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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>Please find attached the following AIDS-related articles compiled
by UNAIDS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>AFRICA</span></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'> AND MIDDLE EAST</span></font></b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>1. Times LIVE, SA - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>SA’s 1st HIV
convention for people living with HIV/AIDS</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>2.
Business Day, SA - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Aids Programme May Be
Reducing Deaths <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>3.
IRIN/PlusNews - </span></font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;
font-weight:normal'>SWAZILAND</span></font></b></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>: TB-HIV services needed to lower world's highest rates <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>4. Angola Press - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Ouverture des journées
scientifiques sur la tuberculose et le VIH/Sida <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>ASIA</span></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'> AND PACIFIC</span></font></b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>1. <st1:City w:st="on">Xinhua News</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> - </span></font><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>Nailatikau sworn in as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Fiji</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s
new President </span></font></b></span><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>2.
UN IRIN - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>HIV-positive cases jump to
556 in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>EUROPE</span></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>1. BBC <st1:City w:st="on">News</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> - </span></font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on"><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Vietnam</span></font></b></span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'> sees the funny side of sex </span></font></b></span><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>2.
Reuters, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place>
- </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Punishing success in tackling AIDS: Funders'
retreat could wipe out health gains in HIV affected countries <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>3. <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">AidsMap News</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place> - </span></font><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>Circumcision protects gay men who have a 'preference' for insertive sex
from HIV <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>4. AFP - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Lutte anti-sida,
tuberculose, paludisme: inquiétudes sur le financement<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>5. AFP - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>L'Afrique du Sud en quête
d'un "nouvel homme" pour lutter contre le sida <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>LATIN AMERICA AND <st1:place w:st="on">CARIBBEAN</st1:place></span></font></b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>1. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Kaieteur News</st1:City>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Guyana</st1:country-region></st1:place> - </span></font><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>AIDS Committee supports free movement of people living with disease</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>2. <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Jamaica</st1:country-region> Gleaner - </span></font><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>Jamaica AIDS Support applauds Obama - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> entry ban on HIV-positive
persons nears end <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>3. Juku’éke, Paraguay - </span></font><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>Director de UNFPA en la región participará de estudio abierto de Radio
Viva</span></font></b></span><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
lang=FR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>4. <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Diario CoLatino</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> - </span></font><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>Migración, factor de riesgo en el aumento del VIH <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>5. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>NORTH AMERICA</span></font></b></st1:place><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>1. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">U.</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Pittsburgh The Pitt News</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
- </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Editorial: Overturning HIV immigration ban
brings benefits</span></font></b></span><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>2.
Brookings Institution - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Tackling HIV/AIDS in <st1:place
w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>: From Knowledge to Behavior Change<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>3. New York Times - </span></font><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>Beauty at the Ball<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>4.
IPS Terra Viva - </span></font><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Southern Researchers Fill
Gap on Neglected Diseases <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>===========================<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>AFRICA</span></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'> AND MIDDLE EAST<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'>===========================<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>SA’s 1st HIV
convention for people living with HIV/AIDS</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Times LIVE, SA</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Claire
Keeton<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
first ever convention for people living with HIV/AIDS will take place in
Midrand on Friday, initiated by the outstanding HIV activist Pholokgolo
Ramothwala, who has been living with HIV for the past 11 years.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>He
says: “Positive Convention is a conference about living with HIV/AIDS for
people living with HIV or AIDS. Its theme is based on the premise: ‘No
one knows and understands the challenges of living with HIV or AIDS than those
who are living with the virus’.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“It
will address social and workplace issues faced by people living with HIV/AIDS,
that is, stigma, discrimination, alcohol abuse, treatment adherence,
reproductive rights and legal issues amongst others. The topic ‘Young
professionals living with HIV/AIDS’ will be given a special focus.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ramothwala
is expecting about 300 people to attend the conference, which will also focus
on the role that people with HIV can play in prevention efforts and as role
models in promoting healthy lifestyles and self confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>High
profile speakers like the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, SANAC CEO Dr
Nono Simelela, Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron, and Dr Mary Fanning,
the US Health Attaché, will speak at the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Soul
City, the Positive Women’s Network, PEPFAR agencies, the US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, USAID and Johns Hopkins Health and Education
South Africa are supporting this initiative.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>More
than five million South Africans are HIV positive, according to the 2008 HSRC
national survey.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=AfricaMiddleEast2><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>2</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Aids Programme May Be
Reducing Deaths</span></font></b></span><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Business Day, SA</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Tamar
Kahn<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><span class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Cape Town</span></font></span></st1:City></st1:place><span
class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> — The government's AIDS treatment programme may have
begun to put the brakes on SA's rising death rate, a senior official of the
Department of Health told Parliament yesterday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Referring to
figures released earlier this week by Statistics SA showing a slight drop in
the number of deaths recorded by the Department of Home Affairs in 2006 and
2007, the deputy director-general for strategic health programmes, Yogan
Pillay, said: "It might be a data problem or it might be good news. We
hope at least in part it's the ARV (antiretroviral) programme."<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>More research
was needed to determine whether the figures were part of a sustained downward
trend, Pillay said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Stats SA's
latest findings are important because, while there is plenty of published
evidence that ARVs save lives, there has been little South African data showing
their effect on the population level.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>SA was a late
starter with its state- sponsored AIDS treatment programme, largely due to
former president Thabo Mbeki 's doubts about the safety and efficacy of ARV
medicines. Despite a fast-growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and rising deaths, the
government only started providing ARV medicines in 2004. The programme started
slowly, but by April this year more than 700000 people had started treatment at
state health facilities. More than 900000 are expected to have been enrolled by
the end of March.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Stats SA's
latest mortality report, released on Monday, shows 601133 deaths were
registered by home affairs in 2007, a 1,8% drop on the updated 2006 figure. But
it is being cautious in interpreting the data.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=AfricaMiddleEast3><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>3</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=AfricaMiddleEast4><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
normal'>SWAZILAND: TB-HIV services needed to lower world's highest rates</span></font></b></span></a><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>IRIN/PlusNews</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>MBABANE,
4 November 2009 (PlusNews) - Swaziland not only has the world's highest HIV
prevalence rate, it now also has the highest tuberculosis (TB) rate, but health
officials warn that not enough is being done to integrate TB and HIV services. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Last
week the Ministry of Health and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the
international medical humanitarian organization, brought together health
experts to look at practical solutions for the small landlocked country. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>One
in four adults is infected with HIV; by the end of 2007 an estimated 170,000
people were living with HIV, and every year an estimated 13,000 people develop
TB, the primary opportunistic disease in HIV-positive people. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"When
you look at the history of TB in Southern Africa you see that it was considered
a very serious disease in the 1950s, but seemed to be under control by the 1980s;
but with the arrival of HIV and AIDS, TB rates have really gone out of
control," said Prof Alan Whiteside, head of the Health Economics and HIV
Research Division (HEARD) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Themba
Dlamini, manager of Swaziland's National TB Control Programme, said 80 percent
of Swaziland's TB cases were also HIV-positive. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>But
with governments focused on HIV/AIDS, TB has not been getting enough attention.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Part
of the problem is we've been very good at mobilizing for HIV and AIDS, and we
sort of forgot about TB as we did that. Unfortunately, I don't think the people
mobilizing for TB have been as articulate and as powerful as those mobilizing
for HIV and AIDS - we need to put TB higher on the public agenda," Whiteside
told IRIN/PlusNews. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Swaziland's
Health Minister, Benedict Xaba, reminded delegates that although the country
provided free TB medicines, other costs, such as hospital fees and transport,
made it difficult for many people to access health services.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"There
are several issues that Swaziland needs to face. Access to care is particularly
important ... so people who show signs of symptoms can be checked immediately.
