<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Diaz, Clara</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:diazc@unaids.org">diazc@unaids.org</a>></span><br>Date: Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 7:05 PM<br>
Subject: Today's News (2012.10.15ex)<br>To: <br><br><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Please
find attached the following AIDS-related articles compiled by UNAIDS<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">UNAIDS<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">1. Jeune
Afrique - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Lutte contre le sida : la Francophonie peut mieux faire <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">2. Têtu,
France - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">«Les lois homophobes sont de sérieux obstacles à une
riposte efficace contre le sida»<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">3. Radio
Okapi, RDC - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Kinshasa : 60% d’enfants qui naissent avec le VIH
dans l’espace francophone sont Congolais<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">4. Xinhua
News - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">OIF : 3,6 millions de séropositifs à revenu faible et
intermédiaire <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">5. Afrique
en ligne - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Santé: Insuffisances de la lutte contre le SIDA dans
l’espace francophone <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">AFRICA</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"> AND MIDDLE EAST <u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">1.
New Era, <u></u><u></u>Namibia<u></u><u></u>
- </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">HIV/AIDS prevention programme launched <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">2.
IPS News Agency - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Reduce Poverty in <u></u>Africa<u></u>
– Educate a Girl <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">3.
Vibe <u></u><u></u>Ghana<u></u><u></u>
- </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Journalists undergo HIV and AIDS training <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">4.
Health-e, SA - </span></font></span><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">South Africa</span></font></span><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">: <u></u><u></u>Gauteng<u></u><u></u> Discusses Future of Lay Counsellors
- Living With Aids # 537 <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">ASIA</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"> AND PACIFIC<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">1.
<u></u><u></u>Myanmar<u></u><u></u>
Times - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Global Fund invites new HIV and TB funding applications<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">2.
Times of <u></u>India<u></u> - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Louis-Georges
Arsenault: Almost half the girls in <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u> are married before 18 years <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">3.
<u></u>Hindustan<u></u> Times - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Put an end to indignity
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">4.
ABC Radio <u></u><u></u>Australia<u></u><u></u>
- </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">The head of PNG's National Aids Council Secretariat defends its
work <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">EUROPE</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"><u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">1.
BBC News - </span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Botswana</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB"> women allowed to
inherit<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">2.
The Lancet - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Strategies to improve health coverage and narrow the
equity gap in child survival, health, and nutrition<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">LATIN AMERICA AND <u></u>CARIBBEAN<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">1.
IPS News Agency - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Where Drugs Abound – and Syringes to Fight AIDS Are
Scarce <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">2. La
República, Peru - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Mujeres con VIH exigen igualdad de oportunidades <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">3. La
Razón, Bolivia - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Niñas: desarrollo con igualdad <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">4. Agência
de Notícias da Aids, Brazil - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Encontro de jovens vivendo com HIV/Aids do
sudeste quer incentivar participação nos movimentos sociais<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">NORTH AMERICA</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"><u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">1.
New York Times - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Medical schools join effort to battle AIDS in <u></u><u></u>Rwanda<u></u><u></u>
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">2.
IPS News Agency - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">U.N. Launches Global Campaign to Abolish Child Marriages<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">3.
<u></u>Miami<u></u> Herald - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">AIDS — an issue
that hits close to home in <u></u><u></u>Miami<u></u><u></u>
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">4.
Wall Street Journal - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Poverty Fight Risks Setback, World Bank Chief
Warns <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS calls for shared responsibility to meet
AIDS investment gap in francophone countries<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS WEB.SITE<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">1.
UNAIDS – </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS calls for shared responsibility to meet AIDS
investment gap in francophone countries<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">2.
UNAIDS - </span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">14th Francophonie Summit: Shared Responsibility and Global
Solidarity on the Agenda of UNAIDS and Heads of State <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">3. UNAIDS - </span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Equatorial Guinea</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB"> increases domestic
investments for AIDS<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">===========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">UNAIDS<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">===========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Lutte contre le sida : la Francophonie peut
mieux faire <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Jeune Afrique<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">14/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Par
Juliette Bastin<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Un
rapport publié par l’Onusida montre de grandes disparités entre les pays
subsahariens membres de l’OIF et les non membres.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">À
l’occasion du XIVe sommet de la Francophonie, qui s’est tenu à
Kinshasa (République Démocratique du Congo) du 12 au 14 octobre,
l’Onusida a procédé au lancement du rapport « Point de décision sur la
Francophonie : stopper les nouvelles infections au VIH et garantir les traitements
pour tous ». Une perception du VIH se concentrant sur la situation de la lutte
contre le VIH dans les pays membres de la Francophonie, et de fait, les
comparant aux pays non membres. Si cette idée peut surprendre, elle met
toutefois en lumière certaines disparités existant entre les deux « catégories
» de pays, si tant est qu’ils puissent être ainsi répartis.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Au
regard des chiffres, le constat est en effet indéniable : les pays membres de
l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), à de rares
exceptions près, sont à la traîne en matière de prise en charge. Ainsi, le
rapport souligne que, pris dans leur ensemble, les pays de l’OIF situés
en Afrique subsaharienne atteignaient en 2011 un taux de couverture du
traitement contre le VIH de 43 %, contre 59 % pour les pays non-membres.
Concernant le VIH pédiatrique, des progrès notables sont à souligner puisque
les nouvelles infections à VIH entre 2005 et 2011 y ont diminué de 34 %.
Toutefois, la prévention de la transmission de la mère à l’enfant (PTME)
reste encore insuffisante, là où la solution est connue. Le pourcentage de
femmes enceintes séropositives ayant reçu des médicaments antirétroviraux pour
empêcher la transmission du virus à leur enfant reste faible, à 36 %, contre 62
% dans les pays de la région non membres de l’OIF.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Constat
financier<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Cet
état sanitaire se double bien évidemment d’un constat financier. Car qui
dit progrès sanitaires dit investissements. Pour atteindre les objectifs fixés
lors de l’Assemblée générale des Nations unies sur le sida en juin 2011,
qui prévoient d’assurer l’accès au traitement à 15 millions de
personnes séropositives d’ici à 2015, de nouveaux financements seront
nécessaires. Dans les pays subsahariens membres de l’OIF, les besoins en
ressources s’élèvent à 2,6 milliards de dollars en 2015, soit un déficit
de 1,5 milliard de dollars. Pour le combler, il faudrait ajouter 120 millions
de dollars de ressources intérieures, soit une augmentation de 70 %, et 1,4
milliard de dollars de la part des donateurs internationaux, soit 160 %
d’efforts supplémentaires… En comparaison, dans les pays
subsahariens non membres de l’OIF, les financements internationaux ne
nécessitent d’être augmentés « que » de 5%. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Comme
le rappelait le président de la sous-commission Santé au Parlement de Kinshasa,
le député Victor Makwenge, « la pauvreté, le poids des ménages et les zones de
guerre sont des handicaps majeurs à l’accès aux soins ». Le cas
spécifique de la RDC, qui est l’un des pays les plus en retard dans
l’OIF, est effectivement inquiétant, comme le souligne Michel Sidibé,
Directeur Exécutif de l’Onusida, qui rappelle que « 90 % des personnes en
RDC sont sous traitement grâce à des financements internationaux, seules 5% des
femmes enceintes ont accès à la PTME », et que « seules 12% des personnes qui
le nécessitent ont accès aux traitements. »<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Parmi
les raisons d’un tel retard, la taille du pays et l’insécurité qui
règne dans certaines zones. Le Premier ministre, Matata Ponyo, a
d’ailleurs manifesté le souhait d’établir, en collaboration avec
l’Onusida, des zones prioritaires pour faciliter l’accès aux soins.
La ministre française déléguée à la Francophonie, Yamina Benguigui, également
présente lors du lancement de ce rapport, a annoncé la création en 2013 du
Forum mondial des femmes francophones, réunissant 500 femmes autour de la
préservation de leur droit et de leur dignité. Madame Benguigui a souhaité que
les violences faites aux femmes en RDC, facilitant les nouvelles infections,
puissent être au centre des thématiques de ce Forum et que des solutions soient
élaborées en partenariat avec l’Onusida.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Disparité<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Mais
quid des autres pays ? Comment une telle disparité a-t-elle pu se créer entre
pays membres et non membres de l’OIF ? Selon Michel Sidibé, qui tient à
souligner toutefois que des pays comme le Rwanda ou le Cambodge ont obtenu des
résultats remarquables, la politique qui a permis d’obtenir des résultats
satisfaisants se résume en trois points : « un leadership placé au plus haut
niveau, plaçant la lutte contre le sida comme un enjeu politique majeur », en
tout premier lieu. « L’engagement de la société civile, également,
particulièrement fort et actif, chez les jeunes, a été crucial, notamment
lorsque ces derniers ont été considérés comme des acteurs au changement à part
entière », et, termine Michel Sidibé, « le repositionnement de la femme dans la
société, la lutte contre les violences faites aux femmes et aux jeunes filles.
» <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Ces
trois éléments réunis ont permis de grands progrès, un accès à la prévention,
aux traitements, et une réduction des nouvelles contaminations. « Prenez
l’Afrique du Sud », illustre Michel Sidibé, « en trois ans, avec un
budget annuel domestique de 1,9 million de dollars, on est passé de deux
millions à 14 millions de personnes testées. De moins de 40 % des femmes ayant
accès à la PTME, on atteint aujourd’hui 90 %. » Incontestablement,
lorsque la décision a été prise au plus haut niveau de l’État, la pente a
pu être inversée. Une perspective encourageante alors, de constater que la
Guinée Équatoriale vient d’annoncer une prise en charge totale des
investissements nécessaires à l’accès aux soins de tous, que le Congo
Brazzaville s’engage à augmenter de 50 % sa participation nationale aux
investissements nécessaires, et que le Burkina Faso l’a doublée. Car
comme le souligne Michel Sidibé, « l’OIF a toujours été très engagée, et
ses pays membres ont été parmi les premiers à se battre pour l’accès
universel aux traitements ».<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Un
engagement qui doit désormais se traduire, selon l’Onusida, par un soutien
accru des pays les plus riches de l’OIF envers les plus pauvres, et un
engagement de ces pays à accroître la part de leurs investissements nationaux
tout en promouvant une justice sociale. En réaffirmant sa volonté de poursuivre
l’élaboration de financements innovants, comme la taxe sur les billets
d’avion et celle sur les transactions financières, afin de « financer la
lutte contre les grandes pandémies dont le sida », le Président de la
République française, François Hollande, a semble-t-il tacitement abondé en ce
sens.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_UNAIDS2"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">2</span></font></b></a><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="FR"> <u></u><u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">«Les lois homophobes sont de sérieux obstacles
à une riposte efficace contre le sida»<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Têtu, France<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">14/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_UNAIDS3"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Par Paul Parant<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">INTERVIEW.
