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<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'><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. Mail & Guardian, 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'>Don't backtrack on Aids, MSF warns Western donors <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><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'>MAURITANIA</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'>: Don’t abandon us, HIV-positive community tells donors <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:country-region w:st="on">Ghana</st1:country-region></st1:place>
News Agency - </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'>More Kayayei embrace
HIV/AIDS education <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. <st1:City
w:st="on">Concord</st1:City> Times, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Sierra Leone</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'>Pado Educate Students On HIV/Aids, Child Rights <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=ES-TRAD 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. Channel News Asia - </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'>Cambodia</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'> aims to raise AIDS/HIV awareness among drivers<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. Phnom
Penh Post - </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'>Bar owners get HIV/AIDS
training<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. Express
News <st1:City w:st="on">Service</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</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'>‘Three lakh HIV victims in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>
to be treated <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. European Public Health <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Alliance</st1:City></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'>Commission strategy for combating HIV/AIDS in
the EU and neighbouring countries 2009-2013<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. Alan
Whiteside.com - </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'>A Response to 'Experts want
African aid funds channelled away from HIV'<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. The Lancet, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> - </span></font><st1:place 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'>Europe</span></font></b></span></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'> urged to fund more tuberculosis research<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. New
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Statesman</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'>The NS Interview: Linda-Gail Bekker <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'>5. The
Irish 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'>Concerns raised over HIV
treatment <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'><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'>Local artistes partake in HIV/AIDS testing<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'>2. El Tiempo, Colombia - </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'>Por cada dos hombres con VIH ya hay una mujer infectada en Colombia,
revelan la ONU y Minprotección<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'>3. Prensa Latina, Cuba - </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'>Fondos destinados a combatir sida podrían congelarse en 2010 <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. <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Pioneiro-RS</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Brazil</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'>UCS desenvolve novo teste de HIV <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'>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:State w:st="on">Washington</st1:State></st1:place>
Post - </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'>Slowed funding threatens
AIDS fight, group says<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'>2. 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'>Research Shows Neighborhoods Where AIDS Treatments Lag<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. ATCWorks.org
- </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'>Why mHealth Initiatives Should Not be
Sustainable<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. S.
Francisco Chronicle - </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 drug study needs
volunteers with dark hair <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='line-height:13.0pt'><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'>UNAIDS WEB.SITE<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. UNAIDS - </span></font><font size=1 color="#e93e35" face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#E93E35'>UNAIDS
participate in Netherlands Multi Party Initiative<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'>2. UNAIDS - </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'>Antiretroviral treatment
for prevention <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'>Don't backtrack on Aids, MSF
warns Western donors </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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Mail & Guardian, 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'>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'>JOHANNESBURG
- Cutting funding for HIV/Aids treatment would condemn millions of poor people
to death, international medical NGO Médicins sans Frontières said on Thursday,
amid signs of Western governments starting to backtrack on their commitments. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Two
major funders of Aids treatment in poor countries -- the Global Fund to Fight
Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the United States President's Emergency Plan
for Aids Relief (Pepfar) -- are considering scaling back or freeze their
funding levels, MSF said in Johannesburg.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 Fund is considering taking a "gap year" from funding Aids
programmes in 2010 while Pepfar plans to freeze funding at the same level for
two years -- despite previously promising to increase its funding for
treatment, according to 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 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'>Many
African countries rely heavily on either or both of these two sources to fund
the treatment programmes that keep millions of their HIV-positive citizens
alive.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Freezing
or cutting funding to these programmes -- after world leaders in 2005 promised
to support universal Aids treatment coverage by 2010 --"would be an
international betrayal," said Dr Eric Goemaere, MSF medical coordinator 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'>Freezing
funding at the same level would mean that new patients could not be enrolled on
treatment until someone else died.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Four
million HIV-positive people are currently on anti-retroviral therapy 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'>More
than six million more people are in need of the treatment, according to MSF,
which released a report entitled Punishing Success? Early signs of a Retreat
from Commitment to HIV/Aids Care and Treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
HIV/Aids emergency is definitely not over," warned 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 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
donor governments are trying to divert resources from HIV/Aids to other
diseases that are cheaper to treat, but said Schoen-Angerer: "This cannot
be an either/or game. Cutting HIV/Aids funding is not the answer." --
Sapa-dpa<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>MAURITANIA: Don’t
abandon us, HIV-positive community tells donors</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>UN IRIN</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 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'>NOUAKCHOTT,
5 November 2009 (IRIN) - People living with HIV in Mauritania are voicing their
concerns about the suspension of HIV/AIDS funding by the World Bank and the
Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. They feel powerless in the
face of the decisions, of which they are suffering the consequences. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
14 October dozens of people living with HIV organized a sit-in in front of the
World Bank building in the capital Nouakchott to draw the Bank’s and the
international community’s attention to their situation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>"By
suspending their programmes without consulting us, donors have not taken our
distress into account," Fatimata Ball told IRIN/PlusNews. Ball represents
people living with HIV at the SENLS (the national AIDS committee) Executive
Secretariat, the government body implementing Global Fund and World Bank
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 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,
people living with HIV, did not bring about these problems, so should we suffer
the consequences?" she added. "The reason donors give millions to
Mauritania is that we are a poor country. They gave us hope of a second life
when we had given up on that hope; they should not drop 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'>US$21
million of World Bank funding through 2009 was suspended in August 2008
following the military coup against President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh
Abdallahi. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Shortly
afterwards the Global Fund suspended HIV/AIDS funding, $15 million over five
years which was granted in 2006, following suspected irregularities in grant
management. An audit in September 2009 confirmed “embezzlement” had
occurred, which led the World Bank also to carry out an audit. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
accordance with the Global Fund’s terms for reinstating funding the new
government, named in September following June presidential elections, began
proceedings against four SENLS members suspected of being involved in the
embezzlement. The State has also promised to return $1.7 million to the Global
Fund and to provide supporting documents on the use of a further $2 million.