Free consultation is absolutely imperative - we must think of free care from
diagnosis to clinical cure," urged Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of the
Stop TB Department of the World Health Organization (WHO). <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Raviglione
urged the country to step up efforts to integrate TB and HIV services. "It
doesn't make any sense for a person taking TB drugs and ARVs [antiretrovirals,
to treat HIV] to go to two separate doctors. These must be integrated." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>About
58 percent of TB patients completed their six-month course of treatment last
year, falling far short of the 85 percent target recommended by WHO. International
guidelines also set a 70 percent detection target for TB, but in Swaziland the
case detection rate is below 60 percent. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
good news is that, unlike HIV/AIDS, TB is curable. "I know people living
with HIV and TB, and their TB has been dealt with," noted Whiteside.
"It is a community message we need to get out - that we are capable of
eliminating the scourge of TB in your community."<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=AfricaMiddleEast5><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>5</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=FR style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Ouverture des journées
scientifiques sur la tuberculose et le VIH/Sida</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Angola Press</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Luanda
- Les premières journées scientifiques sur la tuberculose et le VIH/Sida
s'ouvrent jeudi, à Luanda, sous le thème "en regardant vers l'avenir sans
tuiberculose et le Sida", a appris l'Angop de source proche de
l'organisation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Selon la source, la rencontre qui regroupera 300 participants, parmi lesquels
des médecins, infirmiers, est une organisation de l'hôpital Sanatorium de
Luanda, et vise à aborder intégralement les malades y internés, souffrant de la
tuberculose et du VIH/Sida.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
L'objectif de ces journées est de discuter des thèmes relatifs à la prévention,
thérapeutique et au diagnostic des tuberculeux et Sidatiques, fournir des
informations plus actualisées pour aider les professionnels dans leur travail.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Parmi ces thèmes figurent "l'hôpital Sanatorium de Luanda, avant et
après", "l'Analyse de la situation de cet hôpital", "la
Tuberculose extra-pulmonaire, un défi pour le médecin", "Co-infection
VIH/Sida-Tuberculose-épidemiologie en Angola et dans le monde" et "la
stratégie nationale de contrôle de la Tuberculose à Luanda".<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Ces journées seront animées par des médecins angolais et cubains.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=3 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>=======================<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>ASIA</span></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'> AND PACIFIC<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>=======================</span></font></b><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Nailatikau sworn in as
Fiji's new President </span></font></b></span><b><font size=1
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Xinhua News, China</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>SUVA,
Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's newly appointed President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was
sworn in on Thursday at Government House, Suva by the Chief Justice Anthony
Gates. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Nailatikau, former speaker of the House of Representatives, will serve for three
years in Fiji's highest office of the land. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
He was also a former commander of the Fiji Military Forces where he spent 20
years and former diplomat of 17 years. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
On July 30, 2009, he became acting President after the retirement of Ratu
Josefa Iloilo aged 88 and his appointment was decided by the interim Cabinet. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
After the swearing in, Nailatikau spoke on the need for unity, love and hope. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Nailatikau has been an active advocate on HIV/AIDS after his appointment as
UNAIDS Special Representative for the Pacific. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
He was chosen because of his political position, respect throughout the Pacific
region, and his outspokenness on AIDS-related issues. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
He has previously served as a UNAIDS Pacific spokesman, and in 2004 chaired the
first conference of Pacific Parliamentarians on the Role of Pacific
Parliamentarians in the fight against HIV/AIDS, in Suva. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Nailatikau's outspoken calls to tackle the AIDS crisis have attracted controversy
the most as he often called on people to recognize the reality that promiscuity
existed, and that safe sex needed to be promoted to combat the associated AIDS
risk.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Editor:
Deng Shasha <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=AsiaPacific3><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>3</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>HIV-positive cases jump to
556 in Afghanistan </span></font></b></span><b><font size=1
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>UN IRIN</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>KABUL,
5 November 2009 (IRIN) - Over 50 people have been diagnosed as
HIV-positive in Afghanistan over the past nine months, bringing the number of
registered cases to 556, according to the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Most
of them have got the virus through intravenous drug use," Malika Popal,
the Programme's advocacy and communications adviser, told IRIN, adding that
three HIV/AIDS patients had died so far this year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
Health Ministry estimates 2,000-3,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in
Afghanistan. The virus prevalence rate of about 0.5 percent is considered among
the lowest in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Armed
conflict, lack of awareness of HIV/AIDS, lack of access to basic social
services such as education and health, rising intravenous drug addiction, and
the poor social status of women are among the factors which, experts say, could
lead to a rapid spread of HIV/AIDS.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=3 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>========================</span></font></b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'>EUROPE</span></font></b></st1:place><b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>========================<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Vietnam sees the funny side
of sex </span></font></b></span><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'> </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>BBC News, UK</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>By
Ha Mi, BBC Vietnamese service<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Vinh,
a 24-year-old man, says his parents never talked to him about sex.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"But
they would make jokes about it so that I know what they expect from me,"
he says. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Vinh
is from <st1:City w:st="on">Hue</st1:City>, one of the most traditional cities
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
but this attitude is found throughout the country, according to the authors of
the first survey into sex and sexual attitudes carried out in the communist
state for 50 years. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>By
turning it into a joke, some parents and children find it is easier to talk
about sex without being judged or getting embarrassed. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>This
attitude seems to apply to all - young and old - in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>But
for some, the subject really is no laughing matter. The communist state is deeply
conservative and sex is a highly sensitive subject. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dilemmas<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Economic
liberalisation and development have made <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:country-region></st1:place> a more open society and
there has been a noticeable change in sexual behaviour. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Medical
experts say increasing numbers of people are having sex below the age of
consent, leading to rising numbers of unmarried women having abortions. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>There
is also the problem posed by unprotected sex and more people contracting HIV. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Faced
with these dilemmas, there have been discussions about putting sex education on
the school curriculum at an early age. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Based
on the findings of the sex survey, some people think that may not be such a bad
idea.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Researchers
spoke to 245 people in both rural and urban areas over six years. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>They
discovered that teenagers or young adults "never" or "hardly
ever" talked to their parents about sex. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
parents too admit that they do not speak to their children about it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>For
those who do feel they should discuss the subject with their children, just how
to broach it is difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Diep
Hoa, a mother of two, is typical in this regard. She says she used a letter to
talk to her 17-year-old daughter about sex. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"I
wrote to her and gave the letter to her on the day she left home to go to study
abroad. I told her that I would like her to read it while on the plane,"
explains Mrs Hoa. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"I
mentioned a lot of things in the letter, including sex and relationships. I
would like her to understand what love is, what sexual relationships are and
the consequences when one loses control of their sexual desires." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Gender
prejudice<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
survey also found that what is okay for a man is not okay for a woman. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hong
Hanh is a 22-year-old presenter of a live radio programme on HIV and Aids
prevention targeted at young people. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"All
male callers said that sex before marriage for men is normal and okay, but they
would not want to get married to someone who has lost her virginity through
sex," Hanh says.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>According
to Dr Khuat Thu Hong, one of the three authors of the research,
