Officer of UNICEF, at the YMCA World Youth Council in
Durban, South Africa. Speaking to more than 200
delegates from 80 countries, Guerrrero, who is based in Geneva, outlined
the recent strategic partnership between UNICEF and the YMCA to promote
youth leadership and participation in decision-making at all levels.
Three key priority areas have been identified - combating HIV/AIDS,
promoting basic education and gender equality, and promoting the
protection of children, especially the most vulnerable.
In terms of the partnership agreement, young people are seen as
resources for communities and skills development has been identified for
youth to be active participants to bring about change at a local level.
"In terms of combating HIV/AIDS, we are developing the capacity of
youth to work in partnership with adult leaders and governments to
promote primary prevention. "This involves training on behaviour-change
communications programmes with a life-skills focus which are age-relevant
and gender-sensitive.
"It also includes training to advocate for the rights of people
living with HIV/AIDS for interventions to counteract stigma and
discrimination, and for access for antiretroviral treatment, especially for
children and young people as they are typically excluded from ARV treatment."
Guerrrero encouraged young YMCA delegates to take the lead in
identifying orphans and vulnerable children in their local communities and to
bring their needs to the attention of local authorities to ensure these
children are integrated into their communities to receive essential
care and service.
"To tackle basic education and gender equality, UNICEF and YMCA are
promoting improved community and family care practices to assist
children to be ready to start primary school on time, especially marginalized
children and indigenous peoples.
"We also encourage you as young leaders to use your large worldwide
YMCA network to collaborate with the United Nations Girls Education
initiative to promote social mobilisation and acceleration campaigns aimed
at improving access to and completion of primary school."
Another area involves the promoting of safe, effective, child-centred
and gender-sensitive education in formal and non-formal settings to
foster effective development and participation of children and young
people and to contribute to gender equality in and through education.
"Concerning promoting the protection of children from violence,
exploitation and abuse, UNICEF and YMCA will use the UN Study on Violence
against Children as a framework to promote inter-generational dialogue on
children's rights, such as violence in families, schools, communities,
institutions and regarding children in conflict with the law.
After the study is tabled in the UN General Assembly around October
this year, the two world organisations will promote opportunities for
young people and children to be involved in its implementation,
monitoring and evaluation.
"We urge youth in the YMCA to be actively involved in producing
educational materials on the human rights dimension of gender inequality to
empower girls and young women to assume their rightful positions in
society and to end violence against women."
Through exposing delegates to each others experiences of leadership,
the three-day World Youth Council aimed to equip these young delegates
to go back to their local YMCAs around the world to transform the
social and economic realities in their communities in innovative and
community-driven ways.
These younger leaders joined another 600 delegates at the World
Council of YMCAs which runs from 10 - 15 July at Durban's Amphitheatre,
South Africa.
It was hoped that after their experiences at the Youth Council, it
would be the younger leaders whose voice is heard the loudest, driving
the debates and the agenda at the World Council, which decides policy for
the YMCA movement for the forthcoming four years.
The YMCA is the world's largest social movement with 45 million
members in 124 countries.
With over 14 000 local YMCAs, this voluntary Christian movement of
women and men has a special emphasis on youth development. YMCAs work for
social justice for all people, irrespective of religion, race, gender
or cultural background

July 15, 2006 | 6:45 AM Comments  0 comments

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Namibiato host HIV/Aids Conference for people living with HIV/AIDS Next Month
About this event: AIDS 2006 – XVI International AIDS Conference


Second conference in Namibia for 'People Living with HIV/AIDS', to be
held in the Oshana Region, is expected to take place in August this
year. The conference aims at bringing together People Living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWA) in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati regions and will
enable participants to share information and challenges facing them.
According to Yelula Project Officer Martha Amupolo the focus of the
conference will encompass reproductive health, anti-retroviral
treatment, prolonging the lives of those living with the disease and
HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.
It will also provide PLWA the opportunity to interact extensively
with each other, and provide knowledge of spiritual, physical,
socio-economic and medical implications of the AIDS pandemic.
Various foreign AIDS activists who are living with the disease are
expected to attend the conference.Said Amupolo: "We have invited AIDS
activists from South Africa and Europe, most of them living with the
disease, to attend the conference to take place from 22 until 24 August this
year."
It will be the second conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS,
after the Catholic Aids Action (CAA) held the first one in Windhoek in
1998.
The Yelula Project is responsible for organizing the conference in
conjunction with civil society at grassroots level and wants to enhance
organisational and leadership capacity in response to the HIV/AIDS
pandemic.
The project also targets people living with HIV and AIDS, and
attempts to elicit and strengthen community responses to voluntary counselling
and testing, treatment, orphans and vulnerable children.