Finally, the government has also committed to re-structuring the CCM (Country
Coordinating Mechanism), the country’s Global Fund funding management
body; weakness of the CCM is seen as contributing to the problems. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Commitments
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
SENLS members recognize the problems that have occurred over the last few
months, they are convinced that the new government is keen to resolve the
situation as quickly as possible. "The State has made a strong commitment
to clearing up the situation. We asked the state general inspectorate to carry
out audits and they are now underway,” Ahmed Aida, the recently appointed
interim SENLS national executive secretary, 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'>"Corrective
measures have been taken to ensure things go smoothly in the future. We need
[partners] to join us,” he urged.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
the meantime SENLS wants to ensure that medical care and support issues are
addressed. "The government is willing to take responsibility for
treatment,” Aida said. In theory, access to treatment is safeguarded under
a law introduced in 2007. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 Fund have said they are aware of the government’s commitment and
will do all they can to limit the impact the suspension has on people living
with HIV. "We are 100 percent committed not to break up treatments and we
will do whatever we can … to continue the grant,” Jon Lidén, Head
of Communications at the Global Fund in Geneva, 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'>"There
is a difficult situation [because of] corruption… but the Global Fund is
very committed to continue working in the long term to re-establish a way to
deliver services in a safe and predictable way, and to expand them as
planned,” he added. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
World Bank reaffirmed it is keen to clear up the situation as quickly as
possible, but also that they are available to help people living with HIV
overcome this crisis. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 aware of the urgent nature of the situation and we continue to look after
the sick,” François Rantrua, World Bank representative in Mauritania,
told IRIN/PlusNews. In terms of care and support for new patients, "we are
well on our way to finding a very short-term funding solution,” he added.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
Global Fund-financed HIV/AIDS programmes have been suspended this has not
affected patients who were already on ARVs before the irregularities were discovered
– just over 1,000 people have continued to receive their medication; but
it has not been possible to add any new patients (totalling around 40 people a
month) to the treatment 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'>And
other activities in the fight against AIDS funded as part of these programmes
have also come to a standstill, such as prevention activities and support
(psychological, socio-economic) for people living 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'>"We
are not against [donors] checking [the accounts] because this will make our
lives more secure", said Ball. "But what is affecting us is that
things stopped so suddenly. If we had had some warning we would have been able
to mobilize to find other solutions. We are already suffering due to AIDS; we
don’t want to be victims of procedures too.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>More Kayayei embrace HIV/AIDS education <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></a></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'>Ghana News Agency</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 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'>Accra,
Nov. 5, GNA - The education on the prevention of HIV and AIDS seems to be going
down with Ghanaians and people are now being more careful of their lifestyles.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Basic
information about the A, B and C (Abstinence, Be faithful and use a Condom) has
become a household word and Kayayee (women porters) who have been described as
vulnerable, are using these three alphabets as their guiding principles.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) exercise conducted for 150 kayayei from
Agbobloshie and Mallam Atta markets had all of them testing negative.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
test, which was conducted three consecutive times just to be sure of the
results, was done by Society for Women against AIDS in Africa (SWAA) in
collaboration with the Ministry of Health and supported by the 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'>The
VCT was a follow-up of training of 50 Kayayei selected from the two markets in
Accra early this year where they were trained as peer educators on HIV and AIDS
and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) issues among their peers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
training formed part of UN reform focusing on division of labour in relation to
HIV and AIDS, which focused more on prevention intervention, targeting young
people, women and vulnerable groups.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Speaking
to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview Mrs Cecelia Lodonu-Sam,
Executive Director of SWAA, said her outfit would engage the kayayei in
intensive education that will let them remain HIV negative.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
explained that the aim of the collaboration was to build the capacity of the
kayayei in reproductive rights to enable them to make health decisions and have
negotiation skills.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>"People
have always underestimated these kayayei and we consider them as very vulnerable
and they have proved us wrong. With a little push in education and support,
they could also make it in life and rub shoulders with their colleagues in the
formal sector."<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
said kayayei, though vulnerable, were able to control themselves because of
their cultural belief about incriminate sex, fear of unfortunate things
happening to them or incurring the wrath of their ancestors and gods. They
would therefore rather keep to themselves and have their blessings.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>As
part of the efforts to improve their economic status, 20 condom outlets have
been opened in the two market centres and are being operated by the kayayei.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Mrs
Loddonu-Sam said the project of the training and equipping the kayayei with
economic skills would be extended to the men porters who had complained that
they had been left out of the training which they had seen to be very useful.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
appealed to other stakeholders to help assist in training and equipping the
women and men porters with requisite skills that would improve their economic
status and social lifestyles.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Ms
Esi Awotwi, HIV and AIDS Programme Officer of UNFPA, expressed UNFPA's
excitement about the negative reports of the VCT conducted on the kayayei and
pledged continuous support in intensifying the peer-to-peer education to
further reduce the spread of 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'>She
supported the idea of bringing on board the men porters saying this "will
enable them to appreciate gender role, sexual reproductive health rights and
HIV and AIDS and also empowerment of women".<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Ms
Awotwi bemoaned the notion that kayayei had been neglected and were not being
involved in any activity that would bring them development and improve their
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 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
said the training was also aimed at strengthening the legal literacy campaign,
counselling and testing on the pandemic as well as human rights violations and
how to deal with such situations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
kayayei were taken through the concept of peer education, human anatomy and
physiology, pregnancy and child bearing, abortion, sexually transmitted
infections, SRH rights, basic facts about HIV and AIDS, stigma and
discrimination, condom use and demonstration, facilitation skills, care and
support prevention, gender based violence and 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=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
were also taught personal hygiene, communication skills, record keeping and
prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV 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'>Ms
Mariama Sulley, a leader of the kayayei at the Mallam Atta market, commended
UNFPA and SWAA for empowering them with knowledge and information on HIV and
AIDS as well as other reproductive health 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'>"We
now feel part and parcel of society and we are contributing our quota to the
development of the nation by serving as agents of change," 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'>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 that as peer educator, she had been able to influence the lives of many
of her colleagues and expressed her happiness that the HIV testing conducted on
them proved negative.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>"Empowering
us with this useful information and skills would help us to manage our lives
well and lead meaningful lives so that we can also in a way contribute our
quota to national 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'>Mr
Mohammed Salifu a youth leader pleaded with government to reconsider the plans
of evacuating them from their present place of abode.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>©2006
Ghana News Agency. All rights reserved<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>5<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Pado Educate Students On
HIV/Aids, Child Rights</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Concord Times, Sierra Leone</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="#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'>Mohamed
L Bangura<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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:City w:st="on"><span
class=TNNormalText><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Freetown</span></font></span></st1:City><span
class=TNNormalText><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> — A community based organization, peacock farm
awareness and development organization in collaboration with goal <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sierra Leone</st1:country-region></st1:place>
has ended a quiz competition and sensitization forum for over ten schools.<o: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 main
purpose of organizing the programme was to educate the pupils to help fight
against HIV/AIDS, malaria and the rights of the child.<o: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 programme
attracted many stakeholders including teachers, community members in the east
end part of the city.<o: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
representative from goal <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sierra
Leone</st1:country-region></st1:place>, Kadiatu Koroma said her organization
always give their support to community base organizations to capacitate
children.<o: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 quiz
competition involved primary schools like Evangelical primary school, Kulafia
Rashideen primary school, Koya town community school, Winners school of
prosperity and the Baptist primary school.<o: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'>Coordinator
of the program, Ishmael Koroma said the quiz and sensitization forum was a
demonstration of development in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Wellington</st1:City></st1:place>
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 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'>"It
helps to capacitate the pupils in the area of healthcare in the community. We
have done more sensitization and debates in the community," 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 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 best
quizzers of the competition go to Sheiku Gbla of Fatibo secondary and Momodu
Kamara of Olivet primary school.<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: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'>=======================<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'>Cambodia aims to raise
AIDS/HIV awareness among drivers</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Channel News Asia</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'>06/11/2009<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
Wang Eng Eng<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>PHNOM
PENH: Cambodia's battle against AIDS and HIV infection has hit the road. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>From
this year, new drivers will have to learn more than just how to handle a
vehicle; they will also be quizzed on their knowledge of AIDS/HIV infection. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
year, we have more than 20,000 people who want to get a driver's licence. So
during the examination, we'll put 12 questions on HIV prevention," said
Lim Sidenine, director of Planning and Admin General Department, Ministry of Public
Works & Transport, Cambodia. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Questions
include how AIDS/HIV infection is transmitted and how to protect oneself
against 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'>The
Ministry of Public Works & Transport is also taking the lead in educating
truck and lorry drivers, as this group is considered at greater risk of
AIDS/HIV infection. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Truck
and lorry drivers play a key role in Cambodia's infrastructure growth as they
transport building materials across the 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'>However,
most of the infrastructure and road improvement projects are concentrated in
towns with a high prevalence of AIDS/HIV infection such as Poipet, which is at
the Thai-Cambodia border. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Cambodia's
HIV infection rate has fallen in recent years from 0.9 per cent in 2006 to 0.7
per cent in 2008 - mostly due to government efforts to promote condom use in
brothels. - CNA /ls<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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=AsiaPacific2><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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Bar owners get HIV/AIDS
training</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Phnom Pehn Post</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'>06/11/2009<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'>Kim
Yuthana<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
200 entertainment venue owners and local officials throughout Phnom Penh
participated in a meeting about HIV/AIDS prevention on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Organised
by Population Service International (PSI) and the Phnom Penh Municipal Health
Department, the meeting aimed to empower individuals in preventing an HIV/AIDS
epidemic in their 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'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Nuth
Sokhom, director of the National AIDS Authority (NAA), urged bar and club
owners to distribute condoms to customers at their venues. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
meeting is very important because it could help reduce HIV/AIDS,” 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'>Nou
Savann, a communications manager for PSI, said it was the first time that
people from the entertainment industry had participated in such an event. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
estimated that about 99 percent of men who would like to have sex with women in
entertainment venues use condoms, but that only 82 percent of them know how to
use condoms properly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>‘Three lakh HIV
victims in India to be treated</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Express News Service, India</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'>06/11/2009<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'>BANGALORE:
Only about 75,000 out of the one lakh people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the
state are registered and are receiving the Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART).