"Vietnamese people have a very poor, misperceived and somehow one-sided
view about sex, because there is no open or serious discussion of the
matter." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>She
says this is very dangerous because "it leads to a lot of wrongly imposed
sexual perceptions toward men and women, and it limits both sexes from enjoying
a sexual relationship." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Some
experts say that sex education, which is only taught in some schools, should be
made compulsory because young people would benefit from the knowledge provided
to them in a serious manner rather than through jokes. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>However,
there has been opposition to this suggestion from those who uphold what they
call "traditional values". <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
funny side<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Teachers
too find the subject highly embarrassing, and some parents and children see
nothing wrong with discussing a highly taboo subject in a humorous way. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Back
in his very traditional hometown, Vinh smiles and gives some examples of what
his parents tell him.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"They
say: 'If you get her pregnant before marriage, you both won't be allowed to go
in the house by the front door', or 'you won't be allowed to go near our
ancestors' altar'. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Another
favourite is: 'We will have to make a small shed near the pigsty for you to
live in!'" <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>This
indirect and light-hearted way that some parents use to talk to their children
about sex as a means of educating them is also a warning to children of the
consequences of sex before marriage. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>But
faced with rising underage sex and HIV, Dr Hong says it is about time that
Vietnamese learned to talk openly about the subject. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>And
she hopes that the findings of the first sex survey in half a century will help
change social perceptions and understanding of what remains an extremely
delicate matter. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=Europe2><b><font size=1
color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>2</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Punishing success in
tackling AIDS: Funders' retreat could wipe out health gains in HIV affected
countries</span></font></b></span><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:
bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Reuters, UK</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Source:
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) - International<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><span class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Johannesburg</span></font></span></st1:City></st1:place><span
class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> - A retreat from international funding commitments for AIDS
threatens to undermine the dramatic gains made in reducing AIDS-related illness
and death in recent years, according to a new report by Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF). <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The MSF
report highlights how expanding access to HIV treatment has not only saved the
lives of people with AIDS but has been central to reducing overall mortality in
a number of high HIV burden countries in southern Africa in recent years. In <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Malawi</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region></st1:place>, MSF observed very
significant decreases in overall mortality in areas where antiretroviral
therapy (ART) coverage was high. Increased treatment coverage has also had an
impact on the burden of other diseases, for example tuberculosis cases have
been significantly reduced in <st1:City w:st="on">Thyolo</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Malawi</st1:country-region> and Western Cape province, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"After
almost a decade of progress in rolling out AIDS treatment we have seen
substantial improvements, both for patients and public health. But recent
funding cuts mean doctors and nurses are being forced to turn HIV patients away
from clinics as if we were back in the 1990s before treatment was
available", says Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer, Director of MSF's Access to
Essential Medicines Campaign. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>International
support to combat HIV/AIDS is faltering as reflected in significant funding
shortfalls. The board of directors of the Global Fund, a key financer of AIDS
programmes in poor countries is unable to respond to countries' needs and will
next week in Addis Ababa vote whether or not to suspend all new funding
proposals in 2010; and PEPFAR, the US AIDS programme is flatlining funding for
two more years. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"The
Global Fund must not cover up the deficit caused by its funders", says von
Schoen-Angerer. "The proposed cancellation of the 2010 funding round and
other measures to slow the pace of treatment scale-up are punishing the
successes of the past years and preventing countries from saving more
lives." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>In 2005,
world leaders promised to support universal AIDS coverage by 2010, a promise
that encouraged many African governments to launch ambitious treatment
programmes. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"What
about the promise made to people with AIDS? We gave them hope and life. We have
to be there for them, we all knew from the beginning that this treatment was
for life," says Olesi Ellemani Pasulani, MSF Clinical Officer in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Thyolo District Hospital</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Malawi</st1:country-region></st1:place>. "Passing on the bill
for treating AIDS to very poor countries would be a colossal betrayal." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Reducing
funding at this time will leave people in urgent need of treatment to die
prematurely and can lead to dangerous interruption of treatment. In <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Uganda</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
cuts have already begun to hit home with some facilities forced to stop
treating new patients with HIV. Other countries are backing away from their
earlier treatment coverage targets. In <st1:State w:st="on">Free State</st1:State>,
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
past funding problems that have now been resolved led to disruption of
treatment and a moratorium on treating new patients which resulted in an
estimated 3,000 deaths. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The report
provides evidence that, particularly in high HIV-prevalence settings, treating AIDS
has a positive impact on other important health goals, in particular maternal
and child health. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"A
stronger commitment to other health priorities must happen, but this should be
in addition to, not instead of, continued, increased commitment to HIV/AIDS",
adds von Schoen-Angerer. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>At present,
over four million people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world receive
antiretroviral therapy. An estimated six million people who are in need of
life-saving treatment, are still waiting for access. MSF operates HIV/AIDS
programmes in around 30 countries and provides antiretroviral treatment to more
than 140,000 HIV-positive adults and children. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><i><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:
italic'>[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not
of Reuters. ]<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=Europe3><b><font size=1
color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>3</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Circumcision protects gay
men who have a 'preference' for insertive sex from HIV</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>AidsMap News, UK</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Circumcision
may protect gay men who are exclusively insertive for anal sex from infection
with HIV, an Australian study published in the November 13th edition of AIDS
suggests. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>But
this finding is based upon just seven infections amongst men who expressed a
preference for insertive sex. The investigators found that amongst the men who
reported only insertive sex as a behaviour, circumcision did not significantly
reduce the risk of infection with HIV. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
study also showed that overall circumcision did not protect gay men from
infection with HIV. < a
href="http://aidsmap.com/en/news/6F898D49-BF01-4E6E-AFAC-2C3D274D91EB.asp">Earlier
data from the study presented to the conference of the International AIDS
Society in Sydney in 2007 showed that circumcision had no protective effect. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Gay
and other men who have sex with men continue to be one of the groups most
affected by HIV. Consequently, there is a need for new approaches to HIV
prevention in this population. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Studies
in Africa have shown that circumcision reduces the risk of HIV infection for
heterosexual men. However, a recent meta-analysis found no conclusive evidence
that circumcision was protective for gay men. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Researchers
from the Health in Men (HIM) study therefore investigated the relationship
between circumcision and the risk of HIV infection in a population of 1426
HIV-negative gay men in Sydney. In total, 938 of these men were circumcised <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
men were recruited between 2001 and 2004 and followed until the end of 2007. On
entry to the study, the men reported their circumcision status and this was
confirmed by clinical examination. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Every
six months the men attended for a follow-up visit when they were tested for HIV
and the men were asked if they had had unprotected anal intercourse. In
addition, individuals were also asked to say if they were insertive or
receptive, and if they had a strong preference for adopting the insertive position.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A
total of 5161 person years of follow-up were available for analysis, and the
median duration of follow-up for each man was 3.9 years. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>There
were 53 HIV infections, providing an overall incidence of 0.78 per 100 person
years. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Statistical
analysis that included the entire study population showed that circumcision did
not provide any significant protection against infection with HIV. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Only
10% of the study’s person years of follow-up was contributed by men who
reported insertive unprotected sex but not receptive sex without a condom.