Le Malien Michel Sidibé, directeur d'Onusida, évoque les liens entre
pénalisation de l'homosexualité et propagation du VIH dans le monde, à
l'occasion d'une visite de travail à Paris.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Le
directeur exécutif d'Onusida (programme émanant des Nations-Unies), Malien,
spécialiste de santé mondiale, était à Paris cette semaine. L'occasion d'une
rencontre avec Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, la ministre qui prépare un plan contre
l'homophobie, mais surtout de lancer le groupe de travail de l'Institut des
Relations Internationales et Stratégiques (IRIS) sur la dépénalisation mondiale
de l'homosexualité, coordonné par le journaliste Frédéric Martel. Enjeux et
défis de la lutte contre le sida et du combat contre l'homophobie: Michel
Sidibé a répondu à nos questions.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">TÊTU.com:
Vous avez participé, lundi, à un débat qui a abordé, entre autres, la question
de la dépénalisation de l'homosexualité. Que représente, en tant que directeur
exécutif de l'Onusida, votre participation à ce groupe et que souhaitez-vous y
apporter?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Michel
Sidibé: Dans de nombreuses régions du monde, les lois et pratiques punitives à
l'encontre des personnes lesbiennes, gays, bisexuelles et transsexuelles
continuent de bloquer les ripostes efficaces au VIH. Il est essentiel
d’en parler, de sensibiliser et de se réunir pour appuyer ensemble la
révision de ces lois. Il y a actuellement 79 pays, territoires ou régions où il
existe encore des lois qui criminalisent les relations homosexuelles entre
adultes consentants. De nombreux cas de violations des droits de l'homme ont
été recensés, allant du refus de l'accès aux services de santé à l'interdiction
de la liberté des associations, en passant par le harcèlement, les violences et
les meurtres. Le rôle des Nations Unies et de l’Onusida en particulier
est de faire la lumière sur ces questions et d’alerter les états et
l’opinion publique afin que les choses changent.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Croyez-vous
à une résolution de l'ONU pour la dépénalisation universelle de l'homosexualité
comme François Hollande l'a prônée en tribune de l'Assemblée générale de l'ONU
la semaine dernière – à la fois dans les chances pour cette résolution d'aboutir
et dans les effets qu'elle pourrait avoir?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">La
dépénalisation de l'homosexualité amènera la dignité et le respect à une partie
importante de la société qui a longtemps été marginalisée.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Il y
a déjà eu de grand progrès. En juin 2011, le Conseil des droits de l'homme a
adopté une résolution qui rappelait la Déclaration universelle des droits de
l’homme, en proclamant que tous les êtres humains naissent libres et
égaux en dignité et en droits, et que chacun peut se prévaloir de tous les
droits et de toutes les libertés qui y sont énoncés, sans distinction aucune.
Il s’est dit aussi gravement préoccupé par les actes de violence et de
discrimination commis dans toutes les régions du monde contre des personnes en
raison de leur orientation sexuelle et de leur identité de genre. Le Conseil
des droits de l'homme a également demandé au Haut-Commissaire de faire établir
une étude pour rendre compte des lois et pratiques discriminatoires, ainsi que
des actes de violence commis contre des personnes en raison de leur orientation
sexuelle et de leur identité de genre – ceci dans toutes les régions du
monde, ainsi que de la manière dont le droit international peut être appliqué
pour mettre fin aux violences et aux violations des droits de l’homme
fondées sur l’orientation sexuelle et l’identité de genre.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Le
rapport, présenté en mars 2012, appelle tous les pays à dépénaliser les
relations entre personnes de même sexe consentantes et à veiller à ce que
toutes les personnes puissent exercer leur droit à la liberté d'expression et
leur droit d'association et de réunion pacifique en toute sécurité et sans
discrimination.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">L'an
dernier, lors de la Réunion de haut niveau de l'Assemblée générale des Nations
Unies sur le sida, les Etats-membres se sont engagés à réviser les lois et les
politiques qui «compromettent la prestation réussie, efficace et équitable des
mesures de prévention du VIH, de traitement, de soins et de soutien». L'Onusida
encourage tous les pays à traduire cet engagement en actes afin de protéger les
droits humains et les besoins en matière de santé de toutes personnes.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Quel
lien faut-il faire entre l'avancée du VIH dans le monde et la répression de
l'homosexualité?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Nous
ne réaliserons jamais notre vision de zéro nouvelle infection, zéro
discrimination et zéro décès lié au sida à moins de réussir à faire en sorte
que les personnes ne soient pas diffamées et pénalisées en fonction de leur
orientation sexuelle.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Dans
de nombreuses régions du monde, les hommes ayant des rapports sexuels avec des
hommes et les personnes transsexuelles connaissent une forte prévalence du VIH.
Les lois qui criminalisent les relations homosexuelles entre adultes
consentants constituent de sérieux obstacles à une riposte efficace au sida et
conduisent les personnes homosexuelles, bisexuelles ou transgenres à vivre
cachées, les privant ainsi d'un accès pourtant vital aux services de prévention
et de traitement du VIH.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">46%
des quelque 15 millions de patients ayant besoin d'antirétroviraux dans les
pays pauvres et à revenu intermédiaires n'ont pas accès aux antirétroviraux.
Comment réduire ce chiffre?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">En
2011, plus de 8 millions de personnes séropositives dans des pays à revenu
faible ou intermédiaire ont bénéficié d’une thérapie antirétrovirale,
contre 6,6 millions en 2010 – soit une augmentation de plus de 20%. Si
nous maintenons notre détermination, la communauté internationale est en voie
d’atteindre l’objectif établi par la Déclaration politique sur le
VIH et le sida 2011, adoptée à l’unanimité par les États Membres des
Nations Unies: 15 millions de personnes séropositives sous traitement
d’ici à 2015.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Placer
plus de 8 millions de personnes sous traitement est une réalisation majeure. Il
y a à peine dix ans, avoir des millions d’individus sous traitement dans
les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire était un rêve incroyable.
L’activisme et la solidarité mondiale ont fait de ce rêve une réalité.
Mais parvenir à mettre les 7 millions suivants sous traitement sera une tâche
encore plus difficile, car les personnes pénalisées, marginalisées et exclues
seront nombreuses. Nos efforts pour atteindre chaque personne nécessitant un
traitement ne sont pas uniquement du ressort de la santé publique. Il
s’agit fondamentalement d’une mission en faveur de
l’inclusion sociale et nous devons renforcer les partenariats et
approches qui nous y amèneront.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">En
cette période de crise économique, l'engagement international contre le sida
– 8,2 milliards de dollars en 2011, dont 48% de la part des Etats-Unis
– est-il menacé?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Depuis
2008, les financements internationaux n’ont pas augmenté et au contraire
diminuent. Nous sommes en train d’entrer dans une période difficile où la
responsabilité partagée va être essentielle pour le futur de la riposte. Il y a
pourtant de bons indices. Pour la première fois, en 2011, le montant des fonds
nationaux consacrés à la lutte contre le VIH a dépassé celui des
investissements internationaux. Les pays à faibles revenus et à revenus
intermédiaires ont investi 8,6 milliards de dollars dans la riposte contre le
sida, ce qui représente une augmentation de 11% par rapport à 2010.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Bien
que les investissements nationaux en faveur de la lutte contre le sida soient
en augmentation, on constate un important déficit au niveau des financements
internationaux en faveur de la lutte contre le VIH. On estime qu'en 2015, le
déficit annuel sera de l'ordre de 7 milliards de dollars. Au cours de la
réunion de haut niveau des Nations unies sur le sida qui s'est tenue en 2011,
les pays ont adopté une Déclaration politique sur le VIH/sida, via laquelle ils
ont accepté d'augmenter leurs investissements en faveur de la lutte contre le
VIH à entre 22 et 24 milliards de dollars d'ici 2015. Pour atteindre cet
objectif, il est nécessaire que tous les pays réalisent un effort concerté pour
accroître les financements.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Des
stratégies durables pour assurer l’accès aux services de traitement et de
prévention du VIH et autres services de santé en Afrique et dans le monde ne
sont possibles que si nous adoptons une politique de responsabilité partagée et
préconisons des solutions novatrices pour accélérer la riposte. Par exemple, la
taxe sur les transactions financières pouvant non seulement contribuer à mettre
fin au sida mais aussi permettre l’amélioration de la santé,
l’éducation et la sécurité sociale, serait un important pas en avant.
L’investissement a démontré son importance – sur le plan domestique
comme sur le plan international – pour l’espoir et l’avenir
de tous. Notre richesse commune doit faire progresser le bien commun.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_UNAIDS4"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">4<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Kinshasa : 60% d’enfants qui naissent
avec le VIH dans l’espace francophone sont Congolais<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Radio Okapi, RDC<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">13/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Au
cours d’une conférence de presse tenue vendredi 12 octobre à Kinshasa, le
directeur exécutif de l’agence des Nations Unies pour la lutte contre le
VIH/Sida (Onusida), Michel Sidibe, a révélé qu’au moins cinquante mille
enfants naissent chaque année avec le VIH/Sida dans l’espace francophone.