Highlighting the importance of care for PLHIV, a two-day convention on
“Convergence for HIV Care”—A National Best Practice Workshop,
organised by Snehadaan, a city-based NGO working for PLHIV, was inaugurated
here on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Dr
Bachani, deputy director, National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) gave a
clarion call for a sustainable common minimum programme for care and support
for PLHIV which can be implemented across the 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'>“At
present, 2.70 lakh PLHIV are on ART in the country. This number is expected to
touch 3 lakh and we would achieve the target set for March 2012 by March 2010.
Global Fund is ready to continue the support with grants for the next six
years,” 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'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>RR
Jannu, project director, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society said,
“In Karnataka, the goal is to achieve comprehensive, competent and
compassionate care for all people living with HIV and their affected families.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
is being done through 34 ART centres, 565 Integrated Counselling and Testing
Centres (ICTC) and 36 Community Care Centres (CCC) spread across the
state.” Poster exhibitions depicting success stories of care centres and
ART centres, satellite skill-building workshops addressing themes such as
encouraging positive speakers, prevention of infection, reduction of stigma and
discrimination in health care settings are being held across the 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'><a
href="mailto:feedback@epmltd.com"><font face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'>feedback@epmltd.com</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=1 color=black
face=Verdana><span lang=PT-BR 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='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'>Commission strategy for
combating HIV/AIDS in the EU and neighbouring countries 2009-2013</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>European Public Health
Alliance</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'>The
European Commission has been involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the EU
and neighbouring countries since 2005, the date of the adoption of its first
strategy. In October 2009, the Commission renewed its efforts by adopting a
strategy for the period 2009-2013.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The number of
people living with HIV/AIDS in the EU has increased over the past years and
today affects approximately 730 000 people. HIV does not follow a single model,
there is disparities between the cases and different modes of transmission.<o: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 new
strategy tackles these differences by concentrating on three key areas : HIV
prevention and testing, priority groups most at risk and priority regions.<o: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'>Of particular
concern is the high number of persons who are not aware of their infection :
about 30% of people in the EU and up to 70% of people in neighbouring
countries. These late diagnoses usually lead to late treatments with less
chances of success, which increases the need for a coordinated approach at the
European 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'>HIV
infections rising in neighbouring countries Concerning priority regions, HIV
infections are particularly high in the neighbouring countries of the <st1:place
w:st="on">Union</st1:place> which reinforces the need for exchange of
knowledge, good practices on prevention, testing, treatment and care between
countries. Such a good cooperation should reduce new infections and improve the
life of people living with HIV/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 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 regards to
priority groups, the biggest impact on the epidemic could be achieved if the
situation of the most at-risk populations is efficiently addressed. Depending
on the country, it can be men having sex with men, migrants or injecting
drug-users. In order to contain the epidemic in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>
and beyond, a strategy needs to reach these groups.<o: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'>Based on
three key issues, the overall objectives of the 2009-2013 strategy are to
reduce new HIV infections across all European countries by 2013, to improve
access to prevention, treatment, care and support, and finally to improve the
quality of life of people living with, affected by or most vulnerable to
HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighbouring countries.<o: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'>For more
information :<o: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'> Commission’s
press release <o: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'> EATG press
release<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>A Response to 'Experts want
African aid funds channelled away from HIV'</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><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'>Letter)</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Alan Whiteside.com</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'>Blog<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Dear
Editor,<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
Sunday you published an article headed ‘Experts want African aid funds
channeled away from HIV’. The story bears little resemblance to the
title, which is sensational and certainly does not reflect my views.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 an estimated 33 million people living with HIV across the world and numbers
are rising. Only 30 percent of people needing treatment have access to drugs.
It is misleading at best and thoroughly dangerous at worst to publish such bold
headlines that I, nor the majority of those working in this field ascribe to.
In the article itself, I state that AIDS spending is vital ‘for those
already on or requiring treatment.’<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
unmet health needs for those in the developing world, be it for malaria,
diarrhea or AIDS highlight the importance of and obligation to greater funding.
It is not HIV/AIDS funding that is the problem but rather that funding for
global health is wholly insufficient. A recent conference on ‘Global
Responsibilities for Global Health Rights’ in Brussels stressed the
failings of donor countries in fulfilling their aid pledges. If only 0.7% of
the gross domestic product of developed countries was committed and 15% of this
used for health, then $38 billion would be raised instantly. This would go a
long way to reaching the Millennium Development Goals.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Corruption
is a problem. But can we promise if funds for HIV were reallocated that this
would still not be the case? I believe the big capital projects and arms deals
attract greater corruption. Rather than focusing on this as an excuse for
truncating AIDS funding, the inefficiencies both in recipient and donor
governments, should be explored.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Global
health is critical. Prevention is critical. I do not regard one above the
other. Neglect of funding and health has created the conditions where children
are dying unnecessarily. AIDS activists held governments to account, and
considerable sums of money to AIDS and health more broadly. Their ingenuity,
innovation and tenacity should be replicated for better health for all.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Your
sincerely<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Alan
Whiteside<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>©
2009 ALAN WHITESIDE<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><b><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>The Observer article full-text:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/25/aids-hiv-africa-aid-scientists<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Europe urged to fund more
tuberculosis research</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>The Lancet, 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'>07/11/2009<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'>Volume
374, Issue 9701, Page 1584<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Kelly
Morris<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
European nations are failing to contribute their fair share of funding for
tuberculosis research and drug development, according to a new report. Kelly
Morris investigates.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>European
nations are being urged to commit more funds to tuberculosis research and drug
development following an analysis which highlighted the region's poor
contributions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) found that all European countries,
except Sweden, “have failed to prioritise” tuberculosis,
contributing to a “huge global underfunding” for the disease.
Overall, the European contribution is estimated at about a third of its fair
share—the proportion of the total financial need relative to gross
income—whereas the USA contributes two-thirds of its fair share.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
report examined public funding through grants to individuals, institutions, and
organisations such as the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB
Alliance). Indirect funding of European Commission research—which
includes projects to develop a tuberculosis vaccine and rapid point-of-care
diagnostics to detect resistance—was also included.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
analysis showed that France and the UK each invest around half of their
calculated fair share, whereas Germany and Italy contribute only 23% and 11%,
respectively.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>MSF
is “focusing on tuberculosis because we have a special operational need
and because the disease burden is large”, the report's co-author Oliver
Moldenhauer told The Lancet. MSF treats about 30 000 people with tuberculosis
per year and the number of patients with resistant disease has increased.
Christophe Fournier, president of MSF International, told a symposium to launch
the report that the organisation is “facing up to the hard facts that we
can't treat tuberculosis properly with the drugs and diagnostics at our
disposal and that means losing significant numbers of patients”.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 investment needed to fully scale up research and development of new
tuberculosis tools is estimated as at least €1·45 billion, but only
around €350 million is currently invested—a global deficit of 75%.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Compared
with some other infectious diseases, tuberculosis presents additional
challenges to the development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics, acknowledges
Moldenhauer. But “progress has been made on other complex diseases when
they are profitable”, he notes. Since tuberculosis research has only just
restarted after decades of neglect, all available compound libraries should be
tested for anti-tuberculosis action, representing “low-lying fruit”
for the pharmaceutical industry, 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=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'>MSF
is also drawing attention to two innovative funding mechanisms to advance
research. One is increased investment in product development partnerships, such
as the TB Alliance, to encourage new drug development and trials. The TB
Alliance has several new compounds in the pipeline that are set to enter into
expensive clinical trials in the coming years. The other proposal is a prize
fund to stimulate research on new point-of-care diagnostics. An ideal
development would be a test suitable for field use that does not depend on
sputum. There is also the promising technology already developed by the US
military to detect other pathogens that have the potential to rapidly and
simply diagnose patients with tuberculosis and drug resistance based on DNA
detection, explains Moldenhauer. Sputum microscopy currently detects only about
half of tuberculosis cases, and is more ineffective in people with HIV/AIDS and
in children. MSF estimates that a prize of €50 million would be a
sufficient incentive for companies, and adds a pull incentive to other
financing mechanisms.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>MSF
will continue to follow progress on the issue, and Moldenhauer is hoping that
the Swedish European Union Presidency and the change of German Government will
bring new action for tuberculosis funding.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
we ask the question are we doing everything we can, clearly the answer in
Europe is no”, says Nils Billo, executive director of International Union
Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases. “Changing the current reality
will take political commitment for sustaining funding over many years. Europe
needs to prioritise tuberculosis.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>4</span></font></b></a><font size=1
color=white face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;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'>The NS Interview:
Linda-Gail Bekker</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>New Statesman, 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'>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'>Sophie
Elmhirst<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Your work
focuses on HIV and tuberculosis. What does that involve? What's the plan?<o: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'>Here in <st1:place
w:st="on">Southern Africa</st1:place>, children are getting TB in huge numbers.