There were only four HIV infections in these men. Analysis showed that
circumcised men who only reported insertive unprotected sex did not have a
significantly reduced risk of HIV. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Next
the investigators restricted their analysis to men who stated a preference for
the insertive position in all anal intercourse. These 435 men (279 of whom were
circumcised) contributed 1710 person years of follow-up. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>There
were a total of seven HIV infections in these men, five of which were in the
uncircumcised men. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Statistical
analysis showed that circumcision was associated with a significant reduction
in the risk of HIV infection for men with a preference for insertive anal sex
(p = 0.049). This association was strengthened when the investigators adjusted
for age and potentially serodiscordant unprotected anal intercourse. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>However,
three of the men with a preference for insertive sex reported unprotected
receptive anal intercourse. But the study's lead author, Dr David Templeton,
told aidsmap.com that men expressing a preference for insertive sex adopted
this position in almost 99% of instances of anal intercourse. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It
is of note, however, that the investigators so not comment on the possibility
of study participants providing inaccurate information about their sexual
preferences or behaviour to the investigators. It is of note that for reasons
of social desirability receptive anal sex is consistently under reported by gay
men. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Nevertheless,
the investigators comment: “Being circumcised was associated with a
significant reduction in HIV incidence among the one-third of participants who
reported a preference for the insertive role in anal intercourse”. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A
total of 9% of HIV infections in the cohort could, the investigators conclude
be attributed to being uncircumcised. “Among participants who preferred
the insertive role in anal intercourse, the estimate proportion of HIV
infections that could be attributed to being uncircumcised by 75.7%.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>They
do however acknowledge that “the key limitation of our analysis was lack
of power due to relatively small numbers of HIV infections in the HIM cohort
and the low incidence of HIV infection among predominately insertive
men.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
investigators call for randomised controlled trials to further explore the
relationship between circumcision and the risk of HIV for gay men. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Such
studies could, however, be difficult to design and the investigators question
if they would be worthwhile. They note that the studies “would require
high HIV incidence, low baseline circumcision prevalence and large numbers of
participants exclusively or predominately practicing the insertive role.”
The investigators emphasise that “such attributes are necessary for
sufficient study power to detect an association between circumcision status
with the relatively infrequent outcome measure of HIV acquisition via insertive
anal intercourse.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Reference
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Templeton
DJ et al. Circumcision and risk of HIV infection in Australian homosexual men.
AIDS 23: 2347-51, 2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=Europe4><b><font size=1
color=white face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:white;font-weight:bold'>4</span></font></b></a><font color=white><span
lang=FR style='color:white'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Lutte anti-sida,
tuberculose, paludisme: inquiétudes sur le financement</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>AFP</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>PARIS
— Des associations ont lancé mercredi un cri d'alarme sur les problèmes
de financement du Fonds mondial de lutte contre le sida, la tuberculose et le
paludisme, qui ne devrait pas être à même de répondre aux demandes de
subvention après 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Les
besoins de financement de ces maladies ne sont pas couverts", a souligné
Eric Fleutelot, de Sidaction, au cours d'une conférence de presse. Il a rappelé
que 4 millions de personnes ont accès à un traitement anti-sida sur 11 millions
de personnes qui en ont besoin, qu'il y a eu en 2007 9 millions de nouveaux cas
de tuberculose et que le paludisme, qui a fait plus de 900.000 morts en 2006,
concerne 247 millions de personnes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>La
réduction des financements mondiaux, a-t-il dit, a entraîné par exemple une
réduction de 25% du budget de lutte contre le sida de la Tanzanie. Il a signalé
aussi des ruptures d'approvisionnement en antirétroviraux dans plusieurs pays
d'Afrique comme l'Ouganda ou le Malawi.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>En
fin de semaine, le Fonds mondial doit tenir son Conseil d'administration à
Addis-Abeba où il décidera du financement sur trois ans des projets déposés
cette année. Or "il ne reste quasi rien en caisse", a souligné
Emmanuel Trenado, de la coalition Plus.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>En
juillet le directeur exécutif du Fonds Michel Kazatchkine s'était alarmé de la
baisse des financements, soulignant qu'il lui manquait trois milliards de
dollars pour 2010 à cause d'une demande accrue de soins.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"J'espère
que l'argent promis pour 2008-2010 arrivera (...) mais je suis inquiet que les
bailleurs ne soient pas capables d'augmenter leurs financements",
déclarait alors le Pr Kazatchkine.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Selon
les associations, les pays donateurs souhaiteraient en outre une annulation en
2010 du processus de présentation des projets. Quarante-neuf associations
africaines de lutte contre le sida ont lancé mercredi un appel d'urgence pour
qu'ils renoncent à ce projet.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Les
pays industrialisés du G8 s'étaient engagés en 2005 à aider l'Afrique à
atteindre l'accès universel aux antirétroviraux d'ici 2010. "Il y a
urgence à ce que les pays riches répondent à leur engagements", a noté
Pauline Londeix, de Act-up Paris.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Selon
les associations, la députée UMP Henriette Martinez a suggéré dans un rapport
de réduire la contribution de la France au Fonds mondial, pour mettre les
sommes dégagées à disposition des opérateurs français, plus visibles.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Copyright
© 2009 AFP. Tous droits réservés<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=Europe5><b><font size=1
color=white face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:white;font-weight:bold'>5</span></font></b></a><b><font color=white><span
lang=FR style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>L'Afrique du Sud en quête
d'un "nouvel homme" pour lutter contre le sida </span></font></b></span><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'> </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>AFP</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009</span></font></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>JOHANNESBURG
- "Un nouvel homme est arrivé en Afrique du Sud: c'est un homme qui prend
ses responsabilités!". Cet encart dans la presse sud-africaine compte parmi