July 14, 2006 | 4:23 PM Comments  0 comments

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Namibia: To host HIV/Aids Conference For People Living With HIV/AIDS

second conference in Namibia for 'People Living with HIV/AIDS', to be held in the Oshana Region, is expected to take place in August this year.
The conference aims at bringing together People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati regions and will enable participants to share information and challenges facing them.
According to Yelula Project Officer Martha Amupolo the focus of the conference will encompass reproductive health, anti-retroviral treatment, prolonging the lives of those living with the disease and HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.
It will also provide PLWA the opportunity to interact extensively with each other, and provide knowledge of spiritual, physical, socio-economic and medical implications of the AIDS pandemic.
Various foreign AIDS activists who are living with the disease are expected to attend the conference.Said Amupolo: "We have invited AIDS activists from South Africa and Europe, most of them living with the disease, to attend the conference to take place from 22 until 24 August this year."
It will be the second conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS, after the Catholic Aids Action (CAA) held the first one in Windhoek in 1998.
The Yelula Project is responsible for organizing the conference in conjunction with civil society at grassroots level and wants to enhance organisational and leadership capacity in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The project also targets people living with HIV and AIDS, and attempts to elicit and strengthen community responses to voluntary counselling and testing, treatment, orphans and vulnerable children.

July 13, 2006 | 4:06 AM Comments  0 comments



Depression and CD4 Cell Count Among Persons with HIV Infection in EAstern Nigeria.
About this event: AIDS 2006 – XVI International AIDS Conference


Despite the importance of mental illness and the high prevalence of HIV in Africa, few studies have documented depressive symptoms among HIV-infected persons in Africa. We assessed factors associated with depression among HIV-infected adults undergoing anti-retroviral eligibility screening in Eastern Nigeria. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Univariate and multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify socio-demographic characteristics and disease-related factors associated with depression. Among 1017 HIV-infected participants assessed for depression, 47% (476/1017) reported depressive symptoms (CES-D >/= 23). Adjusting for age, gender, education, and source of income, patients with CD4 counts <50 cells/mul were more likely to be depressed (odds ratio 2.34, 95% confidence interval, 1.39-3.93, P = 0.001). Women, participants >50 years, and those without an income source were more likely to be depressed. Depression was common among HIV-infected persons in rural area in eastern Nigeria and was associated with low CD4 cell counts. Appropriate screening and treatment for depression should be considered for comprehensive HIV care.




June 29, 2006 | 5:04 AM Comments  0 comments

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Legislation needed to deal with HIV/AIDS stigma
About this event: AIDS 2006 – XVI International AIDS Conference


There is a need for legislation to address the stigma and discrimination often directed towards persons who have HIV/AIDS.
The lack of a wide-ranging legislative framework that speaks to how we as a country deal with stigma and discrimination in relation to HIV/AIDS, will present the greatest challenge to the future fight against the disease.
The stigma and discrimination have always been there, not only with HIV and AIDS, but they pose a big problem in terms of HIV and AIDS, because they stop people from getting tested and knowing their status. We want people to come forward, we want people to disclose their status and feel comfortable. A legal and policy framework where persons at the end of the day can have some sort of recourse and not only talk is necessary.
Such a framework, , would help the general public to respect persons living with HIV and AIDS, as well as give those persons the assurance that if they are discriminated against, whether it is with regards to employment, housing or even education that the offender could face some penalty.
In addition, if there is to be a widespread reduction in the stigma associated with the disease, the treatment programmed needs to be decentralized.
There is one centralized area for treatment and a stigma is attached to that too; so if we can decentralize that, where they can go to any private practitioner to obtain treatment, that would be ideal. What would happen is no one would be able to tell anymore who has HIV/AIDS.
I am hoping that we would decentralize that eventually, and then allow that gateway for people to feel comfortable in terms of accessing the service, as well as promoting more voluntary counseling and testing.
To reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS, the public has to be educated and not just bombarded with facts. Hearing and knowing is one thing, but feeling it is something else. So we have to promote a message that speaks directly to the heart about stigma and discrimination,


THINK ABOUT THAT AT TORONTO
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




June 20, 2006 | 5:39 AM Comments  0 comments

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Invitation to become International Civil Society Partner
About this event: AIDS 2006 – XVI International AIDS Conference
Related to country: Nigeria


Invitation to become International Civil Society Partner for the International AIDS Conference 2008 in Mexico City.
During 2005, the International AIDS Society undertook a series of consultations regarding the International AIDS Conference, called “Future Directions”. One outcome of that process is that the governance of the conference should be more inclusive and give opportunities for different organizations to play a role on the Conference Coordinating Committee (for the whole report, see the IAS website www.iasociety.org.