They don't get the disease immediately, but they become infected. When you
superimpose the HIV epidemic on top of that, you speed up the progress of the
illness - so the TB infection becomes TB disease in young adulthood because of
their immune deficiency. We have to think of TB and HIV together almost as a
new disease. That requires us to go back to fundamentals, but also to think
outside the box. What will be the new interventions? What else could we be
doing?<o: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 drew you
to work in the field?<o: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'>I was born in
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:country-region>, and came to UCT
[the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>] to do my
medicine degree. It was the late 1980s and the HIV epidemic was just breaking
for us. I remember a strong sense of frustration, anxiety, impotence - I didn't
fully understand what was going on and wanted to know more. I went on to do my PhD
in host immunology, which I am still fascinated by. But as time has gone on,
I've been drawn to the hands-on side of things. I'm really a closet social
worker these days.<o: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'>Are you
engaged in the politics of <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'>Well, I think
we are activists at heart simply because, again, you can't work in this field
and not be politically aware. We work hard to change policy, but through
evidence. And that's a slow and often arduous process.<o: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'>Do you
personally feel political? Do you vote?<o: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'>Oh, yes. I
came from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Zimbabwe</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
perhaps politically quite naive, to UCT, which was a very liberal university in
those days. I had quite a political awakening as a result of that.<o: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 what 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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I came to
university in the 1980s, an incredibly volatile time in SA's history. And the
1990s was the most extraordinarily liberating period. That initial starry-eyed,
honeymoon phase is a little bit over. We really need to roll up our sleeves and
say: "What are the issues at hand?"<o: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'>Do you think
there's been a lack of political leadership in <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'>Yes. Civil
society became the leaders: we have had to take on the government on some
occasions. On other occasions we've taken on the pharmaceutical companies with
the government. SA has huge challenges still - some days you kind of recognise
that it's a big job, and how ever are we going to meet all the challenges? But
the little triumphs along the way do count. I think we are making progress.<o: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'>You've just
won the Royal Society Pfizer Award for your research into HIV and tuberculosis.
What does the prize mean to you?<o: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'>I'm
overwhelmed. I think one of the aspects of working in this part of the world is
that you get on with the job, you get lost in the day-to-day work. So when
somebody stops and acknowledges you, it's a very pleasant surprise.<o: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'>It's said you
marry science and humanity.<o: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'>HIV and TB
are just so much a part of our lives. A good part of our workforce lives openly
with HIV. I have had TB and had to take treatment. <o: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'>It really is
very tangible for us: you're dealing with it not only at work, but in everyday
life.<o: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'>How do you
balance your work with the rest of your life?<o: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'>I married
someone in exactly the same field. He's the director of the HIV centre at UCT
and I'm deputy director, and we run the foundation together, so a lot of our work
comes home. But we have a great work team who can be relied upon. We have two
grown-up children and a seven-year-old, Oliver, who started life with an
embryonic carcinoma, so the first three years of his life we camped at the Red
Cross children's hospital because he needed chemotherapy. Once you've got
beyond that, you pretty much feel you could cope with most things!<o: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'>Is there
anything you regret?<o: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'>I've loved
being a mother. I could have quite enjoyed another child. But no, I don't think
I have any regrets at all. The only thing is that I would have done more of
everything.<o: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'>Would you
ever like to live anywhere else?<o: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'>I'm
inherently an African: I'm fourth-generation. It's hard for me to think of
living anywhere other than <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>. Certainly,
the work I do seems most relevant here. I lived for some time in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">New York</st1:State></st1:place> and I loved it.
But what makes me want to stay here for the moment is just the relevance. I'm a
hands-on person. I like to engage with the community, with the staff. I think
that's where my talent is.<o: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'>Are we all
doomed?<o: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'>I don't think
so, but I can see why you would ask. When you look at TB-HIV figures you wonder
what the next terrible virus or pathogen is that's waiting around the corner.
But the thing that strikes me daily is the resilience of humanity. Human beings
find a 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 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'>Linda-Gail
Bekker is deputy director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Cape Town</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> and chief operating officer of
the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation.<o: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'>Read a longer
version of the interview.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>5<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Concerns raised over HIV
treatment</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>The Irish Times<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'>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'>KITTY
HOLLAND<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Poor
availability in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> of a
medical treatment which can prevent HIV infection after a person has been
potentially been exposed to the virus was an area of "major concern and
dissatisfaction", a conference in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Dublin</st1:City></st1:place>
heard today.<o: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'>Addressing
the 8th Nordic HIV conference, Maeve Foreman of the <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Social Work</st1:PlaceName> and Social Policy at <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Trinity</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> presented findings from a
landmark study of Irish 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 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 study
relied on detailed questionnaires filled in by about 20 per cent of the HIV
positive population attending the five major HIV clinics in the State. <o: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'>"Overall
the majority of people lauded the support and care they got from
services," said Ms Foreman. <o: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'>"Several
areas of dissatisfaction were highlighted, first and foremost of which was
inadequate information on the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis
(PEPs),” 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 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 fact
it is very worrying that that so few are aware of PEPs when it should be so
much part of stopping the spread of 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 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'>PEP is a
short-term antiretroviral treatment which reduces the likelihood of HIV
infection after potential exposure, either occupationally or through sexual
intercourse. It is most effective when started within hours of the potential
exposure, and treatment is given over the course of about a month. <o: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'>Ms Foreman
said it was generally not available from GPs, that it should be available at
all A&Es but many had to wait until they got to a HIV clinic to get
treatment. "Many people simply don't know about it though and that is
worrying." <o: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 lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Conference
chairwoman Mary O'Shea said there was a perception HIV was not longer being
transmitted. However, infection rates were increasing, by 3.6 per cent last
year when 405 new cases were confirmed, as compared with 2007. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>"HIV
and AIDS need to remain on the agenda. It is still infecting people and the
highest number of new infections are among heterosexuals." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
said discrimination against sufferers persisted and called for the initiation
of a national sexual health strategy "if we are serious about addressing
issues of HIV and sexual health in Ireland". <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
Mary McAleese, who delivered the key-note address, said the positive progress
in treating HIV gave rise to a risk of complacency about the virus. She too
mentioned "rising infection rates 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'>©
2009 irishtimes.com<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=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'><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><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'>========================<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'>Local artistes partake in
HIV/AIDS testing</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'><br>
</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;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'>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'>As
the National Week of Testing approaches, the Ministry of Health in
collaboration with the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) has got on
board a number of local artistes to participate and be tested for HIV/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'>Playing
their role in society yesterday was Melissa Roberts (Vanilla), Michelle King
(Big Red), Adrian Dutchin, Roger Hinds (Young Bill Rogers), Jessica Xavier,
Desiree Edghill, Wilbur Levans (Lil Man) and Tenneisha, all of whom took an
HIV/AIDS test at the NAPS building.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>All
of these artistes shared the view that by their participation in the event,
young people will be motivated to get tested and to know their status.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
Manager of NAPS, Dr. Shanti Singh, explained that the secretariat has
recognised the influence and power that artistes have on their supporters and
the fan base, as many persons, especially youths, look up to them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 Dr. Singh, the fact that the artistes are testing for HIV should be
testimony to the importance for every Guyanese to know their status. She added
that the entertainment industry is an influential factor to young people in
risk taking.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“Your
presence here demonstrates that we can all have a good time together but in a
safe way,” Dr. Singh 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'>National
Week of Testing will commence from November 14, 2009 and will be held under the
theme, “take action; take the test.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Delivering
remarks on behalf of Kross Kolor Records was Adrian Dutchin who noted that the
recording company recognises how important the event is and what it would mean
for 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=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dutchin
committed that the company will definitely be on board to support anything that
has to do with helping young people and the world, tantamount to the fact that
HIV is something that is definitely affecting 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'>The
entertainer also explained that there is this growing trend where men are
afraid to get tested. In this regard, he urged for this to be changed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“So
fellas, Adrian Dutchin and the entire Kross Kolor Crew is saying to come out
get tested, because it is important to know your status,” Dutchin
advised.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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,
Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy who was also tested yesterday
reiterated that artistes have huge influence in any country and as such thy
have an important role to play in society.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
all talk about everybody has a role and some of us have greater roles to play
and unfortunately you carry a burden, which is not to only entertain people but
because of the following you have among the population. I think you have a
responsibility…it might be an unfair responsibility but you chose that
responsibility when you chose to be an entertainer,” Dr. Ramsammy told
the artistes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
also lauded Artistes in Direct Support for the work being done in promoting
information about the virus. According to the Health Minister, Artistes in
Direct Support is one of the best-known organisations in Guyana in its fight
against HIV/AIDS as it is one of the best Non Governmental Organisation and
Civil Society Organisation not only in Guyana but also in the Caribbean.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dr.