les multiples initiatives qui cherchent depuis peu à enrôler la population
masculine dans la lutte contre le sida.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Cet
homme "se contente d'une partenaire", "ne se trouve pas
d'excuses s'il a un rapport non protégé" et "respecte sa femme",
précise l'encart qui vise à transformer les stérétotypes sur la virilité.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>L'image
positive associée au séducteur, n'ayant peur de rien et grand consommateur
d'alcool est particulièrement nocive en Afrique du Sud, pays le plus touché au
monde par le sida, avec 5,7 millions de séropositifs sur 48 millions
d'habitants.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>La
campagne de communication, baptisée "Frère pour la vie", s'y attaque
avec un double objectif: convaincre les hommes -- qui gardent la main haute
dans le choix des pratiques sexuelles -- d'utiliser des préservatifs, mais
aussi améliorer leur accès aux traitements.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Jusqu'à
présent, l'essentiel des programmes sur le sida se sont construits autour des
centres de soins, qui sont principalement utilisés par les femmes. "C'est
difficile pour un homme d'aller dans une clinique et de reconnaître sa
vulnérabilité", explique l'un des promoteurs de la campagne, Dean Peacock.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>En
conséquence, trois quarts des tests de dépistage concernent des femmes et deux
tiers des traitements antirétroviraux vont à des séropositives. De plus, les
hommes se mettent sous traitement plus tard, quand leur système immunitaire est
déjà très affaibli.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Rien
n'est conçu pour les hommes. On se devait de faire quelque chose pour les
atteindre", commente Mzi Lwana, coordinateur d'un projet "hommes et
sida" mené par l'Unité de recherche sur la santé reproductive et le VIH
(RHRU) de l'université de Witwatersrand.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Depuis
février, le RHRU organise trois fois par semaine, dans une clinique du centre
de Johannesburg, des consultations dédiées aux hommes. Les patients peuvent
prendre rendez-vous avec un infirmier, un assistant social ou un éducateur.
Tous de sexe masculin.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Je
suis plus à l'aise avec un homme, j'ai l'impression de pouvoir parler
librement", confirme Victor Makhitsa, reçu dans le cabinet de Luthando
Qobo pour un problème intime.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Face
à lui, l'infirmier ne porte pas de blouse pour "conserver une dimension
amicale", encourage les confidences et prodigue ses conseils en zoulou si
le patient le souhaite.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"La
plupart viennent pour des maladies sexuellement transmissibles, des pertes de
libido, des problèmes de fertilité ou de sida. Il faut pouvoir aller au coeur
du problème", explique-t-il.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Le
RHRU organise aussi des campagnes de sensibilisation autour de matchs de foot,
dans les bars, dans les logements collectifs pour hommes ou auprès des
chauffeurs de mini-taxis collectifs, réputés pour leur machisme.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Une
autre action a le vent en poupe: la circoncision qui, selon plusieurs études,
divise au moins par deux les risques de contamination par le VIH pour les
hommes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Un
grand projet est en cours dans le township de Orange Farm au sud de
Johannesburg. "Il suscite beaucoup d'enthousiasme parce qu'il permet aussi
d'attirer les hommes dans le système de soins", souligne Lauren Jankelowitz
du RHRU.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Le
ministère de la Santé, qui a reconnu en 2007 le besoin d'un effort ciblé sur
les hommes, soutient ces initiatives, mais n'a pas encore mis en place de
programme national cohérent, regrettent les acteurs du secteur.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Les
autorités commencent tout juste à changer de politique", selon Lauren
Jankelowitz. "Mais les campagnes sont encore associatives, pas
gouvernementales."<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Copyright
© 2009 AFP. Tous droits réservés<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>========================<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>========================<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>AIDS Committee supports
free movement of people living with disease</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Kaieteur News, Guyana</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
Guyana National AIDS Committee (NAC) has signaled its support to the decision
by President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to remove
restrictions on people infected with HIV from visiting the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Along
with a range of other organizations around the world, NAC members have added
their signatures to many petitions over the years for this unjustified
restriction to be removed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A
press statement from NAC, on Monday, stated that in 2007, a delegation from the
NAC met with the American Ambassador to query HIV testing taking place in the
Embassy compound of persons applying for visas to the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
NAC was assured at the time that the rapid-testing at the embassy did not
relate to any misguided goal of only accepting HIV free immigrants.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
NAC is hopeful that the leadership demonstrated by the US Government on this
issue will encourage the remaining countries which have retained similar
restrictions to remove them quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“Apart
from respect for the rights of those directly affected, namely HIV-positive
persons wishing to visit the United States, today’s decision will also
help undermine stigma and discrimination in general against HIV positives,
enabling greater tolerance and respect for difference,” the NAC statement
noted.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>NAC
is a voluntary body which promotes HIV/AIDS policy and advocacy issues and
advises the Minister of Health, while it assesses the work of the National AIDS<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Programme
Secretariat (NAPS).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
NAC also encourages the formation of Regional AIDS Committees (RACs) and
networking amongst NGOs involved in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=LatinAmericaCaribbean2><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>2</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Jamaica AIDS Support
applauds Obama - US entry ban on HIV-positive persons nears end</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Jamaica Gleaner</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Kimesha
Walters, Gleaner Writer <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Jamaica
AIDS Support for Life (JASL) has welcomed a move by United States President
Barack Obama to end a 22-year-old ban on persons who have tested positive for
HIV from entering that country.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"We
are ecstatic about it," said Stacy-Ann Jarrett, executive director of
JASL. "It actually speaks to addressing the issue of universal access to
all of our target groups, to persons who are living with AIDS."<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>She
