- A stake-holders meeting in the Volta region on the 5th September called for action to stop advertisements on radio stations from claiming a cure to the HIV virus.
- The meeting highlighted that these advertisements are counter productive to efforts at tackling the virus through the use of Anti-Retroviral therapy medication.
- The meeting was organized by the NGO Future Generations International as part of the “Strengthen HIV/AIDS Partnership with Evidence Based Results (SHARPER) Project.”.
- The project aims at building the capacity of Most At Risk Populations, encouraging consistent use of condoms and strict adherence to ART treatment.
- Overall, the meeting said existing laws are strong enough to deal with the issue, but there is still a obstacle that needs to be faced as institutions which must enforce these rules are weak or reluctant to do so.
NEW YORK: BACHCHAN TAKES ON NEW ROLE
- Scientists from around the world gathered in Boston to present more than 400 new research studies updating global progress in the search for a safe and effective HIV vaccine.
- The convention AIDS Vaccine 2012 is the world's only and biggest scientific meeting dedicated exclusively to HIV vaccine research.
- The annual meeting is hosted by the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, a unique collaboration of HIV vaccine research, funding, advocacy and stakeholder organizations.
- AIDS Vaccine 2012 will follow up with new research, present new data on the workings of the human immune system that can help towards future vaccine design, and share updates on new antibodies that protect against a wide range of HIV strains.
- The AIDS Vaccine 2012 will also showcase the work of young investigators, the generation of researchers who are emerging to carry research and development forward.
- The National AIDS Council has revealed that Mother to child transmission and heterosexual transmission remain the most significant sources of new HIV infections and the major mode of transmission.
- An average of 1 in 3 infants born to HIV positive mothers are infected with an estimated 7,695 children being newly infected with HIV in 2011.
- The report says the peak age for HIV infection in women is 35-39 years while for men it is the 45-49 years age group.
- It also revealed that interconnected factors that drive HIV risk among young women in Zimbabwe include low risk perception, lack of knowledge of HIV status and gender stereotypes related to masculinity, which encourages men to have more sexual partners.
- According to UNAIDS, in 2011, about 1.1 million adults and 190,000 children are living with the virus in Zimbabwe, making the country the 3rd most affected in Southern Africa.
SOUTH AFRICA: MOTLANTHE LAUNCHES HIV TESTING INTENSIFICATION CAMPAIGN
- Over 20 million South Africans have been screened for diseases since the launch of the HIV counselling and testing campaign in April 2010.
- The intensification campaign is aimed at the public sector and is part of the Public Service Month, which takes place from every September.
- Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe argues that the government's goal is to ensure people were tested and screened at least once a year. and it is important that they intensify its campaign within the public sector, ensuring each employee is encouraged to know their HIV status.
- Employees are also encouraged to support and persuade their relatives to do the same, and promote a healthy lifestyle outside of the workplace.
- This campaign highlights the beginning of a number of activities that will contribute to the attainment of the goal of getting 1.3 million public servants to test and know their status.
USA: BARRIERS MUST BE OVERCOME BEFORE AIDS IS ERADICATED
- An AIDS free generation is attainable but many barriers to achieving that goal need to be overcome first.
- Stigma and discrimination against HIV and AIDS are arguably the greatest barriers in society. Even with treatment as prevention, these need to be completely eradicated.
- Another barrier is a decline in testing for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
- To achieve an AIDS-free generation will depend on using approved and cost effective treatment as prevention and eradicating the criminalization and stigmatization of HIV. If all HIV positive people can get this anti- retroviral therapy, the rate of future transmissions will decrease.
- However, people need to get tested first and the stigmatization and criminalization of HIV contributes to this decline. For example, in many countries, people have been prosecuted for spitting and biting, even though you cannot transmit HIV through any of those routes. Therefore, exposure, not necessarily transmission, of the virus is enough for conviction.