Ramsammy also explained that over the years the Health Ministry has made
tremendous improvement in effectively tackling 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'>For
the National Week of Testing, the Health Ministry has established an ambitious
target of reaching out to 20,000 persons to be tested for HIV/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'>To
facilitate countrywide testing, a total of 310 testing sites have been
established across the country. These sites are appropriate for testing, as
there are guaranteed confidentiality and has been certified by the 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'>Some
news sites established for this year includes the City Mall, all of the outlets
of Scotia Bank and of Republic Bank.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold'>2<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Por cada dos hombres con
VIH ya hay una mujer infectada en Colombia, revelan la ONU y Minprotección</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>El Tiempo, Colombia</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'>El
proceso en el país, y en vastas regiones del planeta, se ha dado en forma tan
rápida que expertos lo llaman la feminización del sida. Violencia y machismo,
entre los responsables de ese situación. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Hace
dos décadas, por cada 13 hombres infectados con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana
(VIH), que causa el sida, había una mujer afectada. Hoy, esa relación es de dos
hombres por cada colombiana. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
Fondo de Población de las Naciones Unidas y el Ministerio de la Protección
Social llevaron a cabo dos estudios (uno cualitativo, entre población femenina
en general, y el otro cuantitativo, entre trabajadoras sexuales), para
establecer cuáles son las condiciones que hacen más vulnerables a las
colombianas frente a esta enfermedad.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
acuerdo con Martha Lucía Rubio, asesora en VIH sida del Fondo, la principal
conclusión del primero de esos estudios (hecho con grupos focales en Bogotá,
Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali y Medellín) es que las mujeres están en un
altísimo grado de vulnerabilidad, porque no se protegen lo suficiente contra el
virus del 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'>A
partir del análisis de la información obtenida, los investigadores concluyeron
que, en buena medida, las causas se encuentran en una serie de condicionantes a
los que históricamente han estado expuestas las mujeres.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Entre
ellos se cuenta -dice Rubio- el hecho de que la sexualidad femenina siempre ha
estado bajo el control del grupo familiar, de la pareja y hasta de los
profesionales de la salud, a grado tal que ellas lo perciben como algo
natural".<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>'Las
mujeres que vivimos con VIH nos sentimos culpables'<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Me
llamo Ceci y cumplí 45 años. Estuve casada 26 años con Eduar, que fue mi
segundo novio. Empecé a tener relaciones sexuales con él porque me dijo que si
no lo hacía, me dejaba. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Con
mi primer embarazo tuve que dejar de estudiar y me fui a vivir con él. Eduar no
me respondía con lo del niño y me maltrataba. A los cuatro años de estar juntos
empezó a trabajar en bares y tuvo otra mujer. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Por
esa época me enfermé y me estaba desapareciendo. El médico me ordenó una prueba
del sida, pero la autorizaron a los seis meses. Ahí supe...<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Él
casi no se hace el examen, y la moza ahí. Me tocó contarles a mis hijos y a mi
familia. Así duramos varios años, pero la cachetada y el maltrato seguía. Mi
hijo se fue de la casa y yo me fui a vivir con mi familia.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"Creo
que las mujeres nos sentimos culpables, que si decimos que vivimos con VIH nos
van a tildar de trabajadoras sexuales y vamos a perder el respeto. Nos
encerramos porque nos sentimos culpables".<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>No
usan preservativo por ellos<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>También
se encontró que la infidelidad masculina sigue siendo un hecho recurrente y
tolerado cuando es con otras mujeres (no si es con hombres), "el problema
grave es que aquellas que son fieles a su pareja estable creen, erróneamente,
que no son vulnerables al VIH, tanto que la mayoría no contempla el uso del
condón con su compañero", señala el estudio.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Las
mujeres más jóvenes, vale decirlo, tienen una mayor aceptación del
preservativo, pero no lo usan cuando sus parejas dicen sentir incomodidad o
disminución del placer 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'>Como
en la mayoría de los casos estudiados predomina la dependencia económica
femenina; en cuanto a su sexualidad, su preocupación principal es evitar
embarazos: "La única información que muchas han recibido sobre prevención
de enfermedades de transmisión sexual y VIH ha sido durante controles del
embarazo", dice el estudio.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
general, señalan los investigadores, pese a las campañas de prevención, buena
parte de las mujeres incluidas en el estudio dijeron tener relaciones difíciles
con el personal de salud. La principal queja es la negligencia médica, la falta
de programas adecuados y la negación de las pruebas diagnósticas del VIH. Buena
parte de ellas considera que la distribución de anticonceptivos no es óptima.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Rubio
explicó que el propósito de los estudios era hacer un análisis de los contextos
socioculturales de mujeres de distintas condiciones, algunas de las cuales
viven con el virus del 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'>La
idea es incorporar estos factores, que las exponen más a adquirir este virus, a
las estrategias de promoción y prevención de la enfermedad.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
principal vía de infección con VIH en Colombia es la 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'>Desde
que la epidemia de sida empezó en Colombia a mediados de los años 80 se han
registrado, oficialmente, 64.729 casos de 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'>De
acuerdo con el Ministerio de la Protección Social, sólo durante el 2008 se
reportaron 4.250 casos. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Se
desconoce la forma en que las personas adquirieron el virus en 26.313 de los
casos. En cuanto a los 38.416 restantes, se identificó que el 96 por ciento de
las transmisiones ocurrió por vía sexual (el 62 por ciento de estas personas
eran heterosexuales; el resto, homosexuales o bisexuales).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Se
estima que 1.022 casos de infección ocurrieron por transmisión perinatal (de
madre a hijo); de las 131.273 embarazadas que el año pasado se sometieron al
examen del sida, 266 dieron positivo al VIH.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Se
tiene información de 227 nacidos vivos, de los cuales cuatro fueron
diagnosticados positivos. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
el mundo, de acuerdo con el último informe de Onusida, hay cerca de 33 millones
de infectados con VIH. El número de personas con acceso a tratamientos con
medicamentos antirretrovirales aumentó en un millón en todo el mundo, pero la
cantidad de nuevos infectados creció a un ritmo de casi 2,7 millones anuales.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>CARLOS
F. FERNÁNDEZ, SONIA PERILLA S.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
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'><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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Fondos destinados a
combatir sida podrían congelarse en 2010 </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'> <br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Prensa Latina, Cuba</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'>Johannesburgo,
5 nov (PL) Los fondos foráneos destinados a terapias de VIH seropositivos,
podrían congelarse en 2010, de acuerdo con una advertencia de una entidad
médica internacional difundida hoy en esta capital.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 informe de la organización Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF) denunció que sería
inaceptable la congelación de esos recursos, pues podrían socavarse los avances
en la reducción de la mortalidad en los enfermos de 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'>De
acuerdo con la misma institución, la lucha contra esa enfermedad sigue siendo
prioritaria y una señal de esto es que en Botswana 80 por ciento de los decesos
todavía se deben a su incidencia.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
extensión por el mundo de las terapias con antirretrovirales ha hecho
retroceder la mortalidad en varias regiones y también ostensible en el sur de
África.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
2007, Suráfrica disminuyó en 18 por ciento la cifra de fallecidos a causa del
VIH con el uso de antirretrovirales, logro sobresaliente pues se trata de una
de las naciones con mayor número de infectados.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
país como Lesoto depende totalmente de la ayuda y colaboración internacional
para aplicar los tratamientos.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 size=1
color=white face=Arial><span lang=FR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
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'>UCS desenvolve novo teste
de HIV</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Pioneiro-RS, Brazil</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'>Ministério
da Saúde usará kit em pesquisa nacional com mulheres a partir de janeiro <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
portaria 151 do Ministério da Saúde (MS) ratificou um trabalho do Laboratório
de Pesquisas em HIV/Aids (LPHA) da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS).