Parmi eux, vingt neuf mille naissent en RDC, soit 60%. Michel Sidibe souligne
la nécessité d’une implication générale et d’une mobilisation de
ressources pour aboutir à zéro infection du Sida dans ces pays.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Le
directeur exécutif de l’Onusida a livré ces statistiques lors de la
présentation du premier rapport sur le Sida dans l’espace francophone.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Il
affirme avoir discuté de cette situation préoccupante avec le Premier ministre
de la RDC, Augustin Matata Ponyo et le ministre congolais de la Santé, Dr Félix
Kabange Numbi.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">«
Cela nous interpelle pour certainement accélérer et faire en sorte que
l’élimination de la transmission de la mère à l’enfant devienne une
réalité dans l’espace francophone », a-t-il affirmé.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Michel
Sidibe appelle les Etats francophones à une « responsabilité partagée et une
solidarité globale » afin d’arriver à résoudre cette situation.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">«
L’espace francophone a un déficit d’un milliard quatre cent
millions de dollars pour la lutte contre le Sida, si on veut aller vers ce que
j’appelle zéro nouvelle infection, zéro discrimination, et zéro décès »,
a-t-il affirmé.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_UNAIDS5"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">5<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">OIF : 3,6 millions de séropositifs à revenu faible
et intermédiaire <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Xinhua News, China<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Le
nombre des personnes vivant avec le VIH dans les pays de l'Organisation
Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) à revenu faible et intermédiaire était
estimé à 3,6 millions l'année dernière, soit 11 % du total mondial, a annoncé
vendredi le Programme de l'ONU sur le Sida (ONUSIDA).<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Selon
l'ONUSIDA, plus 50% des patients éligibles pour une thérapie antirétrovirale
n'y ont pas accès, notamment la majorité des femmes enceintes vivant avec le
VIH.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Les
grandes disparités qui caractérisent la couverture des services de traitement
et de prévention du VIH doivent être réduites.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Les
besoins en investissements anti-VIH en Afrique subsaharienne francophone est de
2,6 milliards de dollars. Pour atteindre les Objectifs du millénaire pour le
développement (OMD) fixés pour 2015, il existe un déficit de 1,4 milliards de
dollars.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Les
75 pays membres de l'OIF ont réalisé des progrès considérables à l'égard des
objectifs fixés en juin 2011 pour réduire de 50% la transmission du VIH:
stopper les nouvelles infections au VIH chez les enfants et assurer l'accès au
traitement anti-VIH à 15 millions de personnes avant 2015.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Mais
de fortes différences existent dans l'accès aux services de traitement et de
prévention, et par des financements insuffisants de la part des sources
internationales et intérieures.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Malgré
des progrès importants, quelque 970.000 patients vivant dans les pays de l'OIF
sont toujours en attente d'une thérapie antirétrovirale vitale, ce qui
représente 14% du déficit mondial de traitement.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Parmi
les États membres de la Francophonie, la couverture des traitements s'étend de
moins de 5% à plus de 80%.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Dans
les pays subsahariens de l'OIF, seuls 15% des enfants éligibles pour une
thérapie antirétrovirale, dans les pays subsahariens, y avaient accès en 2011.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="FR">Les
progrès réalisés dans la prestation de ces thérapies chez les enfants semblent
en outre avoir stagné ces trois dernières années.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="FR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_UNAIDS6"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">6<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Santé: Insuffisances de la lutte contre le
SIDA dans l’espace francophone <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Afrique en ligne<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Santé
VIH SIDA – L’Afrique francophone ne fait pas autant d’efforts
en matière de lutte contre le SIDA que le reste du continent, selon un rapport
présenté à Kinshasa, en marge du XIVème Sommet de l’Organisation internationale
de la Francophonie (OIF) qui se tient dans la capitale congolaise. Intitulé '
Point de décision de la Francophonie : stopper les nouvelles infections au VIH
et garantir les traitements pour tous', le rapport souligne que 43 pc des
personnes atteintes du SIDAda ont accès au traitement dans les pays
francophones contre 59 pc dans l’espace anglophone.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Il
pointe également les disparités entre pays francophones en révélant que 80pc
des malades ont accès à la trithérapie au Cambodge contre seulement 12 pc en
RD Congo.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Près
de 50.000 enfants naissent encore chaque année avec le SIDA dans l’espace
francophone, ajoutent les auteurs du rapport qui soulignent que 60 pc
d’entre eux se trouvent en RD Congo.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Le
rapport note toutefois des progrès importants dans le financement de la lutte
contre la pandémie, notamment en Guinée-Equatoriale, en Guinée-Bissau et au
Congo.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">'Il
manque encore 1,4 milliard de dollars chaque année dans l’espace
francophone pour arriver au niveau de mobilisation des ressources que nous
souhaitons. Notre objectif est d’arriver à zéro nouvelle infection, zéro
décès lié au SIDA et zéro discrimination', a affirmé le Directeur exécutif de
ONUSIDA, Michel Sidibé, présent à la cérémonie de lancement du rapport.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">La
lutte contre la pandémie a connu globalement des avancées significatives en
Afrique, région qui concentre deux tiers des personnes vivant avec le SIDA dans
le monde.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Le
prix du traitement est en effet passé près de 15000 euros par an en 2003 à
seulement 80 euros aujourd’hui.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Le
nombre de malades ayant accès à la trithérapie a également connu une
progression spectaculaire sur le continent, passant de 26000 dans les pays
francophones en 2003 à plus d’un million en 2011.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">En
dépit d'énormes efforts accomplis ces dernières années, le SIDA demeure une des
principales causes de la mortalité en Afrique, derrière le paludisme. Pana<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">===========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">AFRICA</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"> AND MIDDLE EAST<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">===========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">HIV/AIDS prevention programme launched <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">New Era, <u></u><u></u>Namibia<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Story by
George Sanzila <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">A CAMPAIGN
against tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS targetting road construction workers
in Caprivi was officially launched by Caprivi Governor, Lawrence Sampofu, last
Friday.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"> The launch,
an initiative of the Regional Aids Coordinating Committee (RACOC) took place at
the camp of the Chinese contractor company MCC and the roads construction
company, RCC at Kapani, some 80 kilometres west of Katima Mulilo.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Both
companies are working on the Singalamwe, Kongola, Linyanti and Liselo roads .<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“I
would like to congratulate the Regional AIDS Coordinating Committee (RACOC) of
Caprivi for this prevention programme to educate road workers and communities
along the roads. Companies doing construction work are at risk of contracting
and transmitting HIV, TB and malaria which will have an economic impact on the
development of our country,” said Sampofu.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Sampofu said
while roads are national development projects that provide income to workers,
they can also be a threat to people in the regions as they expose them to
acquiring HIV, TB and malaria.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“The
programme we are launching today must be taken seriously to assist in the
prevention of the further spread of HIV, TB and malaria. HIV/ AIDS can affect
development as it weakens a person’s immune system, making the person
unproductive,” he said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Sampofu was
disappointed that the event only attracted a few community members and called
upon the organisers to mobilise communities when such events take place.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Linyanti
Constituency Councillor Cletius Sipapela called on RACOC to take the campaign
to the villages.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The launch
included a health quiz competition and prizes.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">According to
the 2010 HIV survey, Caprivi Region still has the highest HIV prevalence rate
in the country at 35.6 per cent.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_AfricaMiddleEast2"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">2<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Reduce Poverty in <u></u>Africa<u></u>
– Educate a Girl <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">IPS News Agency<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">By Blain
Biset<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">ADDIS ABABA</span></font></span><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">, Oct 11 2012 (IPS) - While in the last decade an additional
52 million of sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u>’s
children enrolled in primary schools, with girl’s enrolment increasing from
54 percent to 74 percent, a large majority of girls – 16 million –
are still being denied access to education.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">This is
according to a report by Plan International titled “Progress and
Obstacles to Girls’ Education in Africa” released in <u></u><u></u>Addis Ababa<u></u>, <u></u>Ethiopia<u></u><u></u> on Oct. 11 – the
first International Day of the Girl Child.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The report
says that school enrolment in Sub-Saharan Africa remains the lowest in the
world, with boys being more likely to attend school than girls.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">It warns that
if the situation does not change immediately, the Millennium Development Goal
to achieve universal primary education by 2015 will not be reached. (The MDGs
are a series of development and anti-poverty targets agreed by U.N. member
states in 2000.)<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Luther
Anukur, deputy regional director of Eastern and <u></u>Southern
Africa<u></u> for Plan International, told IPS that culture was one of
the root causes of the problem: “We have to engage with communities to
discuss the issue of girls not attending school.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Several
factors are preventing girls from studying, such as the cost of education,
violence in schools, or families that prefer to send their sons to school
instead of their daughters.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The report
states that while many countries on the continent have national policies
guaranteeing free primary education, the reality for children and their parents
is very different.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“Whilst
official school fees may have been abolished, many schools continue to charge
other fees, such as for enrolment or examinations. Added to the costs of
uniforms, books, transport, stationary and other ‘hidden costs’ of
education, sending a child to school remains a significant financial investment
for families,” the report states.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Early
marriage and pregnancy is another crucial reason for girls dropping out of
school. In <u></u>Uganda<u></u>, <u></u>Guinea-Bissau<u></u> and <u></u><u></u>Liberia<u></u><u></u>, almost 60 percent of
school-going girls halted their studies because of early pregnancies, according
to the report. And in countries such as <u></u>Niger<u></u>,
<u></u>Chad<u></u> and <u></u><u></u>Mali<u></u><u></u>, two-thirds of girls are
married by age 18.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Isabel* is a 19-year-old
girl from <u></u><u></u>Mozambique<u></u><u></u>
who has already been married twice, and was recently forced by her family into
a third marriage with an older man. She has no education or diploma, and
depends solely on her family.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“They
warned that if I defied their word, they would chase me away with (my two)
kids. Because I am not employed, I was obliged to face this new
challenge,” she told Plan International.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Fifteen-year-old
Latifa* from <u></u><u></u>Ethiopia<u></u><u></u>
did stand up to her family when her stepfather wanted to marry her off to a
40-year-old ex-soldier. It was not easy for Latifa to challenge her family as
she was subjected to severe harassment. She told Plan International:
“When it became too much to bear, I ran off to live with an aunt 60
kilometres away.” Raising funds for school fees has been difficult for
her, but with a part-time job at a hair salon she is managing.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">But many
girls like Latifa end up in transactional sex relationships to cover school
fees or to purchase basic but unaffordable necessities such as soap, food and
clothes, according to the report.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The
International Day of the Girl focuses on girls such as Isabel and Latifa, but
men and boys will also have to play their part, Anukur said. “The
decision whether a girl can go to school is mostly made by men. So we will
target families that send their girls to school, so that they can become role
models for the community.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">While <u></u>Africa<u></u> is poor, governments use this argument sometimes
for their failure to take responsibility for the situation, Anukur said. He argued
that the continent was not short of resources.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“It’s
all about how these resources are used. Governance is a big issue in <u></u>Africa<u></u>; it is important that governments are committed to
change.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Professor
Jean-Pierre Onvehoun Ezin, the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Human
Resources, Science and Technology, told IPS that the organisation was committed
to ensuring that girls in Africa grow up safely with the opportunity to reach
their fullest potential.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“Because
they are both young and female, girls more than any other group are
marginalised, exploited and abused.” He added that ensuring girls reach
their full potential “is not just a moral obligation, but the most
powerful solution we know of to eliminate poverty.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Ezin told IPS
that while policies were good on paper, implementing them remained an obstacle
on the continent.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“As an
organisation or an institution alone, you can speak a lot and loud, but you
won’t make a change by yourself.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The AU
commissioner believes that basic education is the responsibility of individual
countries.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“Civil
society, NGOs and governments have to work together to push education
policies,” he said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><b><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc;font-weight:bold"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_AfricaMiddleEast3"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">3<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_AfricaMiddleEast4"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Journalists undergo HIV
and AIDS training <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Vibe <u></u><u></u>Ghana<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">14/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">About 50
media practitioners in the Northern Region have undergone a three-day intensive
training on HIV and AIDS aimed at equipping them with knowledge to help ensure
effective reportage to curb the spread of the disease.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The training
was also in line with government’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2011
– 2015 aimed at reducing by half the spread of HIV and AIDS, and mother
to child transmission to eventually stop new infections in the country.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The training,
which ended in Tamale on Friday, was organised by the Ghana Aids Commission
(GAC) in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Participants
were taken through topics including “The National Response to HIV and
AIDS: Progress and Challenges” and “NSP 2011-2015: Towards
Achieving Universal Access to Comprehensive HIV Services”.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Dr Joseph
Amuzu, Director of Policy and Planning at the GAC, who spoke on behalf of the
Director General of the GAC, underscored the need for effective and continued
education on the spread of HIV and AIDS to inform the lifestyle of the populace
to ensure the elimination of the disease.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Dr Amuzu said
even though statistics showed a continued decline in the spread of the disease
over the years, a lot more needed to be done if the country was to attain her
objectives outlined in the NSP 2011-2015.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">He gave the
prevalence of the disease in the country for the year 2011 saying the total
number of persons living with HIV was 217,428, whilst the number of HIV
positive children was 31,576, HIV positive Pregnant Women was 12,854 and annual
new HIV infections for adults stood at 8,925 and that of children was 2,933.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Dr Amuzu
therefore, stressed the need for education of the populace saying GAC
recognised the role and contribution of the media towards the attainment of the
NSP 2011-2015 hence the training.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Alhaji
Alhassan Issahaku, Northern Regional Coordinating Director, said HIV and AIDS
response was all-encompassing and required in-depth knowledge for effective
education.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">He therefore,
lauded the training saying it would enable journalists and media practitioners
to do accurate reportage on the disease.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Mr Affail
Monney, Vice President of the GJA, who spoke on the topic: “The Role of
the Media in the Response to HIV,” called on journalists to go the extra
mile to produce critical stories that would help to curb the spread of the
disease.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Meanwhile,
about 34 journalists who tested for HIV at the training were confirmed
non-reactive or negative. GNA<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_AfricaMiddleEast5"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">5<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">South Africa</span></font></span><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">: <u></u><u></u>Gauteng<u></u><u></u> Discusses Future of Lay Counsellors
- Living With Aids # 537 <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Health-e, SA<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">By
Khopotso Bodibe<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">The
Gauteng Health Department held talks with lay HIV counsellors and other
community health workers this week to discuss options of managing and
incorporating them into the health system. Currently, they are employed through
various non-governmental organisations and are not recognised as employees of
the department.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Lay
counsellors, care givers and other community health care workers say they are
sick and tired of being regarded as volunteers. This cadre of workers supports
various government health programmes, including HIV counselling and testing, TB
treatment and home-based care for very ill patients. They say they want to be
treated with fairness and respect.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"Community
health workers are doing a very good job, but they are being treated unfairly.