added: "It is the beginning of things to happen in terms of
non-discrimination, the inclusion of HIV-positive people."<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Obama
had promised to end the ban before the end of the year, but said a rule
cancelling the ban would be published on Tuesday and take effect early next
year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Once
lifted, foreigners applying to become residents in the United States will no
longer be required to take a test for AIDS.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ending
the stigma<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>According
to The Associated Press, "Obama said that by lifting the ban, the US will
take a step toward ending the stigma against people with HIV/AIDS, something he
said has stopped people from getting tested and has helped spread the
disease."<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Meanwhile,
Jarrett noted that there were several benefits awaiting HIV-positive persons
who want to travel to the United States. Among those benefits were
opportunities to visit family and attend international conferences.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
JASL head noted that conference organisers have, in the past, had to re-route
people through other territories, costing more money than if they were able to
stop over in the US.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"It's
going to cost less to participate in international conferences or meetings and
other support group sessions that are made to empower persons who are living
with the virus all over the world," Jarrett explained.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Jarrett
said people would now have easier access to drugs and diagnostic tests that are
not readily available in Jamaica.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Now
that one stepping stone has been laid, Jarrett is looking forward, noting that
people who were HIV-positive were not able to access health coverage or health
insurance plans.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"The
next step that we are anticipating is for insurance companies to start having
more policies geared at supporting persons who are living with HIV and
AIDS," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=LatinAmericaCaribbean3><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>3</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=FR style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Director de UNFPA en la
región participará de estudio abierto de Radio Viva</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Juku’éke, Paraguay</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>05/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>La
90.1 FM realizará un estudio abierto denominado “Hablando claro sobre el
VIH y el SIDA” este jueves 05 de noviembre de 09:00 a 11:00 horas en la
Plaza Héroes del Chaco de este barrio capitalino ubicado al costado del
recientemente inaugurado Telecentro ZeballosCue.com. La actividad es organizada
por la Federación de Entidades Vecinalistas del Paraguay (FEDEM), en el marco
del proyecto "Información, Educación y Comunicación a adolescentes y
jóvenes sobre derechos Sexuales y reproductivos con énfasis en VIH/ SIDA",
apoyado por el Fondo de Población de Naciones Unidas (UNFPA).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>De
la programación especial participará Harold Robinson, director del UNFPA para
Paraguay, Argentina y Brasil, quien se encuentra visitando el país por primera
vez, tras haber asumido este cargo en el mes de agosto de este año, lo
acompañarán Manuelita Escobar, Representante Auxiliar, y Mirtha Rivarola,
Oficial de Género y Adolescencia del UNFPA.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>El
proyecto tiene como objetivo fomentar en los y las jóvenes, el deseo de mejorar
la autoestima favoreciendo las relaciones interpersonales y el encuentro con el
otro sexo, propiciando el respeto y la igualdad de género. Además apunta a
colaborar con las comunidades del cono urbano a fin de formar una masa crítica
conocedora de sus derechos, que se constituya en agente de cambio y
transformador de su futuro, según Mariano Bareiro, presidente de FEDEM.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>La
actividad, según explicaron los organizadores apunta también a que los y las
participantes intercambien experiencias y planteen sus dudas sobre salud sexual
y reproductiva e infecciones de transmisión sexual, a la Asesora de VIH y sida
del UNFPA, Patricia Aguilar. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>En
ese sentido, destacaron la importancia de este espacio para ofrecer toda la
información necesaria, sobre estos temas, así como lo relacionado a la
prevención del VIH y SIDA, teniendo en cuenta que según datos de la última
encuesta nacional de salud sexual y reproductiva, los y las jóvenes inician su
vida sexual cada vez a más temprana edad.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=LatinAmericaCaribbean4><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>4</span></font></b></a><font color=white><span
lang=FR style='color:white'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Migración, factor de riesgo
en el aumento del VIH</span></font></b></span><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Diario CoLatino, El Salvador</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Alma
Vilches<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Redacción
Diario Co Latino<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Día
a día, decenas de salvadoreños abandonan su país en busca de una mejor
oportunidad de vida para ellos y sus familias, a pesar de poner en riesgo su
integridad y exponerse, durante el trayecto, a una serie de peligros, como:
abusos físicos, violaciones, extorsiones, trabajos forzados y enfermedades de
transmisión sexual.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Estudios
nacionales y regionales muestran un significativo aumento de la población
migrante, entre hombres y mujeres, en su mayoría jóvenes, quienes son afectados
en su salud sexual, ya que está condicionada por factores biogenéticos,
socioculturales y económicos.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Los
problemas de salud de los migrantes, tienden a aumentar debido al bajo estatus
socioeconómico, ya que la situación legal de estas personas en el país de
residencia determinan el acceso a los servicios sociales y de salud.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Estudios
revelan que las mujeres migrantes presentan tasas de fecundidad no deseadas,
uso menor de anticonceptivos modernos y un menor acceso a los servicios de
salud sexual y reproductiva, como de exámenes de papanicolao y mamografía.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Luis
Mora, Director Regional Adjunto de la Oficina para América Latina y el Caribe
del Fondo de Población de las Naciones Unidas (UNFPA), dijo que la población
migrante, en los últimos años, ha sido más vulnerable a padecer enfermedades de
transmisión sexual y especialmente el VIH/Sida, debido a no tener acceso a los
servicios de salud básicos, por la condición de ilegalidad en que se
encuentran.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Según
estudios realizados en la zona Sur fronteriza entre México y los Estados
Unidos, con trabajadoras sexuales, camioneros y población migrante, hay una
relación entre alta movilidad poblacional y mayor diseminación de VIH/Sida.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“Los
resultados muestran que en su mayoría los migrantes son jóvenes que viajan solos
y que adoptan prácticas de riesgo que favorecen la diseminación del VIH”.