Publicada em 16 de outubro, ela autorizou testes para a detecção do vírus HIV
com sangue seco, usando a coleta com papel filtro, método pesquisado pela UCS
há três anos. Até então, o diagnóstico oficial era apenas dado por meio da
análise de sangue in natura coletado por seringa.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Além
de uma redução de 20% a 30% nos custos com material de coleta, a amostra de
sangue seco armazenada no papel filtro suporta até 12 semanas sem refrigeração,
podendo ser enviada pelos Correios para o laboratório. Assim, o MS poderá ampliar
o acesso aos testes a moradores de regiões distantes. Pelo método tradicional,
o sangue precisa ser refrigerado, e os exames têm de ser feitos em até duas
horas após a coleta.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>—
O Brasil é um país continental e muitas localidades não dispõem de laboratórios.
Com a validação dos testes em sangue seco, esse acesso fica garantido. Isso
possibilita que um ribeirinho do Amazonas também possa efetuar o teste —
exemplifica o médico, pesquisador e chefe do LPHA, Ricardo da Silva de Souza.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Para
confirmar a eficácia do diagnóstico com o papel filtro, o laboratório realizou
mais de 11 mil testes, que comparam o método novo ao antigo. Os resultados,
garante o pesquisador, sempre coincidiram. Outra vantagem da pesquisa caxiense,
aponta Souza, é a padronização:<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>—
Já existiam outros estudos, mas conseguimos obter uma padronização de exames
que facilitará o uso em todo o país.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>O
método de coleta é considerado bastante simples e é semelhante ao do teste do
pezinho, usado para a detecção de doenças metabólicas, genéticas e infecciosas
em recém-nascidos. São necessárias apenas algumas gotas de sangue para umedecer
o papel. O LPHA criou um kit com papel filtro, lanceta (espécie de agulha
retrátil para perfurar o dedo), sachê de lenço com álcool, envelope em papel
alumínio para preservar a amostra e envelope de carta-resposta (gratuita para
quem responde).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Os
novos testes rápidos começarão a ser usados pelo Ministério no projeto
Sentinela, envolvendo 44 mil mulheres do país, a partir de janeiro de 2010.
Conforme o método passar a ficar conhecido, a expectativa é que ele seja usado
por gestores da saúde em Estados e municípios.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></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'><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'>Slowed funding threatens
AIDS fight, group says</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>Washington Post</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'>06/11/2009<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
Karin Brulliard, Washington Post Foreign 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=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>JOHANNESBURG
-- Slowed funding from international donors, including the United States, is
imperiling recent dramatic gains in treating AIDS patients in the developing
world, according to a new report. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Billions
of aid dollars channeled toward the epidemic in the past decade have helped
provide life-prolonging drugs to more than 4 million people, but the rate of
infection still outpaces that of treatment. Now the global economic crisis and
other factors are causing financial support to taper, undermining progress in
nations such as Uganda, where some clinics are refusing new patients or
accepting them only after a current patient dies, according to the report by
Doctors Without Borders. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Those
are early signs of the manifestation of a dilemma some public health experts
warned about after President George W. Bush launched a multibillion-dollar U.S.
AIDS fund that now pays for the treatment of more than 2 million people.
Because the medication must be taken for life, some said, the United States was
essentially committing to fund treatment indefinitely -- and had a moral duty
to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
after years of expansion, funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief, or PEPFAR, has leveled off, and less of its budget is dedicated to
treatment, according to the report. President Obama, during last year's
campaign, promised to increase funding, but it has remained about level since
he took office. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
donors, I think, are getting cold feet about committing to a long-term, chronic
disease," Tido von Schoen-Angerer, director of Doctors Without Borders'
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, told reporters Thursday.
"Lives are in the balance as donors are backtracking on funding
commitments." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Cuts
are also threatening the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,
which distributes nearly a quarter of all HIV/AIDS donor money, according to
the report. But shortfalls have caused the fund, whose main contributors are
the United States and European countries, to cut approved grants by 10 percent
and to consider canceling a 2010 funding round, the report 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'>Though
the global funding retreat has not yet resulted in major cuts to AIDS
treatment, it is threatening its growth, or "scale-up," said
officials with Doctors Without Borders. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Continued
expansion is key to fulfilling a pledge by the world's wealthiest nations to
provide "universal access" to antiretroviral medication -- defined as
treating 80 percent of the population. About 6 million people worldwide, the
vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa, still lack access to the drugs. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>U.S.
officials have said that they remain committed to PEPFAR but that a tightened
economic climate necessitates sustaining, not growing, programs. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
landscape around us is changing, with the need to balance a broad portfolio of
global challenges at a time of financial crisis," Eric Goosby, the U.S.
global AIDS coordinator, wrote in an August letter to American ambassadors.
"As a result, we need to plan for the next stage of PEPFAR's development
in this context and cannot assume the dramatic funding growth of PEPFAR's early
years will be repeated." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Though
they acknowledged that the economic crisis had shrunk donor budgets, officials
with Doctors Without Borders asserted that "political" motivations
were also driving funding withdrawals. They criticized intensifying claims by
some public health researchers that a disproportionate amount of global health
funding goes to AIDS programs at the expense of cheaper treatments for more
deadly illnesses such as diarrhea. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
recent study published in the Lancet medical journal found that 23 percent of
global health funding in developing countries has gone to fight AIDS, while
programs to tackle tuberculosis and malaria -- which together kill more people
-- have received one-third as much. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
announcing a $63 billion, six-year "global health initiative" this
year, Obama seemed to acknowledge that assessment, pledging to broaden the U.S.
approach to global health by focusing on tropical diseases and other
preventable illnesses, in addition to 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'>"Some
policymakers say AIDS is expensive, we should focus on cheap and easy
things," von Schoen-Angerer said. "This cannot be an either-or game.
. . . It's not that HIV is overfunded. Global health is underfunded." <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Research Shows
Neighborhoods Where AIDS Treatments Lag</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>New York Times</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'>By
CAROL POGASH<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
map of San Francisco in the city’s health department is bathed in shades
of blue. The color, usually associated with the city’s liberal politics,
has a different import on the map. A light shade covers most neighborhoods. A
slightly darker one covers the Castro, the center of the city’s gay
culture.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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,
like an elongated, bearded profile, a dark stain covers Potrero Hill and
Bayview. It shows where the sickest AIDS patients live. Many are untreated. The
map is the product of a groundbreaking effort to identify where care should be
focused. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 combines medical records and epidemiological tools to show the
intensity of the illness, measured by individual’s viral load, the number
of viral particles in a patient’s bloodstream. The ultimate goal is to
provide treatment and stop transmission of 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'>Using
the data of individuals’ viral load levels, the city can track where the
virus is circulating and focus attention on the deepest reservoirs of H.I.V.