We need to be respected. We need to be recognised", says Lucky Mokone, a
member of the task team for community health workers in Gauteng.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">After
many years of serving the government they are still being regarded as
volunteers and are being paid a monthly stipend of only R1 500, whereas their
counterparts in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal have been incorporated into the
provincial health department and are receiving better pay, support and other
benefits of being a formal employee.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"It
is unfair to hear that our fellow colleagues in KZN don't get stipends, whereas
we are doing the very same job. They get debriefings. They get retreats. We
don't get anything. That is so painful", laments Balise Mahlangu, another
member of the task team.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">The
outgoing head of Gauteng's health department, Dr Nomonde Xundu, says the
Department is considering options of how best to manage and incorporate
community health workers into the formal health system.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"We're
working closely with KZN just to look at that model whether it is a thing that
we could consider", Xundu says.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">But
she says this has huge implications financially.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"You
must remember we are a department that is criticised for having bloated the
establishment from about 52 000 to a whopping 65 000 within a period of four to
five years and the impact of that on the budget. Basically, the first charge of
your budget goes to compensation of employees, which, in most instances, will
eat off your budget on goods and services. Also what are the financial
implications? What are the different permutations to consider because if you
bring people on board, it means that you must pay for their medical aid,
pensions, all these other things? It's a matter that we are still looking
at", she says.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"I
don't want to say: 'Definitely, we are going to absorb them or not' because
that is dependent on availability of resources that we have at hand. Absorbing
over 6 053 that we're talking about has got huge financial implications. And
I'm sure all of us know that the Department of Health in Gauteng has been on
the news for the challenges that it has been experiencing with regard to
funding and cash flow. If we were to consider it, it will not be something that
will happen in this financial year. This needs proper costing so that we know how
much it will cost us. And if it is something that we can afford and the
principals agree with it, of course, why not?", adds Nomsa Mmope, the head
of the HIV and AIDS programme in Gauteng.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">According
to Mmope, the matter is being discussed among the departments of health, labour
and public service and administration to look at establishing a standard model
of employment that will apply across the country. Community health workers in
Gauteng say they want the issue of their incorporation resolved. They say they
were promised incorporation as early 10 years ago.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"We
are not supposed to be fighting for the very same thing up to now. The
Department of Health promised us in April 2002 that they are going to absorb us
when they asked us to move into their clinics and their hospitals as their
workers. It was in April (2002) and, then, they said in May they are going to
absorb us. We became patient up until 2004. That's when we started to approach
them that: 'People, we've been waiting for more than two years for you to
absorb us'. They saw that we are challenging them about that. In 2005, they
started to regard us as volunteers", says Balise Mahlangu.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Her
colleague, Lucky Mokone, says it is wrong that services offered by community
health workers are classified as volunteerism.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"We
are not volunteers. A volunteer is somebody whereby you spend your own time
– three seconds or three minutes. That's what you can call a
volunteer", he says.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Balise
Mahlangu, who also works as a lay HIV counsellor, says community health workers
need to be recognised as a crucial segment of health service personnel as they
are integral to the country's health outcomes.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"We
are working eight hours a day, five days a week, which is unfair for a
counsellor to work eight hours, five days a week, whereas you are supposed to
be de-briefed, you are supposed to be motivated and we don't get none of these.
I get burn-out. I counsel more than seven people per day or 10 or 15 per day
and I get burn-out. Tomorrow I'm supposed to come back to (the) clinic. Trust
me when I come back tomorrow, the only people I will counsel with fair
counselling are four. The rest, it will be: 'Come in. Oh, this is that. Go!'
because I'm tired and nobody cares about that. That's what we are fighting
for", Mahlangu says.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">=======================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">ASIA</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"> AND PACIFIC<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">=======================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Global Fund invites new HIV and TB funding
applications<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Myanmar</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB"> Times<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">By
IRIN<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">YANGON
– Health workers in Myanmar are confident that efforts to narrow the
country’s huge gap between access to, and need for, life-saving medicines
to treat HIV/AIDS are back on track after the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria invited the country to apply for additional funding.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">“I
would not have dreamt that this was possible last November,” said Mr
Peter Paul de Groote, head of mission for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in
Myanmar, referring to the Global Fund’s cancellation of funding that
health workers in Myanmar were relying on to expand access to antiretroviral
therapy (ART).<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Instead,
MSF has been forced to turn away people in need of ART. “It’s a
trauma for patients sent away and for our staff,” said Mr de Groote.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates 18,000 people die of
AIDs-related illnesses annually in <u></u><u></u>Myanmar<u></u><u></u>.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
agency’s coordinator for <u></u><u></u>Myanmar<u></u><u></u>,
Mr Eamonn Murphy, said new funds will allow the country to close a
“treatment gap”, where only one-third of the 120,000 people
nationwide who need ART receive it.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Health
officials drafted a “concept note” outlining how additional funding
might be used, which will be reviewed by the Global Fund’s board, Mr
Murphy said. It offers two scenarios: the first ensures 85 percent of those who
need ART receive it by 2015; while with the second, 76pc of people would be
covered, he said. Based on feedback from the board, the government will choose
a strategy for the proposal to be submitted early next year.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">A
spokesman for the Global Fund said it “had encouraged an application by
the country for more money” following an August visit to <u></u><u></u>Myanmar<u></u><u></u>
by its general director. Additional funding “could make possible an even
faster scale-up of HIV treatment”.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Health
workers say government healthcare reforms as well as a recent managerial
shakeup at the Global Fund, have opened the way to boost HIV funding in <u></u><u></u>Myanmar<u></u><u></u>.
The Global Fund has installed new managers and is developing a different
funding model to be piloted next year that will “invest more
strategically”, according to the fund.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Health
experts in <u></u><u></u>Myanmar<u></u><u></u>
agree ART provision is a top priority for the country and that getting more
money is contingent on proving “targeted, tight and strategic”
interventions can have quick and major impacts.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">De
Groote said that due to lack of funding thus far, only HIV-positive patients
with counts of CD4 – a white blood cell that targets infection – of
150 or below are eligible for ART at MSF clinics (the main provider of ART
nationwide), while the World Health Organisation (WHO) advises treatment for
everyone whose CD4 counts are 350 or below. A CD4 cell count is one way of
measuring the strength of a patient’s immune system as well as how
advanced an HIV infection is.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Besides
expanding ART access, the government is also applying for additional money to
combat tuberculosis (TB). The country’s TB prevalence is nearly three
times the global average and twice the regional average, according to a 2010
survey by the country’s TB program and WHO.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
current Global Fund support to fight TB in <u></u><u></u>Myanmar<u></u><u></u> was granted in 2009, based
on old data that underestimated prevalence by about 50pc, according to MSF.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_AsiaPacific2"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">2<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Louis-Georges Arsenault: Almost half the girls
in <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u>
are married before 18 years <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Times of <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Kounteya
Sinha<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Child
marriage is a threat to a girl's childhood - and a loss for the nation.
Speaking with Kounteya Sinha, UNICEF India chief Louis-Georges Arsenault
explained how child marriage traps girls in endemic poverty — and how
this vicious cycle can be broken:<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">How
common is child marriage in <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u>?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Well,
Uttara from <u></u>West Bengal<u></u> was 12 years old when
her father fixed her marriage. He even paid the groom's side 2000 rupees. An
impoverished farmer, he had to sell a goat and trees to raise the dowry. This
may seem an image from the past - yet, this is a common reality all over the country.
Close to half the girls in <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u>
are married before 18 years of age. In Bihar, Rajasthan and <u></u>West
Bengal<u></u>, child marriage concerns 3 out of 5 girls. <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u>
has the highest absolute number of child brides - about 24 million. This
represents 40% of the 60 million child marriages globally.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">How
does child marriage impact a girl's life?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Child
brides are likely to become mothers when their bodies are not fully mature.
They are more likely to experience complications at delivery. Babies born to
very young mothers are more prone to poor health, dying before five, being
affected by stunting malnutrition. Also, with few skills or professional
alternatives, such girls find themselves confined and isolated, trapped in a
cycle of poverty.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Aren't
there protective laws?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Legislation
to prohibit child marriage exists since 1929. A more progressive law was
approved in 2006 - but the practice continues. Poverty and discrimination push
parents to marry daughters early. Yet, evidence proves child marriage also
persists because of social norms favouring the practice - a prevalence rate of
43% clearly indicates child marriage is more about embedded norms that cut
across society. Research shows families are concerned about breaking with
traditions, being identified as outsiders if they don't perform their child's
marriage right after puberty.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">How
can such beliefs be changed?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Changing
mind-sets through awareness-raising on child marriage's risks, through the
mobilisation of entire communities - political, caste and religious leaders to
frontline workers, parents and children - shows positive results. This can be
achieved through campaigns, rallies and alternative communication,
capacity-building of community mobilisers, advocacy with village leaders and
public oaths. Similarly, giving space to girls and boys to talk about sensitive
issues and acquire decision-making skills, plus quality secondary school
education for girls, have been very effective.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">What
happened to Uttara?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">The
National Child Labour Protection (NCLP) special school in her village taught
her about child rights. She was further inspired when she attended a UNICEF
workshop and learnt about leadership, communication and the prevention of child
labour and marriage. The stance she took made her parents reconsider the wedding
- but what definitely turned things was the support of the community. The
villagers, panchayat and teachers attended school meetings against marriage.