“Muchas mujeres son víctimas de abuso y violencia durante el trayecto
migratorio o en el país de destino, y falta de conocimiento de las leyes, hacen
esta población más vulnerable de contagio al SIDA” , afirmó Mora.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Desde
2008, la UNFPA fortalece las capacidades de instituciones involucradas en el
proceso de desarrollo de modelos de atención a la salud sexual y reproductiva
de mujeres y jóvenes migrantes, en diez países de la región Latinoamericana.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>========================<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>NORTH AMERICA<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>========================</span></font></b><font
size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Editorial: Overturning HIV
immigration ban brings benefits</span></font></b></span><b><font size=1
color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>University of Pittsburgh The Pitt News</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>By
Staff Editorial <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Earlier
this week, President Barack Obama said the United States plans to abolish a
travel and immigration ban against those with HIV. At face value, this means
more people with HIV could potentially enter the country and disseminate the
disease — but let’s not be paranoid here.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>More
than 1 million people in the United States live with HIV or AIDS. The Center
for Disease Control estimates that in 2006 there were approximately 56,300 new
cases of HIV. AIDS and HIV certainly aren’t as prevalent in the United
States as in parts of Southern Africa where, in some regions, more than 15
percent of the adult population is living with HIV. But we’re far from
disease-free. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>While
the ban’s repeal theoretically allows for an increase of HIV cases in the
United States, there are benefits that outweigh the detriment. The ban formerly
denied entry to travelers with visas or those seeking a green card. In some
scenarios, families that have been apart for years can now reunite.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Currently,
there are 11 other countries that have similar bans against HIV-positive
immigrants. Among the list are Armenia, Iraq, Libya, Russia and South Korea
— none are Western countries. Despite the ban’s long existence in
the United States, there are more reasons to overturn this policy than siding
with the majority.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Some
HIV researchers are living with HIV themselves. Under the ban, however,
they’ve been prevented from coming to the United States. As a result, the
United States has not held a major international conference on the disease
since 1993, according the Associated Press. By lifting the ban and allowing
entry to these activists, their subsequent contributions to battling and
spreading knowledge about HIV seem an adequate repercussion. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Obama
stressed that by lifting the ban, the United States is helping to assuage the
stigma against those with HIV. The ban was initiated in the late ’80s
— a time when HIV was still a new disease and hysteria over its spread
even dictated law. Now the law seems antiquated. In 1987, HIV was placed on the
U.S. Public Health Services list of “dangerous and contagious
diseases,” and HIV positive individuals were consequentially banned. HIV
is contagious, but it isn’t spread through casual contact like, say,
active cases of tuberculosis — which remains on the list. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Not
taking action to lessen the stigma against HIV helps to perpetuate the stigma
and subsequently the disease itself. Because of the stigma against those with
HIV, some who might be carrying the disease avoid getting tested. Perhaps
they’d rather not know or assume they’re disease-free. As of 2008,
more than one in five people living with HIV in the United States don’t
know they have the disease. If there’s a measure that will increase the
likelihood of getting tested, it’s worth passing as this is one of the
best countermeasures in combating the disease<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=NorthAmerica2><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>2</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Tackling HIV/AIDS in
Africa: From Knowledge to Behavior Change</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>The Brookings Institution</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Richard
Joseph, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>There
is greater frankness today about development policy failures in Africa. It was
reflected in President Barack Obama’s speech in Accra, Ghana on July 11
when he stated: “Development depends on good governance. That is the
ingredient that has been missing in far too many places for far too
long.” And it is also seen in President Jacob Zuma‘s surprising
declaration to the South African Parliament on October 29 for the need to
“respond with urgency and resolve” to the “devastating impact
of HIV and AIDS” on the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It
has taken many years for a South African president to speak frankly to his
fellow citizens of the need to convert “knowledge into behavior
change.” Unlike his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, who refused to acknowledge
how HIV was actually transmitted, Jacob Zuma now encourages South Africans to
learn their HIV status and “take informed decisions to reduce their
vulnerability to infection.” While estimates of new infections in South
Africa are an astounding 750,000, they are also climbing relentlessly in Nigeria
where latest annual estimates are put at 370,000. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>In
January 2006, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made a large grant to
support the Research Alliance to Combat HIV/AIDS (REACH), a collaborative
program between Northwestern University and the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Survey research has been completed in 12 communities in four Nigerian states on
two projects: the social and cultural factors that influence vulnerability to
infection and the willingness, or inhibition, regarding the use of testing and
care facilities. A third pilot project on adolescents and HIV prevention was
started when preliminary findings showed the high vulnerabilities of, and
insufficient attention being devoted to, this age group. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>This
month, teams of REACH researchers will return to the twelve communities to
report on the research findings. These studies could not have been conducted
without the active cooperation of local authority figures: government,
traditional and religious. In spring 2010, comprehensive reports of the
three projects, along with policy recommendations, will be made available in
Nigeria and internationally. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
four Nigerian states in which the REACH research was conducted—Oyo,
Lagos, Cross Rivers and Benue—have prevalence rates of 2.2, 5.1, 8 and
10.6 percent, respectively. Understanding the reasons for these disparities
requires probing the economic, cultural, normative and other factors involved.
Even with this information, inducing the necessary remedial action must
overcome great barriers. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>One
of the notable achievements of this era has been the provision of billions of
dollars annually so that millions of HIV-infected persons worldwide can receive
anti-retroviral drugs. However, a report just published predicts that unless
there are drastic changes in infection rates, tackling AIDS and its
consequences in poor countries could cost $35 billion annually in two
decades.[1] Since sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for two-thirds of persons
infected with HIV, much more vigorous efforts are needed to curb transmission
of the disease in the continent.[2] <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>President
Zuma told South Africans that “knowledge will help us to confront
denialism and the stigma attached to the disease.” That is no easy charge
after decades of disinformation and distrust. I was confounded in a tour of our
research sites in Nigeria earlier this year when a man in one community
complained that, as a result of drug treatment, it was now difficult to know
who was infected and therefore whom to avoid. In that remark, knowledge,
stigma, and behavior were tightly interwoven. Unwinding them to facilitate
effective and humane action will require enhanced collaboration, at the level
of communities, among government, social, religious, business and academic
actors.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><i><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-style:italic'>Richard Joseph is Principal Investigator of REACH.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>[1]
Donald G. McNeil, Jr., “Panel warns that without new direction, epidemic
will remain out of control at 50,” New York Times (November 2, 2009). <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>[2]
For a strategy of wider testing and earlier drug treatment in Washington,
DC and the Bronx, whose prevalence rate of about 5 percent is close to the
Nigerian average, see Susan Okie, “Fighting H.I.V., a Community at a
Time,” New York Times (October, 27, 2009).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=NorthAmerica3><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>3</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Beauty at the Ball</span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>New York Times</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>By
JOYCE WADLER<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“MY
clams are not in place,” the pregnant mermaid in the ladies’ room
at the New York Design Center Masquerade Ball was saying, adjusting the
homemade shell-and-string brassiere she was wearing over her clingy gown. Her
long red hair was a magnificent Venus-rising mane, intertwined with seashells,
and a blue-green fish tail trailed fetchingly from underneath her skirt. But
her bra was somewhat askew and so was her extremely protuberant belly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“My
husband is a sea captain,” the mermaid added. “We don’t know
what to expect.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>What
are they hoping for?<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“I
don’t know,” she said. “I just hope it’s a good
swimmer.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>On
land, the mermaid goes by the name Maria Capotorto and does publicity for the
interior designer Jamie Drake. But the ball held last week to benefit the Alpha
Workshops, an organization that trains people with H.I.V. and AIDS for careers
in the decorative arts, was that rare New York party in which shop talk was not
paramount.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
theme was 1930s musicals, and members of a few design firms came identically
costumed. Dennis Miller, of Dennis Miller Associates, and three of his
colleagues wore lampshades on their heads, with a drawing of the body of a lamp
on their chests.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“They’re
all lamps we sell,” said Mr. Miller, who was dressed as a model called the
Delphi, adding that the lamps range in price from $1,000 to more than $4,000.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>They
didn’t actually denude those expensive lamps for their costumes? asked
the reporter, who had come that evening as Credulous Beyond Redeeming.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“Target,
$20,” Mr. Miller said. “We’re bringing them back tomorrow
morning.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
interior designer Amy Lau and four of her staff members came as cheerleaders.