June 14, 2006 | 7:00 AM Comments  0 comments



The closing plenary heard from Canon Gideon Byagumisha from Uganda, who was the first priest in Africa to publicly declare his H

Your Excellencies, I am a person of faith, a religious leader, and yes…a person living with HIV.

I must confess to you that quite often I grow weary and frightened when I imagine how future generations will look back to this 25th anniversary of the suffering and death caused by AIDS. Of course, our grandchildren will see that there were aspects of the response where we made real progress in those 25 years – we learned what it takes to prevent transmission of the virus, we learned what works to help people who are positive to live longer and productive lives, we learned how to help children who are orphaned, and we learned what responses are most effective in providing care and support to individuals and communities that are affected. But the greatest and most obvious gaps that survivors, will wonder about – and be angry about -- are the missed opportunities, the lack of political will and the lack of total commitment by those of us in leadership positions to use all that we knew and all that we had to fight the pandemic. They will surely ask “What went wrong?” “What prevented us from transforming the knowledge and the resources we had, into focused will and targeted action?” “Who were the world leaders at that time?”

But we still have the opportunity to escape the harsh pen of history. To do this, we need your political will. We need your total commitment. You are our political leaders. It is your job to provide the needed leadership -- in your nation’s capitals and your local communities.

At this 2006 High Level Meeting, we have come to the crossroads and we have an important choice to make:

Do we want to continue making token contributions, speaking weak words, and avoiding specific targets?
or
Do we want to make the life-long and life-saving commitments and sacrifices necessary to halt, reverse and eventually overcome the pandemic?


You came to this meeting with positions to defend or to negotiate, but you leave with a choice to make: continuing with tokenism or transforming the AIDS landscape with total commitment.

Tokenism means moving on without clear targets, pledging some little money, signing documents, and issuing press releases.

Total commitment means fully implementing the policies, programs and partnerships that we know will work. Total commitment is demonstrated by:
• The full participation of people living with HIV and AIDS
• Embracing and meeting firm targets by 2010
• Promoting and protecting the rights of women and their empowerment
• Implementing comprehensive, evidence-informed and rights-based prevention strategies
• Ending stigma and discrimination
• Naming and responding to the needs of all vulnerable groups
• And insuring that no task-focused results-oriented, evidence-led and well-costed national strategy goes unfunded or underfunded.


This is an important choice – and a heavy responsibility. But you, as our political leaders, are not alone on this journey of choice and responsibility. We positive people, people of faith, and all of civil society are here to work with you. We are responsible and effective partners if given the space and the support needed to make our contribution.

In my world of faith there are two virtues we hold dear – keeping promises and multiplying hope. Indeed, our hope for a world without AIDS will be real – but only if your political will is firm, your commitment is total and your promises are kept.
We all have much work to do – and you have promises to keep -- so that when we return in five years to assess how we have done, we will not be lamenting our failures but rather celebrating the achievement of what has been accomplished.


So, let us keep the promise and stop AIDS!

__________

Background information:

Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha is speaking as a member of civil society. Canon Gideon is from Uganda and was the first priest in Africa to publicly declare his HIV positive status. He has since dedicated his life to breaking the stigma, shame, denial, discrimination, inaction and mis-action related to HIV and AIDS. Canon Gideon is an Anglican priest and founder of ANERELA+ (the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS), and he serves as advisor to the HIV and AIDS Hope Initiative for World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization.


June 3, 2006 | 5:46 AM Comments  0 comments

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End stigma

Young people living with or most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS stigmataze in the society One way of achiving behavioral change is to encourage HIVpositive young people to share their experiences about the disease to give it a positive, human face. In Mozambique, Kindlimuka, a UNICEF-supported association of people living with HIV/AIDS, teaches six-month civic education classes in 12 secondary schools in which students learn about HIV/AIDS prevention. Afterwards, a group of 10 students from each school put on a play about HIV/AIDS. Being taught by HIV-positive people has helped change the students’ attitudes towards people living with the disease.I think Nigeria can adupt such a mesure it will be one of the best practice.i mean by training young people living with HIV/AIDS as peer Educators.thereforei am caling on UNICEF to support such a move in Nigeria.

November 4, 2005 | 10:53 PM Comments  0 comments

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