When they understood its ill effects, they convinced Mathur to break his
daughter's marriage and let her study.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">However,
millions of other girls are in a vulnerable situation. A comprehensive approach
is needed. This includes enforcement of legislation and protective mechanisms,
guaranteeing access to education for girls, generating opportunities for girls
to be empowered - and acquire value in society.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><b><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc;font-weight:bold" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_AsiaPacific3"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">3<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Put an end to indignity <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Hindustan</span></font></span><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB"> Times<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">14/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Anand
Grover<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Marred
by disruptions and adjournments by the Opposition, the monsoon session of
Parliament was a complete washout with minimal business being conducted. While
the government took decades to table the much-hyped Lokpal Bill in Parliament,
one wonders when important legislation like the HIV/Aids Bill, </span></font></span><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">which aims to protect the rights of people living with
the disease, will see the light of day. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">From
being forced out of schools to the denial of jobs to involuntary disclosure of
HIV status, there's no end to discrimination that people living with HIV/Aids
face. Not just this, their family members are also subjected to hostility,
prejudice and stigma. Groups at risk of HIV like sex workers, men who have sex
with men (MSM) and injecting drug users (IDUs) face rights violations in
different spheres of their lives. However, only a few of these cases get
reported. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">With
no specific anti-discrimination law to protect the rights of people living with
and affected by HIV/Aids, there is limited legal redressal against rights
violations faced by them. Unlike <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u>, which is one of the earliest
countries that started the process of drafting the HIV/Aids Bill, many,
including 20 African nations, have passed laws on the disease. Earlier this
year, the East African Assembly passed the HIV & Aids Prevention and
Management Bill, 2012. Among the Asian countries, the <u></u>Philippines<u></u>, <u></u>Kazakhstan<u></u>
and <u></u><u></u>Vietnam<u></u><u></u>
have specific HIV/Aids legislations. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Countries
like <u></u>South Africa<u></u>, <u></u>Australia<u></u>, the <u></u>US<u></u>
and <u></u><u></u>Britain<u></u><u></u>
protect the rights of HIV positive people through anti-discrimination laws. The
Disability Discrimination Act, 1992, in <u></u><u></u>Australia<u></u><u></u> covers not only HIV
positive people but also those who are associated with HIV and those who are
believed to have HIV. The Equality Act, 2010, of <u></u><u></u>Britain<u></u><u></u> protects HIV positive
people from any kind of discrimination in both the public and private sectors. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">In
our country, after a series of consultations with all the stakeholders like
people living with or at risk of HIV/Aids, doctors, lawyers, women's groups,
children's rights groups and government officials, a draft Bill to that effect
was finalised by the health ministry in July 2006. But till date it has not
been tabled in Parliament. The Bill seeks to protect people living with or at
risk of HIV/Aids from discrimination, provides for informed consent for HIV
testing, treatment and research, protects the confidentiality of HIV-related
information including HIV testing and provides for complete and free HIV
treatment for everyone in need of it. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">It
was first sent to the law ministry in August 2007. However, it took almost
three years to clear the Bill and finally sent it back to the health ministry
in March 2010. After that, in 2011, once again the health ministry sent the
Bill to the law ministry. Even now, the Bill is pending with the law ministry
and has not been sent to the Cabinet. For the last six years, people living
with HIV/Aids and civil society organisations working in this field have been
advocating the passing of this Bill. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Although
the estimates of people with HIV/Aids have come down in our country, rights
violation continues unabated. It's time the government displays some urgency on
the issue and tables the Bill at the earliest so that people with HIV/Aids can
lead a life of dignity. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic" lang="EN-GB">Anand Grover is a senior advocate and director, Lawyers
Collective, <u></u><u></u>New Delhi<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic" lang="EN-GB">The views expressed by the author are personal<u></u><u></u></span></font></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_AsiaPacific4"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">4<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">The head of PNG's National Aids Council
Secretariat defends its work <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">ABC Radio <u></u><u></u>Australia<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Papua New Guinea</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">'s National Aids Council Secretariat -- the NACS -- has been
making front page news in recent days, after it was heavily criticised in an
AUSAID report.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">.The
head of PNG's National Aids Council Secretariat defends its work (Credit: ABC)
.AUSAID's internal review of the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS programs in PNG said
the secretariat was ineffectual, and support to the organisation should be
suspended until there are reforms.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">AusAID
spent more than $AU170 million on HIV programs in PNG between 2007 and 2010.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">In a
recent interview with Pacific Beat, AUSAID's Geoff Clarke detailed some of the
problems they have with the NACS:<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">He
says there have been some extreme difficulties with getting the organisation to
function effectively and to that end <u></u><u></u>Australia<u></u><u></u> has certainly ceased its
support to the corporate functions.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">The
Director of the National Aids Council Secretariat, Mr Wep Kanawi gave his
reponse to the criticism to Richard Ewart.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Presenter:
Richard Ewart<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Speaker:Director
of the National Aids Council Secretariat in PNG Mr Wep Kanawi<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">KANAWI:
No, I wouldn't say it was dysfunctional. It was dysfunctional three years ago,
but since then, we've put a lot of effort into it and we have created a brand
new organisation and it's probably one of the better organisations I have to
say in PNG at this point in time with up to 70, 80 per cent completion rate of
its programs over the last three years. So we have come a long way, or the
organisation's come a long way since the days when the organisation in 2001
onwards was having difficulties, but since then, we've actually fixed it up and
it's really become a good corporate entity of the PNG government.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">EWART:
So are you basically saying that the AusAid report is painting a picture which
relates to the past, rather than the present?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">KANAWI:
Well, the report relates to issues that arose three, four years ago and the
report itself is actually several years old and so the recommendations or the
suggestions or the report has covered which are no longer issues that really
affects the organisation and much less it's dealings with AusAid on how AusAid
spends its funds on HIV/AIDS in the country.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">EWART:
What about this question though of the way the corporate functions are carried
out? I mean that's one of the areas that is heavily criticised in this report.
Are you saying that those problems have already been fixed?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">KANAWI:
They have been attended to. We have a new corporate organisation have gone out
to the provinces and established entities in provinces. We have done a brand
new organisation put out its structure in the public and we put out the new
jobs out in the market place, people have applied for them. We've gotten rid of
more than 50 people who were involved in some of what we call the mess up years
ago, so we now have a brand new organisation, we've got a good corporate image,
we've got corporate plans in place, we've done all the plans that needed to be
put in place and we've come a long way since then.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">EWART:
So based on what you're saying, you and your colleagues at the Secretariat must
have been extremely shocked by the allegations in the PNG media suggesting that
there is corruption?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">KANAWI:
We were shocked and we also had asked that the PNG media really keep a better
watch or a closer watch on where things are, because that's the sort of
sensationalism that does not really reflect the situation. So we were a little
taken back, yes.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">EWART:
So you would deny the allegations completely?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">KANAWI:
We actually categorically deny the allegations and that since then, we've
actually put the record straight and in fact, since then, we've also done a bit
of a rough and ready analysis of the funds that AusAid has spent on HIV/AIDS
over the past two-and-a-half, three years.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">EWART:
So just a final point. I mean as a result of this report produced by AusAid,
there was this suggestion I'm sorry that your funding should be suspended. I
mean is that a threat that is still hanging over your organisation?<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">KANAWI:
No, that is not a threat, because 100 percent of the funding that we actually
put into prevention and care counselling and treatment efforts out there
nationwide are now coming from the PNG coffers and the AusAid programs, they're
funding their own separate programs which could be best described as parallel
programs, to what we're doing and they don't report to us. They're on our
Council, but they don't report to us and so really, seriously speaking, we
don't know who and what they spend their money on and they report to themselves
and from here in <u></u>Port Moresby<u></u> directly to <u></u><u></u>Canberra<u></u><u></u>. So yes, that's
really the state of affairs.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN">Listen:
<a href="http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/the-head-of-pngs-national-aids-council-secretariat-defends-its-work/1030826" target="_blank"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/the-head-of-pngs-national-aids-council-secretariat-defends-its-work/1030826</span></font></a><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">EUROPE</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"><u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Botswana</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB"> women allowed to
inherit<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">BBC News<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
Botswana High Court has overturned a customary law which prevented women from
inheriting the family home.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
judge ruled that the law contravened the constitution, which guarantees
equality for men and women.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Edith
Mmusi and her sisters have fought a five-year legal battle after their nephew
said he was the rightful owner of their house.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Correspondents
say traditions which stop women from inheriting property exist in many African
societies.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">'Respect
our culture'<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"> <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Judge
Key Dingake said that in the name of fairness and equality women should have
the right to inherit property.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"It
seems to me that the time has now arisen for the justices of this court to
assume the role of the judicial midwife and assist in the birth of a new world
struggling to be born," AFP news agency quotes him as saying.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">“This
is a significant step forward for women's rights not only in <u></u>Botswana<u></u> but in the southern <u></u>Africa<u></u>
region”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Southern Africa</span></font></span><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"> Litigation Centre<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"> The
BBC's Letloghile Lucas in the capital, <u></u>Gaborone<u></u>,
says Ms Mmusi, the only one of the sisters at the High Court in <u></u><u></u>Gaborone<u></u><u></u>, was very excited
by the ruling.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"It's
a great day for us," she said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">However,
her nephew Molefi Ramantele said the court had undermined the country's
culture, reports the AFP news agency.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"This
is a sad day for me... People should learn to respect our culture," he
said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Our
correspondent says they first contested their nephew's claim in a customary
court in 2007. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">They
lost the case and a subsequent appeal before turning to the civil courts.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
Attorney General had reportedly agreed that the customary law was
discriminatory but argued <u></u><u></u>Botswana<u></u><u></u>
was not ready to change it.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"This
is a significant step forward for women's rights not only in <u></u>Botswana<u></u> but in the southern <u></u>Africa<u></u>
region, where many countries are addressing similar discriminatory laws,"
Priti Patel of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) said in a
statement.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">According
to the legal rights group, the case challenged an Ngwaketse customary law rule
that allows for the youngest-born son to inherit the family home. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Ms
Mmusi's parents had four daughters and a son, who before he died agreed that
his older half-brother could inherit the family home in the Kanye area, about
85km (50 miles) south of <u></u><u></u>Gaborone<u></u><u></u>.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">It
is the son of the half-brother who brought the case seeking to evict the
sisters living at the homestead, who are reportedly all over the age of 65.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Ms
Mmusi and her sisters argued that as it was their home - and they had been
contributing to its upkeep and expansion - it was theirs to inherit, the SALC
said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_Europe3"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">3<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Strategies to improve health coverage and
narrow the equity gap in child survival, health, and nutrition<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">The Lancet<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">13/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Volume
380, Issue 9850, Pages 1331 - 1340,<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Mickey
Chopra MD a, Dr Alyssa Sharkey PhD a , Nita Dalmiya MPH b, David Anthony MSc c,
Nancy Binkin MD d, on behalf of the UNICEF Equity in Child Survival, Health and
Nutrition Analysis Team<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Implementation
of innovative strategies to improve coverage of evidence-based interventions,
especially in the most marginalised populations, is a key focus of policy
makers and planners aiming to improve child survival, health, and nutrition. We
present a three-step approach to improvement of the effective coverage of
essential interventions. First, we identify four different intervention
delivery channels—ie, clinical or curative, outreach, community-based
preventive or promotional, and legislative or mass media. Second, we classify
which interventions’ deliveries can be improved or changed within their
channel or by switching to another channel. Finally, we do a meta-review of
both published and unpublished reviews to examine the evidence for a range of
strategies designed to overcome supply and demand bottlenecks to effective
coverage of interventions that improve child survival, health, and nutrition.