Successful anti-retroviral treatment reduces the load in an individual so it is
undetectable in the blood. The less virus in the blood, the lower the chance of
infecting others.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Dr.
Grant Colfax, director of H.I.V. prevention and research in the Public Health
Department, calls San Francisco’s mapping of the viral loads measured
from 2005 through 2007 “a thermometer.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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’re
taking an individual marker and making it a marker for community health,”
Dr. Colfax 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'>Other
communities have mapped the presence of H.I.V., but those have been basic
efforts: counting the number of H.I.V./AIDS cases in a geographical area. In
effect, those efforts show the surface of the water; the new effort shows the
water’s depth. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>“H.I.V.
is fully treatable and preventable,” said Dr. Julio Montaner, president
of the International AIDS Society and head of the division of AIDS at the
University of British Columbia. “We have not been able to fully control
H.I.V. in developed areas of the world to the extent our knowledge would
allow.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
hot spots are perpetuating themselves,” Dr. Montaner said,
“increasing infection in marginalized communities. This is unacceptable.
As long as we don’t deal with that problem, the reservoir of H.I.V. will
ensure that we’re promoting the continued spread of H.I.V. in
perpetuity.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>San
Francisco’s approach, he said, is important because “you can
identify hot spots where, in all likelihood, most transmission is
occurring.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Dr.
Colfax worries about disparities both in viral load and in care. The Castro,
for example, has more H.I.V. cases, but individuals in lower-income
neighborhoods tend to have higher viral loads, the new research shows.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>San
Francisco has more than 15,000 reported cases of H.I.V./AIDS. Those numbers
continue to rise. The new findings show that the sickest individuals tend to be
African-American, homeless and transgender. The viral loads of
African-Americans are about one-third higher than that of Latinos or whites. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 biggest tragedies is our failure to really deal with this in the
African-American community,” said Dr. Paul Volberding, a professor and
vice chairman of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco
Medical School, who treated patients before the disease even had a name.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
results of the mapping were not surprising to James Loyce, executive director
of Black Coalition on AIDS in San Francisco. “This scientific evidence
supports the community’s notion,” Mr. Loyce 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'>Historically,
he said, sections like Potrero Hill have felt “benign neglect,”
suspecting that services were geared to the Castro, where more H.I.V.-infected
people in the city live. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Mr.
Loyce said, “There is no sound-bite answer.” The sickest people of
color, he said, have many issues: violence, heart disease, diabetes, obesity
and the preceived stigma of homosexuality.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
not that it isn’t there,” Mr. Loyce said, “but the belief
system is that it isn’t. On Third Street, if you approach young brothers
to talk about H.I.V., it will be a short conversation.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
the early years of the epidemic, H.I.V./AIDS was tracked by the number of
monthly deaths. With effective medicines, it became a chronic disease. And as
diagnostic tools improved and fear of the illness dissipated, it was easier to
track patients’ health. H.I.V. patients’ viral load numbers are
reported to the state, but until now no one had tracked communal viral load. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
mapping in San Francisco is “ the next step in tracking the
epidemic,” said Michael Cloutier, chief executive of the San Francisco
AIDS Foundation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Dr.
Colfax, the city’s senior investigator, agreed, saying: “If any
place is able to reduce infections by treating people effectively, San Francisco
should have the best chance. We’re hoping it will be a model.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Others
are paying attention. Commending San Francisco for its “novel
approach,” Dr. Irene Hall, the chief of H.I.V. surveillance for the
federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said via e-mail that the
agency was considering expanding viral-load mapping nationwide.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Dr.
Moupali Das-Douglas, the lead investigator on the mapping project, said:
“If you’re monitoring the epidemic by just following the number of
cases there are, you haven’t prevented new cases. If you have a marker
upstream that may predict new cases, you can know where to target your services
to prevent transmission.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Michael
Petrelis, an AIDS blogger and self-proclaimed provocateur, said,
“It’s feeding two birds with one seed, helping a patient extend his
life by keeping his viral load down, and that in turn makes him less
infectious.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Despite
the fact that the city’s population is well-educated, about 800 residents
contract H.I.V. every year, Dr. Colfax said. There are those who know they are
ill but do not avail themselves of care. And 15 percent to 20 percent of the
H.I.V.-positive population does not know it is 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'>The
new study found that city residents with H.I.V. had an average of 22,000 H.I.V.
particles in their blood. The health department wants to reduce that to
undetectable levels — below 50. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
like to think of the city the way I think of an individual patient sitting in
front of me,” Dr. Das-Douglas said. “The more people I start on
medication, the more people will be virologically suppressed and the less
likely they will be to transmit H.I.V..” <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
city’s decisions on how to act on the new information will be
controversial, all involved agree. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Officials
must decide whether to shift services, create pocketed marketing campaigns or
go directly to the individuals with the highest viral load and offer them
appropriate care. But going to individuals could feel like “a police
state” and cause some to run away, Dr. Montaner 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'>Dr.
Colfax said, “You have to balance confidentiality with the fact that
nobody in San Francisco should be walking around with a viral load of
100,000.” <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'>The
medical community once believed that if a patient began treatment too early,
the effectiveness of the medications could wear off. And there were severe side
effects. “As the treatment has gotten easier and less toxic, those
equations need to be rethought,” Dr. Volberding 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'>“One
of the big reasons for prescribing medications,” he said, is to protect
the public. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Dr.
Colfax must balance individual and communal care. “I think we’re
asking the right questions,” he said. “Now the issue is, What are
the answers?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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><i><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-style:italic'>A version of this article appeared in print on November 6,
2009, on page A19A of the New York edition<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=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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Why mHealth Initiatives
Should Not be Sustainable</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>ATCWorks.org</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'>28/10/2009<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'>Whenever
we talk about mHealth, there is always much hand-wringing around
sustainability. And by that we usually mean we want to find the mHealth model
that can be like mobile phones - paid by users and funded by deep-pocketed,
aggressive private firms. That way, we can escape the limitations of donor
funding and move past the many mHealth pilots that never seem to scale, to
truly global healthcare solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
would like to be a heretic and put forth an idea that's be brewing since last
week's Technology Salon sustainability discussion where our comments even
suggested that all ICT4D efforts are sustainability failures:<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>mHealth
isn't sustainable<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>International
development efforts in mHealth focus on bringing resources and solutions to
communities who are unable to provide their own. This can mean remotely
checking on patients in rural areas miles from the nearest clinic, or
delivering health PSA's to urban youth in Nairobi nightclubs, to even educating
affluent women in India on their menstrual cycle. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
in all these instances and more, the recipient is either unwilling or unable to
pay for the service. So why do we keep looking for ways to have them fund
mHealth initiatives? Why do we think private payment is the sole sustainable
model? Let's look at who has the will to pay for such services and expect them
to underwrite mHealth initiatives.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>mHealth
is fundable<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Public
health is a high priority for governments. A healthy population is a happy,
productive one, and therefore every government has a keen interest in providing
healthcare solutions to its populace. Some of these solutions are government
funded without question - in the USA we don't expect the Centers for Disease
Control or Medicaid to be self-funded in a pay-for-service model. Some
solutions are a public-private hybrid - general healthcare services are almost
always a mix of public, business, insurance, and private funds. And other
solutions can be either - HIV testing and treatment varies by country and even
by client.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
in any of these scenarios, do we hear talk about sustainability? Outside
arguments about the cost of these programs, no one is advocating that
governments stop funding for CDC's or HIV treatments. So why then, when we talk
of mHealth, do we try to force a fully private-payer model?<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Finding
funding is the problem<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
reason that this private-payer sustainability model is so desired is the high
variability of donor funding and a paucity of government funds. mHealth
projects are multi-year endeavors - multi-decade if you want to effect a real
change, but few donors can see past the next 2-5 year donor cycle. Even worse,
almost no donor wants to fund an ongoing project - they want to launch the
new-new solution. This can leave great ideas unfunded just as they are about to
scale. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
let's be honest, donor funding exists because many developing world governments
do not have the political will or bureaucratic efficiency to run their own
mHealth programs. Even when they are shown the public and economic benefits of
effective healthcare solutions, local government change and adoption comes
agonizingly slow.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Accept
donor funding as sustainable<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
actually do believe mHealth is sustainable, just not with the common definition
of sustainability. If we open up what we mean by sustainable to include all
funding - and especially donor funding - as valid sources of project income,