Having gotten the arrival time wrong, they went to a neighborhood bar to kill
an hour, which might have been why one staff member literally leaped into the
interview with a triumphant whoop, and fell to one knee.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
disco music was not correctly themed, but many of the designers were: Joan and
Jayne Michaels, the sisters who run the firm 2Michaels, and their good friend
Kate Korten, a textile designer, came as the Marx Brothers. The furniture
designer Richard Wrightman and his wife, Elaine, came as Bonnie and Clyde, or
rather, Clyde and Bonnie.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Then
there were those like the enviably lean Tori Mellott, creative deputy of merchandising
for Martha Stewart, who came as contemporary figures. Ms. Mellott was the
trimmed-down Karl Lagerfeld, with big sunglasses, a white fan and her mailbox
keys worn around the neck.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“I
Google-imaged him a million times,” Ms. Mellott said. “A lot of the
time, he wears a key around his neck.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Her
snazzy racing-style gloves did have one flaw: her boss — no, of course
not Martha! — had cut three knuckle openings instead of four. Still, Ms.
Mellott was hopeful that Mr. Lagerfeld would approve.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“I
think I’m going to send him a picture,” she said. “Maybe
he’ll send me some of his Chanel.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Meanwhile,
across the room, the interior designer Dennis Rolland was a languorous and
elegant Fred Astaire, in white tie and tails. Except for the spats, the costume
was entirely his, for Mr. Rolland is a competitive ballroom dancer, which made
the pounding disco a bit frustrating.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>And
yes, he said, in answer to a question, he believes there is a similarity
between ballroom dancing and design.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“I
think the whole concept of style, elegance, a love of beauty and beautiful
movement is just as beautiful as beautiful objects,” Mr. Rolland said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>While
some might find that sentence overburdened with the use of the word
“beautiful,” we understood completely and waltzed off. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A
version of this article appeared in print on November 5, 2009, on page D2 of
the New York edition<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=NorthAmerica4><b><font
size=1 color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>4</span></font></b></a><b><font
color=white><span lang=EN-GB style='color:white;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>Southern Researchers Fill
Gap on Neglected Diseases </span></font></b></span><span
class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'> </span></font></b></span><b><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35;font-weight:bold'><br>
</span></font></b><span class=tnverdana8ptbold><b><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35;font-weight:normal'>IPS Terra Viva</span></font></b></span><span
class=tnnormaltext><font color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>04/11/2009<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 color="#ff99cc" face=Arial><span lang=ES-TRAD style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:#FF99CC'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Stephen
Leahy <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>CANCUN,
Mexico, Nov 3 (IPS) - With HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis occupying the
global health spotlight, few resources are devoted to the "neglected
tropical diseases" like dengue fever, hookworm infection and
schistosomiasis that afflict some one billion people. Now, small medical companies
in emerging economies offer real hope to bring innovative and affordable
treatments, a new study has found. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Everyone
thinks multinational drug companies can provide the vaccines and diagnostics
for neglected tropical diseases. Our research shows that it's small biomedical
companies in the developing world that are doing it," said Peter Singer of
the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre (MRC) for Global Health at the University of
Toronto and a co-author of the study. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Singer
and his colleagues document for the first time the innovative products and
capabilities of 78 homegrown, small to medium-sized health biotechnology
companies in Brazil, China, India and South Africa. Collectively, these
companies produced 123 products, including vaccines, drugs and diagnostic
tests, for all neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), as well as the "Big
3" - malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Roughly
half specifically target NTDs and are largely new products, not generics, they
report in the study published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"These
are diseases of the poor and these local companies base their business model on
affordable innovation to meet local needs," Singer told IPS. "The
owner of one such company told me 'What for you are diseases of the poor are
market opportunities for us'". <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>NTDs
include trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide,
elephantiasis, leprosy, dengue fever, hookworm infection and schistosomiasis.
World spending to battle such illnesses, however, amounts to a relative drop in
the bucket - just 500 million dollars in 2007 - or about five percent of the
total invested in new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics worldwide. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>These
neglected diseases rarely make headlines, but they cripple the economic
productivity of affected communities and stunt national development, the report
notes. Multinational drug companies simply cannot make a profit developing
products to meet this need except on a donation basis, it says. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"We
are not calling for replacement of the charity of multinationals. Rather, we
are pointing out that there is a well of affordable innovation in developing
countries themselves that has not been fully tapped," Singer said. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Companies
in emerging economies are filling a void by creating innovative products to
address NTDs. Many such firms are successful at reaching local and regional
markets. This pipeline in developing countries is like a rich new deposit of
gold that needs to be fully mined, said Singer. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"What
they urgently require is help getting these products and their benefits to
distant places," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
authors propose a not-for-profit service to provide much-needed expertise to
help Southern firms get their products from the lab to additional villages
worldwide. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
Global Health Accelerator (GHA) project would help get innovative NTD-related
health products to distant markets by connecting a diverse international
community of biotech innovators, facilitate public-private partnerships,
provide business support services, and operate as an independent hub linking
companies, investors, and interested parties. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It
will use the power of networking to link to funding agencies, foundations,
development finance institutions, private individuals, and venture capitalists
interested in financing innovative Southern companies, the report states. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
proposal also includes an annual prize, the Global Health EnterPrize, to
encourage and recognise new diagnostics, drugs, vaccines, or devices with
global health impact developed by Southern companies. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"We
think of the Global Health Accelerator as a FedEx for new drugs, vaccines and
diagnostics to combat neglected tropical diseases," said Singer. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>According
to MRC researcher and co-author Sarah Frew, firms in emerging economies see
neglected diseases as significant business opportunities but typically lack
expertise in such areas as international regulatory environments, market
assessments, positioning products, including pricing, accessing financing, and
identifying international commercialisation partners. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
research and development potential of the South is far greater than the 78
firms documented in the study. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"There
are more than 500 health biotechnology companies, in addition to many more
academic institutes and universities in other countries like Malaysia, Indonesia
and Mexico," Frew told IPS. "The creative talent is there but
obstacles, of which financing is just one, impede progress and hamstring
current efforts." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>In
same issue of Health Affairs, the leading journal on health policy, deputy
editor Philip Musgrove and coauthor Peter Hotez argue that concerted efforts -
from mass drug administration to nondrug interventions - could conquer many
neglected diseases. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=tnnormaltext><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Neglected
diseases affect millions of lives, yet can be treated or eliminated at a relatively
small cost," said Musgrove. "It's time for the world to act." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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