Although knowledge gaps exist, several strategies show promise for improving
coverage of effective interventions—and, in some cases, health outcomes
in children—including expanded roles for lay health workers, task
shifting, reduction of financial barriers, increases in human-resource
availability and geographical access, and use of the private sector. Policy
makers and planners should be informed of this evidence as they choose
strategies in which to invest their scarce resources.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">This
is the first in a Series of two papers about equity in child survival, health,
and nutrition…<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">a
Health Section, UNICEF, UN Plaza, <u></u><u></u>New
York<u></u>, <u></u>NY<u></u>, <u></u>USA<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">b
Nutrition Section, UNICEF, UN Plaza, <u></u><u></u>New
York<u></u>, <u></u>NY<u></u>, <u></u>USA<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">c
Policy, Planning & Programme Monitoring Section, UNICEF, UN Plaza, <u></u><u></u>New York<u></u>, <u></u>NY<u></u>,
<u></u>USA<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">d
Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, <u></u>San Diego<u></u>
<u></u>State<u></u> <u></u>University<u></u>,
<u></u><u></u>San Diego<u></u>, <u></u>CA<u></u>, <u></u>USA<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"> Correspondence
to: Dr Alyssa Sharkey, UNICEF, 3 UN Plaza, <u></u><u></u>New York<u></u>, <u></u>NY<u></u> <u></u>10017<u></u>, <u></u>USA<u></u><u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Full-text:
<a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61423-8/fulltext?_eventId=login" target="_blank"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61423-8/fulltext?_eventId=login</span></font></a><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">LATIN AMERICA AND <u></u>CARIBBEAN<u></u><u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Where Drugs Abound – and Syringes to
Fight AIDS Are Scarce <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">IPS News Agency<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">By IPS
Correspondents<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">MEXICO CITY,
Oct 11 2012 (IPS) - In northern Mexico, one of the areas in the country hit
hardest by drug trafficking, there are not enough syringes to protect
intravenous drug users from HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“It is
a serious public health problem, because they are sharing needles,” the
director of the non-governmental organisation Programa Compañeros, María Ramos,
told IPS. “Added to their risky practices, they are living in conditions
of extreme poverty, which means they don’t have the money to buy injection
kits.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Programa
Compañeros was founded in 1993 to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS and provide
assistance to patients in Ciudad Juárez, on the <u></u><u></u>U.S.<u></u><u></u> border, where the organisation
estimates that there are about 7,000 intravenous drug users.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“The
(needle swap) programmes function to the extent that drug users have access to
them, but the problem is that this issue overlaps with the questions of
security and drugs,” added Ramos, referring to the deployment of troops
to fight drug trafficking organisations in the border city, which in 2010 had a
population of 1.3 million.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">According to
a project financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
since 2011, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in <u></u><u></u>Mexico<u></u><u></u> is 5.77 percent among
intravenous drug users – 5.4 percent among women and 7.77 percent among
men – compared to 0.24 to 0.3 percent in the general population aged 15
to 49.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The cities
with the largest numbers of intravenous drug users are <u></u>Tijuana<u></u>,
Ciudad Juárez and <u></u><u></u>Hermosillo<u></u><u></u>,
in the north, according to the project “Strengthening the national
strategies of prevention and harm reduction targeting men who have sex with
men, sex workers, and intravenous drug users”.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">There are 28
syringe exchange programmes in this country of 112 million people, insufficient
to serve the entire population of intravenous drug users. The programmes
distribute an average of seven syringes a year to each user, when “more
than 200 per year are needed,” according to the National Report on
Progress in the Fight against AIDS.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The Joint
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that needle exchange
programmes should provide at least 100 per year per user. “The government
does not have a clear policy on the distribution of syringes, because it is not
seen as a priority and because it is not fully understood. This is a form of
transmission that can be easily prevented” but nevertheless,
“access to syringes is difficult,” independent consultant Anuar
Luna told IPS.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">In Ciudad
Juárez and <u></u><u></u>Tijuana<u></u><u></u>,
a city of 1.55 million people with an estimated 10,000 intravenous drug users,
addicts tend to shoot up at spots known as “picaderos”. Each
syringe costs 30 cents of a dollar. Considering that there are some 20,000
intravenous drugs users in <u></u>Tijuana<u></u>, Ciudad
Juárez and <u></u><u></u>Hermosillo<u></u><u></u>
combined, distributing 100 per year to each user would require a budget of
600,000 dollars a year.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">In <u></u><u></u>Tijuana<u></u><u></u>, it is legal to
purchase syringes without a prescription. But there are hurdles to obtaining
them, according to a study carried out in 164 pharmacies in that city, published
in 2011 by the U.S. Harm Reduction Journal. Although 88 percent of the
pharmacies sold syringes, an anonymous buyer only managed to purchase one in
one-third of the cases, the study found.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Mexico</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"> has a target of cutting HIV transmission among intravenous
drug users in half by 2015. To reach that goal, the programme
“Strengthening the national strategies of prevention and harm reduction
targeting men who have sex with men, sex workers, and intravenous drug
users”, financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria, is essential.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The Global
Fund, a public/private partnership, disbursed 26.4 million dollars to attend
the most vulnerable populations in 2011 and 2012. But last year it notified <u></u><u></u>Mexico<u></u><u></u>
that it would not be able to finance the project for the entire five years, and
invited the government to present an alternative proposal for a 12.2 million
dollar project for 2013. Under the project, injection kits and condoms were
distributed in 2011 to 783 people out of a projected total of 1,500, in <u></u>Tijuana<u></u>, Ciudad Juárez, <u></u>Hermosillo<u></u>
and <u></u><u></u>Sonora<u></u><u></u>.
But this year, kits were distributed to 3,464 people, above the goal of 2,300.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><b><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc;font-weight:bold"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_LatinAmericaCaribbean4"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">4</span></font></b></a><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white" lang="FR"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Mujeres con VIH exigen igualdad de
oportunidades <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">La República, Peru<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Jorge
Luis Cerda/<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Hace
seis años en la ciudad del Cusco, Sofía recibió dos terribles noticias. Una
peor que la otra: no solo tenía VIH, sino que había sido contagiada nada menos
que por su propio esposo. Quedó devastada.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Hoy,
a sus 36 años, continúa con su vida como parte de la Red Peruana de Mujeres
Viviendo con VIH (RPM+). Esta asociación tiene como principal reto combatir una
cruda realidad: nueve de cada diez mujeres con VIH han sido contagiadas por su
enamorado, pareja o esposo.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Por
esta razón, junto a otras 200 mujeres seropositivo del país, exigió una serie
de demandas al Estado, entre ellas ser visibles en las políticas públicas y
tener las mismas oportunidades de desarrollo que una persona sin VIH.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"Aún
somos discriminadas. Y en gran parte se debe a la desinformación", es el
lamento de Silvia, una piurana de 38 años que oculta su enfermedad por temor
al rechazo y a malos tratos de la gente.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"Cuando
mis vecinos se enteraron de que tenía VIH no volvieron a invitarme a fiestas. Y
el día que murió mi marido se acercaban a mi ventana a ver si empezaba mi
recaída". Sin embargo, esto no llegó a suceder y disfruta de sus dos
bellas hijas.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Con
todo esto, las integrantes de la RPM+ no tienen tiempo para lamentos. Cada
segundo lo aprovechan en debatir, reunirse, ver qué idea es mejor para todos y
todas. "El Perú ha avanzado en su lucha contra el VIH/Sida, pero aún hay
puntos que mejorar. El acceso a servicios de reproducción sexual y reproductiva
sigue pendiente", comentó la coordinadora de Onusida para el Perú, Regina
Castillo.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">¿Y
qué aspectos dificultan dicho avance? Castillo se refirió a la ley sobre las
relaciones sexuales consentidas entre menores de edad. "Sería de gran
ayuda que se elimine la penalización". Consideró injusto y perjudicial
"criminalizar" a los y las adolescentes.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"Esto
no ayuda a la prevención", agregó. La RPM+ pide por este motivo facilitar
el acceso de los jóvenes a los diferentes servicios de salud a fin de
informarse mejor y evitar males como el VIH.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"No
hay un política que incluya el problema del VIH/Sida en las mujeres en todos
los sectores del Estado", se queja Gloria Ypanaqué, fundadora de la RPM+
en 1998.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Ella
acusa un nuevo feminicidio (también la contagió su pareja) y una
estigmatización contra las mujeres con VIH/Sida. "¿Por qué no confiar en
nuestros esposos? Es lo más natural tener relaciones con ellos. Pero aquí
estamos luchando contra un mal que nosotras no buscamos".<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Encima,
revela que desde hace unos meses lucha también contra el cáncer. "Le estoy
ganando al sida y ¿no voy a ganarle al cáncer?", se pregunta con voz firme
y segura. No hay duda, las mujeres de la RPM+ tienen el corazón preparado para
resistir mil batallas.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Mucha
desinformación<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Para
la representante legal de Promsex, Ysabel Marín, la desinformación sobre el VIH
también está presente en diversas entidades e instituciones del país. "En
Puente Piedra a una joven con VIH le negaron la posibilidad de casarse. Sin
embargo, la ley solo prohíbe el matrimonio en caso de enfermedades
hereditarias".<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Marín
comenta que una mujer con VIH puede alumbrar un bebé sin contagiarle el virus,
pero "nuestras propias autoridades desconocen mucho de este y otros
puntos".<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">"El
municipio reconoció el error, pero se lo atribuyó a una funcionaria. Esto
evidencia que urge una capacitación para nuestras autoridades sobre el VIH y su
problemática".<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Sobre
el contagio de VIH a mujeres por parte de su pareja, Marín opina que hay una
falta de valores como la fidelidad, pero"también hay poca cultura de
prevención". "No creo que un marido contagie adrede a su
señora", sentencia. Sin embargo, la realidad evidencia que aún en la
comodidad del hogar la mujer puede estar librando en silencio una gran batalla
con el VIH.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Minsa
lanzará piloto en Lima<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">El
coordinador de la Estrategia Sanitaria Nacional de Prevención y Control de las ITS/VIH/Sida
del Minsa, José Luis Sebastián Mesones, reveló que en noviembre estará listo un
piloto para que las mujeres con VIH tengan asesoría de otras mujeres que
padecen del mismo mal.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Detalló
que esta nueva experiencia sería como una atención personalizada y se
realizaría en hospitales de Lima como el Cayetano Heredia, Santa Rosa. "Va
a ser de gran ayuda sobre todo para las gestantes con VIH", apuntó el
médico.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Actualmente
en diversos centros de salud del país existe el programa de Consejería de Pares,
a cargo de profesionales que brindan apoyo psicosocial y educación preventiva a
toda persona que vive con el VIH.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Sin
embargo, a diferencia de este programa, el citado piloto sería especialmente
dirigido a mujeres embarazadas con VIH, para evitar el contagio del virus al
recién nacido. Además se brinda apoyo emocional y psicológico.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_LatinAmericaCaribbean5"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="PT-BR">5<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="PT-BR">Niñas: desarrollo con igualdad <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">La Razón, Bolivia<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">11/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Marcoluigi
Corsi<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">El
11 de octubre de 2012 se celebra por primera vez el Día International de la
Niña. Ésta es una buena oportunidad para reconocer los progresos alcanzados en
el mundo en el cumplimiento de sus derechos, pero también para recordar que
muchas de las 600 millones de niñas que viven en los países en desarrollo son
invisibles en la sociedad, viven en la pobreza, son víctimas de la
discriminación de género, de la desigualdad social y están sometidas a
numerosas formas de violencia, abuso y explotación. Naciones Unidas ha querido
destacar en este día una de estas formas de violencia: el matrimonio infantil.