then mHealth can be very sustainable. One example is FrontlineSMS.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Started
in 2005 by Ken banks, FrontlineSMS has grown in scale to be called "one of
the largest and most ambitious mHealth programs in the world," by a UN
report. Its used all over the globe, by everyone from Zimbabweans supporting
HIV/AIDS awareness and terminal illness to Cambodians reporting landmine
victims. But not a single end user pays Ken Banks to use FrontlineSMS. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Ken
and his growing consortia of FrontlineSMS applications (Medic, Credit) are all
donor funded - by many donors in many ways. Yet, they all have an income, the
project keeps growing and innovating, and we're all envious of their user
growth - very real indicators of sustainability.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
can also see Ken charging for specialized services - brining a private-payer
model to Frontline, if he hasn't done so already, but again, this
pay-for-service would be with governments, multi-laterals, and foundations
buying services for large initiatives, not individual client income.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>So
the next time you hear a moan about the lack of mHealth sustainability,
question the complaint. mHealth can be sustainable, if you're willing to think
outside the private-payer box.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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 drug study needs
volunteers with dark hair</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>San Francisco Chronicle</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'>Victoria
Colliver, Chronicle Staff 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'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Wanted:
Dark-haired HIV-negative men and women to participate in a study designed to
measure drug levels in hair.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
called the "Strand Study" and it's part of a larger effort by AIDS
scientists to look at whether people who are HIV-negative can benefit from
prophylactically taking anti-HIV drugs to reduce their chances of infection.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 San Francisco Department of Public Health and UCSF want to test
people's hair to see if it could be used to measure how well people are
complying with their drug regimen along with how efficiently the drug is
metabolized by the body.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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,
we don't have a truly accurate measure of how well people are taking their
medications and how well they process drugs," said Dr. Albert Liu,
director of HIV Prevention Intervention Studies for San Francisco's Health
Department. Blood measurements show the short-term presence of drugs, but do
not capture the effect of a drug in the body's system over time, 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'>Liu
said researchers intend to use the hair method as a tool when conducting drug
studies to determine whether results are being affected by adherence to the
prescribed therapy. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
why dark hair? <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>That's
simply a matter of pigment. Drug molecules bind to the pigment in hair. Because
dark hair has higher levels of pigment, the drug is more likely to bind, making
it easier to measure. Liu said binding quality has no relation to drug
absorption; light-haired people are not known to metabolize drugs any
differently than their dark-haired counterparts.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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
Strand Study, which is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health,
requires volunteers to take various dosages of tenofovir, which is one of the
drugs used in the global prophylactic studies. Liu said tenofovir has fewer
side effects than other HIV drugs and a favorable safety profile.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Volunteers
will be paid up to $1,300 to take three different dosing regimens of the drug,
each lasting six weeks: one pill two times a week, four times a week and every
day. Liu said the pill must be taken in the presence of the study researcher at
UCSF or at the Van Ness offices of the Health Department. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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 requires one 24-hour hospital stay, during which blood levels will
be measured. "It's quite an involved study," Liu 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'>Volunteers
have already started enrolling and researchers hope to begin the study in the
next couple of months. They are seeking just 24 people, and hope to have an
equal mix of men and women, who are over 18 years old and are not pregnant or
planning to get pregnant during 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'>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'>For
more information about the study, go to www.helpfighthiv.org.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><span class=TNNormalText><font
size=1 face=Arial><span lang=PT-BR style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>E-mail
Victoria Colliver at vcolliver@sfchronicle.com.<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'>This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco
Chronicle<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='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'><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=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>UNAIDS WEB.SITE<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'><font size=1 color="#e93e35"
face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:#E93E35'>UNAIDS participate in Netherlands Multi Party Initiative<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'>UNAIDS</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'>06/11/2009<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'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>UNAIDS Executive Director,
Mr Michel Sidibé took part in a meeting earlier this week organized by the
Netherlands Multi Party Initiative on HIV/AIDS. The meeting was co-organized by
the Dutch NGOs “STOP AIDS NOW!” and Aids Fonds under the banner
AIDS in a Time of Financial Crisis, to explore together how to face the
challenges posed by the global financial crisis. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The event was opened by
the Dutch AIDS Ambassador Marijke Wijnroks. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Speaking at the meeting,
Mr Sidibé congratulated the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region></st1:place>
for their outstanding leadership and stressed the key role the country is
playing in the global AIDS response. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“We see the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Netherlands</st1:country-region></st1:place>
as a strong likeminded partner. Together we have achieved much in the battles
against discrimination and forwarding the human rights agenda,” said Mr
Sidibé<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“But for every 2
persons who are placed on antiretroviral treatment, 5 people are newly infected
– we look forward to a continued strong relationship with the Dutch
government to break the trajectory of the epidemic,” Mr Sidibé asserted. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Also participating in the
meeting was the Dr Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to
Fight TB, Malaria and HIV, Mr Ewout Irrgang, chair of the Multi Party
Initiative and Mrs Kathleen Ferrier, vice chair for the Multi Party Initiative.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The Netherlands Multi Party
Initiative on HIV/AIDS consists of members of parliament across party lines in
the Dutch Parliament. It was established in February 2007 by Kathleen Ferrier,
MP. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The primary goal of this
informal network is to ensure HIV as well as sexual and reproductive health and
rights and related issues are kept on the agenda. The group also raises
awareness at the national, regional and international level through the Dutch
Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.0pt'><a name=FromUNAIDSorg02><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<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></a></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'>Antiretroviral treatment
for prevention</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'><br>
</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;font-weight:normal'>UNAIDS</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'>06/11/2009<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'>People
living with HIV who are following an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen
can achieve undetectable viral loads – the amount of virus in a body
fluid such s blood, semen or vaginal secretions – at certain stages of
their treatment. Research suggests that when the viral load is undetectable in
blood the risk of HIV transmission is significantly reduced. This approach has
been called “Antiretroviral treatment (ART) for prevention”. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>To
explore the issue WHO earlier this week convened a meeting to review the
scientific data available on the use of ART for prevention and also explored
the implications of this approach for individuals and communities as well as
take into consideration human rights and ethical and public health
implications. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='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'>Participating
in the meeting, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Dr Paul De Lay, provided
closing reflections. Dr De Lay said the meeting had raised the hard fact that
many people living with HIV - including many who need treatment today - are
unable to access HIV testing and counseling and to initiate timely treatment,
as a result of a range of social, cultural and economic 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=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Dr De
Lay congratulated the participants in their effort to identifying
scientifically sound and innovative ways to accelerate progress toward
universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and maximizing
the effects of ART both for extending full and productive life for people with
HIV, and also for primary prevention. <o:p></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 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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>"These
are exciting and challenging times. The diverse perspectives heard in this
meeting reflect the best of the AIDS response, and continuing this dialogue -
this committed questioning and the research agenda coming from this meeting -
will undoubtedly lead to more lives saved and fewer new infections"
continued Dr De Lay. <o:p></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 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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>UNAIDS
strongly recommend a comprehensive package of HIV prevention approaches and
advocates for an evidence informed and human rights based approach to HIV
prevention. <o:p></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 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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A
comprehensive HIV prevention package includes, but is not limited to, delaying
sexual debut, mutual fidelity, deduction of the number of sexual partners,
avoidance of penetration, safer sex including correct and consistent male and
female condom use, and early and effective treatment of sexually transmitted
infections. <o:p></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 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 style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
WHO hosted antiretroviral treatment (ART) for Prevention was held in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Geneva</st1:City></st1:place> from the 2 to the 4
of November, 2009<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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