Ejemplo infame de violación de los derechos hacia la niña que afecta todos los
aspectos de su vida: niega su infancia, interrumpe su educación, limita sus
oportunidades, aumenta su riesgo de violencia y abuso y pone en peligro su
salud. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">En
Bolivia, la población adolescente representa el 23% del total. La mayor
cantidad de adolescentes y jóvenes (68% de personas de 10 a 19 años) se
encuentran en las ciudades de Santa Cruz, El Alto, La Paz y Cochabamba. De éste
porcentaje, el 50% son mujeres. De acuerdo con la Encuesta Nacional de
Adolescencia y Juventud 2008, la niñez (comprendida entre 10 y 12 años) es el
sector social más pobre del país, y las niñas las más afectadas por esta
condición social. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"> Según
datos del INE (2008), 364 mil niñas pobres entre cinco a 17 años trabajan,
principalmente realizando labores peligrosas, y más de un millón de ellas
efectúan tareas domésticas, exponiéndolas a riesgos similares. Asimismo, la
violencia continúa siendo uno de los flagelos a los que esta sometida la niñez.
Los juzgados en materia penal y el Ministerio Público indican que, entre 2007 y
2008, los casos de violencia sexual aumentaron levemente, lo preocupante es que
se elevaron en el caso de las niñas. La violencia y la discriminación contra
las niñas y las mujeres subyacen en la cultura bajo un manto de igualdad y
respeto que se desdibuja, con mucha facilidad, para evidenciar la persistencia
de la desigualdad entre los géneros como base de la violencia. Queda mucho por
hacer para promover transformaciones estructurales que garanticen a las niñas
una vida sin violencia. Reconocemos un paso adelante en la lucha contra esta
violación flagrante con la promulgación de la Ley 214 por parte del señor
presidente Evo Morales Ayma, el 31 de diciembre 2011, la cual declara 2012 como
el Año de la no violencia contra la niñez y la adolescencia. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Invertir
en las niñas para que estén sanas, instruidas y empoderadas es un desafío que
repercutirá en la inclusión cultural y no discriminación, justicia social y
desarrollo económico. Garantizar su permanencia con calidad en la escuela
contribuirá a que ellas amplíen sus horizontes de vida, retrasen o reconsideren
sus opciones de vivir en pareja y de planificar su vida reproductiva; aspectos
que repercutirán en ampliar sus proyecciones de vida, sus sueños, aspiraciones
y libertad para tomar sus propias decisiones.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Unicef
junto, con el resto del sistema de las Naciones Unidas, ha propuesto cinco
áreas prioritarias: educación, centrándose en la transición hacia secundaria;
salud, vinculada a habilidades para la vida, prevención de VIH y salud sexual y
reproductiva; erradicación de la violencia, centrada en prevenir toda forma de
violencia basada en género con servicios y acceso a la justicia; promoción,
liderazgo, participación, y generación de información.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Hago
un llamado para que juntos podamos visibilizar a las niñas y otorguemos el
valor que se merecen en nuestras familias y comunidades. Debemos erradicar
cualquier forma de violencia y discriminación, activar y fortalecer los mecanismos
institucionales existentes, y asignar e invertir los recursos humanos y
financieros necesarios para garantizar el cumplimiento de sus derechos. Ese
afán que dirige hoy la voluntad del Estado y de la sociedad por construir la
igualdad tiene que incorporar a las niñas. Ellas pueden fortalecer la
democracia y los ideales de una sociedad mejor postulados en la Bolivia de hoy.
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_LatinAmericaCaribbean7"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="FR">7<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Encontro de jovens vivendo com HIV/Aids do
sudeste quer incentivar participação nos movimentos sociais<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">Agência de Notícias da Aids, Brazil<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="FR">13</span></font></span><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">II
Encontro Regional de Adolescentes e Jovens Vivendo com HIV/Aids da Região
Sudeste, que acontece entre 11 e 14 de outubro em Domingos Martins (ES), tem o
objetivo de incentivar a participação de jovens soropositivos em movimentos
sociais, ONGs e espaços de discussão política.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">O
coordenador do evento, Ralf Barros, lembra que os jovens que participam do II
Encontro Regional devem ter o compromisso de transmitir as informações
adquiridas no evento aos seus estados de origem. “Nosso foco está no
fortalecimento regional da Rede de Jovens. Por isso é importante que os
participantes tenham essa consciência de levar o debate às suas bases”,
disse.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Para
participar do evento o jovem deve ter entre 14 a 29 anos, residir na região
Sudeste e também estar em condições de saúde para viajar e participar das
atividades do encontro. Cada estado teve direito a 20 vagas, sendo duas delas
destinadas a profissionais de saúde e a pessoas que estejam vinculadas a
instituições ou movimentos sociais de aids.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Na
sua segunda edição, o encontro de adolescentes e jovens soropositivos do
Sudeste foi organizado pelo Fórum de ONG Aids do Espírito Santo, em parceria
com a RNAJVHA (Rede Nacional de Adolescentes e Jovens vivendo com HIV/Aids ). O
evento é financiado pelo Departamento de DST, Aids e Hepatites Virais do
Ministério da Saúde, com apoio da Coordenação de DST-Aids do Espírito Santo. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Redação
da Agência de Notícias da Aids<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">NORTH AMERICA</span></font></b></span><u></u><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB"><u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Medical schools join effort to battle AIDS in <u></u><u></u>Rwanda<u></u><u></u>
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">New York Times<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">14/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Eric
Goosby, the ambassador in charge of the <u></u>U.S.<u></u>
global AIDS strategy, was expected to announce a new initiative between the <u></u>U.S.<u></u> government, the Rwandan Ministry of Health
and 14 American medical schools at a press conference Monday in <u></u><u></u>Kigali<u></u>, <u></u>Rwanda<u></u><u></u>.
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
Human Resources for Health program will send 100 faculty members from eight
medical colleges, five nursing and midwifery schools, and one health management
school to <u></u><u></u>Kigali<u></u><u></u>
where they will train health professionals and medical students, according to a
statement from the Clinton Global Initiative. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">In
the future, the <u></u><u></u>U.S.<u></u><u></u>
faculty will also help introduce specialized care, like cardiology and
oncology. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">“For
the first time in history, the U.S. government has allowed for the direct
government transfer of funds to a health sector program where the recipient
country sets the terms of the program and contracts and manages the
program,” a representative for the Rwandan Ministry of Health said by
email. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
two governments, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and
the universities have committed $152 million to the seven-year program. By
allowing the Rwandan government primary control over how the funds are used,
the set-up allows the program to operate without relying on a third-party
nonprofit organization. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">—
STEPHANIE NOVAK <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_NorthAmerica2"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">2<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">U.N. Launches Global Campaign to Abolish Child
Marriages<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">IPS News Agency<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">By
Thalif Deen<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">UNITED
NATIONS, Oct 11 2012 (IPS) - The United Nations has launched a global campaign
to abolish an anachronistic social practice still prevalent in some communities
around the world: child marriages.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“International
conventions declare that child marriage is a violation of human rights because
it denies girls the right to decide when and with whom to marry,” says a
new report released Thursday by the U.N.Population Fund (UNFPA).<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The launch
also marked the first International Day of the Girl Child – Oct. 11
– as designated by the 193-member General Assembly last year in order
“to recognize girls’ rights and highlight the unique challenges
girls face around the world”.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Over 67
million women, 20 to 24 years old in 2010, had been married as girls. Half were
in Asia, one-fifth in <u></u>Africa<u></u>, the study said. And
in the next decade, 14.2 million girls under 18 will be married every year.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">If present
trends continue, this will rise to an average of 15.1 million girls a year,
starting in 2021 until 2030, according to the study titled “Marrying too
Young: End Child Marriage”.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">UNFPA
Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, who is highly critical of the
practice, says he is determined to help abolish child marriages worldwide.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“No
social, cultural or religious rationale for child marriage can possibly justify
the damage these marriages do to young girls and their potential,” he
said. “A girl should have the right to choose whom she marries and when.
Since many parents and communities also want the very best for their daughters,
we must work together to end child marriage”.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“It is
the only course by which we can avert what otherwise is the human tragedy of
child marriage,” he said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Dr.
Osotimehin also said that child marriage is an appalling violation of human
rights and robs girls of their education, health and long-term prospects.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“Marriage
for girls can lead to complications of pregnancy and childbirth – the
main causes of death among 15-19-year-old girls in developing countries,”
he added.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Dr.
Osotimehin also expressed concern over the 14-year-old Pakistani school girl
who was shot Wednesday for being an education rights campaigner in her home
country.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The campaign
to abolish child marriages has strong support from several U.N. agencies,
including UN Women, the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF, and international
human rights organisations such as Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to
End Child Marriage and Human Rights Watch.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Michelle
Bachelet, executive director of UN Women, told IPS that UN Women welcomes the
UNFPA report on child marriage.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“The
report should be a wake-up call to all of us that we need to take strong action
to end child marriage,” she said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">She said no
girl should be robbed of her childhood, her education and health, and her
aspirations.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“Yet
today more than 14 million girls are denied their rights each year when they
are married as child brides. UN Women calls on all governments and all people
to stop child marriage and protect the rights of girls,” said Bachelet.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Anju
Malhotra, of the Gender and Rights Section at UNICEF, said the International
Day of the Girl Child readily reflects the need to put girls’ rights at
the centre of development.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“The
U.N. and partners are coming together to show the incredible progress made and
to highlight the ongoing challenges,” she said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">In a statement
released Thursday, UNICEF said in <u></u><u></u>India<u></u><u></u>, one of the countries in the
world with the largest number of girls being married before their 18th
birthday, child marriage has declined nationally and in nearly all states from
54 percent in 1992-1993 to 43 percent in 2007-2008, but the pace of change is
slow.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Experiences
in contexts as diverse as Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Ethiopia, India,
Niger, Senegal and Somalia show how combining legal measures with support to
communities, providing viable alternatives – especially schooling –
and enabling communities to discuss and reach the explicit, collective decision
to end child marriage yield positive results, UNICEF said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">In a report
released Thursday, Human Rights Watch said it has documented human rights
violations against married girls and boys in <u></u>Afghanistan<u></u>,
<u></u>Bangladesh<u></u>, <u></u>India<u></u>, <u></u>Iraq<u></u>,
<u></u>Kenya<u></u>, <u></u>Kyrgyzstan<u></u>, <u></u>Nepal<u></u>,
<u></u>Papua New Guinea<u></u>, South
Sudan, and <u></u><u></u>Yemen<u></u><u></u>.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The
testimonies of the children interviewed illustrate the profoundly detrimental
impact of child marriage on their physical and mental well-being, education,
and children’s ability to live free of violence.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The
consequences of child marriage do not end when child brides reach adulthood,
but often follow them throughout their lives as they struggle with the health
effects of getting pregnant too young and too often, their lack of education
and economic independence, domestic violence, and marital rape.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Asked it was
fair – or unfair – to say that most child marriages take place in
Muslim countries, Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the women’s right’s
division at Human Rights Watch, told IPS, “It is very unfair to say this,
as child marriage happens in many different communities, including Christian
ones.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">To give a few
examples, she said, in Burkino Faso, 48 percent of girls now between the ages
of 20 and 24 were married before they reached 18; in <u></u>Cameroon<u></u>,
the figure is 36 percent; in the <u></u><u></u>Central African Republic<u></u><u></u> it is 61
percent; and in the Democratic Republic of Congo is 39 percent.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“These
are UNICEF figures, so they are as reliable as it is possible for them to
be,” she said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Meanwhile,
the UNFPA announced it will invest an additional 20 million dollars over the
next five years to reach “the most marginalized adolescent girls in 12
countries with high rates of child marriage”. The countries include <u></u>Guatemala<u></u>, <u></u>India<u></u>,
<u></u>Niger<u></u> and <u></u><u></u>Zambia<u></u><u></u>.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“This
investment will allow UNFPA to deliver more systematic and integrated
programmes at scale to support married and unmarried girls aged 10-18 years
that are at risk of dropping out of school, child marriage, and adolescent
pregnancy,” said Dr. Osotimehin, UNFPA’s executive director.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The New
York-based Ford Foundation also pitched in with a 25-million-dollar commitment
to help end child marriages worldwide.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_NorthAmerica3"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">3<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">AIDS — an issue that hits close to home
in <u></u><u></u>Miami<u></u><u></u> <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Miami</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB"> Herald<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">15/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">BY
GUILLERMO CHACON<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><a href="http://www.nlaad.org" target="_blank">www.nlaad.org</a><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">HIV/AIDS
is a significant health threat to Hispanic/Latino communities in the United
States, affecting every segment of the country. According to the CDC, Hispanics/Latinos
progress to AIDS faster than any other racial or ethnic group, with 42 percent
being diagnosed with AIDS within 12 months after learning of their positive HIV
status compared to 34 percent late diagnosis among white non-Hispanic and 35 percent
among blacks.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">In
addition, the rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic/Latina women is more
than four times that of white women, and the rate of new HIV infections among
Hispanic/Latino men is almost three times that among white men.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Oct.
15 commemorates the 10th annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD)
— a national community mobilization campaign that was established in 2003
by the Latino Commission on AIDS in response to the devastating impact of HIV
and AIDS on Hispanic/Latino communities nationwide. NLAAD unites the diverse
Hispanic/Latino community in an effort to raise HIV awareness, promote HIV
testing, prevention and education. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">With
no single Hispanic/Latino culture in the United States, the factors driving the
epidemic in this population are as diverse as the communities themselves
— socioeconomic factors, stigma, cultural factors, high rates of sexually
transmitted diseases and higher rates of HIV — make up the complex
catalysts driving the high rates of HIV/AIDS in the Hispanic/Latino community.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">As
a member of the Hispanic/Latino community, this issue hits close to home. All
members of the Hispanic/Latino community should talk to their friends, family,
partners, coworkers and neighbors about taking the test and reducing risky behaviors.
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">We
all know that HIV/AIDS is a global and national problem, but as the US HIV/AIDS
strategy reminds us, first and foremost — it is a local problem. There
are approximately 25,711 people known to be living with HIV/AIDS in Miami and
of that total number, approximately 39.7 percent are Hispanic/Latino.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">The
good news is that individuals for the first time ever now have access to a
rapid in-home HIV test they can take in the comfort and privacy of their own
homes, creating a testing option for those who may not seek testing due to fear
of stigma associated with HIV in the community. Rapid in-home testing uses oral
fluid by way of a mouth swab and provides results in just 20 twenty minutes. In
addition, there are many other places to get tested including hospitals,
clinics, community-based organizations and physician offices. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">NLAAD
is a perfect opportunity to encourage Hispanic/Latinos to learn more about
HIV/AIDS and get tested to find out their status. By educating people early on
how to protect themselves — and helping them learn their status earlier
– we can reduce the number of AIDS-related deaths and sooner connect
those who are infected to medical care.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Knowing
your status is the best thing. In honor of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day,
I urge all members of the Hispanic/Latino community to get tested. People can
call 1-866-436-6527or begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 1-866-436-6527or
end_of_the_skype_highlighting visit <a href="http://www.nlaad.org" target="_blank">www.nlaad.org</a> to learn more about rapid
in-home HIV testing and where to order the test.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Guillermo
Chacon is president of the Latino Commission on AIDS.</span></font></span><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="EN-GB"><br>
<br>
</span></font></span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_NorthAmerica5"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">5<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Poverty Fight Risks Setback, World Bank Chief
Warns <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Wall Street Journal<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">By
SUDEEP REDDY <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">TOKYO</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">—The latest troubles roiling the global economy
risk devastating many developing countries and hitting its poorest people,
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said Thursday.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"Our
major concern is making sure all the gains that we've seen from the growth over
the last five to 10 years are not wiped out by the crisis," Dr. Kim said
in an interview ahead of his first meeting of the bank's shareholders. "We
need to protect the developing countries from the impact of a recession."<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Dr.
Kim, a physician and anthropologist, took his post in July as the first bank
president without a background in finance or politics. Many of his predecessors
waded into the intricacies of international finance, becoming heavyweights in
the economic concerns of even the world's richest countries. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Dr.
Kim is shaping up more as a poverty-fighting evangelist, aiming to draw
attention to concerns often cast aside early in a downturn. In just two days in
<u></u>Japan<u></u>, he has recounted his
own long history of development work in Siberian prisons, Peruvian settlements
and on the ground in poverty-stricken <u></u><u></u>Haiti<u></u><u></u>.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">His task now:
persuading the world to worry about developing countries as other crises erupt
from Europe to the Middle East to <u></u>Asia<u></u>.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Focusing on
poverty in times of crisis, particularly by spurring private-sector investment,
helps lay the groundwork for economic development decades from now, he said.
"This is not about charity. This is a commitment to the global economy of
the future."<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Just over 100
days into the job, the bank chief is trying to reorient what is widely seen as
a deeply bureaucratic institution. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The World
Bank, best known for making loans and providing guidance to developing nations,
has been partly supplanted by easier access to finance in developing economies.
Some of its biggest clients for decades, such as <u></u>Brazil<u></u>
and <u></u><u></u>China<u></u><u></u>,
have emerged as economic powerhouses that need the expertise of the bank's
development experts far more than its money.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Approvals for
projects can be byzantine, stymied by internal procedures and external barriers
in governments that need help.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Among his
goals, he plans to tell the bank's shareholders in a speech Friday, is to
orient the institution as a "solutions bank" that focuses on
gathering the world's insight about development and sharing the approaches more
broadly.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Dr.
Kim said the World Bank was even having "informal conversations" with
some euro-zone nations about providing guidance on improving their economies.
For instance, the bank has offered technical assistance from its
experts—rather than money—to help <u></u><u></u>Greece<u></u><u></u> fix its problems, he has
said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">One
of his other main goals: Set new targets to cut poverty.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">About
22% of the world's seven billion people live in absolute poverty, measured as
people making $1.25 a day or less. That is on track to drop by one percentage
point a year, which would take more than two decades to end poverty.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">In
early July, during his first week on the job at the bank's headquarters in <u></u><u></u>Washington<u></u><u></u>, Dr. Kim
instructed top officials to prepare new goals for reducing poverty at a faster
pace. They are now studying the numbers to establish a "reasonable and
audacious" goal to reduce poverty "dramatically," he said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
World Bank should be prepared to announce its new goal by next fall's meeting.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"It's
daunting because we're in the middle of a difficult economic time," Dr.
Kim said. But setting a target with an end date will help the bank change
internally and reorient its existing work around that goal. "Targets
change the way people behave."<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Any
change in poverty targets is likely to draw skepticism inside and outside the
bank, given the global slowdown and the difficulty of finding new approaches to
addressing the problem.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"I
think it's always better to be too ambitious than not ambitious enough,
especially when poverty reduction is the goal," said development expert
Dani Rodrik, a <u></u><u></u>Harvard<u></u>
<u></u>University<u></u><u></u> economist.
"But new targets must recognize that we are likely entering a period of
lower growth."<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">China's
rapid expansion for the past three decades accounts for the bulk of global
poverty reduction, and growth rates that high will be difficult to achieve in
any country in the near future, he said. "With modest growth, significant
poverty reduction will require redistributive policies, and these are both
politically hard and economically not very effective," Mr. Rodrik said.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Dr.
Kim, who was born in <u></u>Seoul<u></u> and immigrated to the
<u></u><u></u>U.S.<u></u><u></u>
at age 5, is the first Asian-American to lead the World Bank or its sister
institution, the International Monetary Fund.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Asked
Thursday whether he could do the "Gangnam Style" dance, a hit by the
Korean rapper Psy that has gone viral on the Internet, Dr. Kim said: "Let
me say that I've tried." He called it "hilarious" and
"infectious" and said his 3-year-old son "dances around doing
Gangnam Style all the time."<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The
song's international reception demonstrated how <u></u><u></u>South Korea<u></u><u></u> is trying to broaden
its economic reach, Dr. Kim said. About 90% of movies and music consumed by
Koreans are made in their country. "This is part of their economic
strategy. They want to be the producer of the most popular cultural products in
the world."<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">"There's
a degree of irony there that didn't used to exist 20 years ago in Korean
musical productions," he said. "It's an indication of their
aspirations."<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic" lang="EN-GB">Write to Sudeep Reddy at <a href="mailto:sudeep.reddy@wsj.com" target="_blank">sudeep.reddy@wsj.com</a> <u></u><u></u></span></font></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic" lang="EN-GB">A version of this article appeared October 12, 2012, on page
A9 in the <u></u><u></u>U.S.<u></u><u></u>
edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Poverty Fight Risks
Setback, World Bank Chief Warns<u></u><u></u></span></font></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><b><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS WEB.SITE<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">========================<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS calls for shared responsibility to meet
AIDS investment gap in francophone countries<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">Press release<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">KINSHASA, DRC, 12 Oct
2012—Member states of the International Organization of La Francophonie
(IOF) have made progress towards the goals of the 2011 United Nations Political
Declaration on AIDS, according to a <a href="http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2012/JC2413_201210_francophonie-summit-kinshasa_en.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"">new
report from UNAIDS</span></font></a> entitled “<i><span style="font-style:italic">Decision Point La Francophonie: No new HIV infections, no one denied
treatment</span></i>.” Results vary widely and—among IOF countries
in sub-Saharan Africa—progress is lagging in key areas such as preventing
new HIV infections among children and scaling up HIV treatment.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">“The end of the
global AIDS epidemic now appears to be attainable,” notes President Abdou
Diouf, Secretary-General of La Francophonie. He adds: “This report
reveals that the fruits of success are not equally distributed within the
French-speaking world—an illustration of the fundamental inequalities
that exist both within La Francophonie and in the wider world.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">A total of US $2.6 billion
will be needed annually by 2015 to address the AIDS response in IOF countries
of sub-Saharan Africa, according to the report, released on the eve of the 14th
<u></u>Summit<u></u> of the La Francophonie in <u></u><u></u>Kinshasa<u></u><u></u>. Based on current
investment trends, the estimated AIDS funding gap for these countries will be
US$ 1.5 billion. Filling this gap will require a significant boost in
investment from both international donors and countries, the report finds.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">“The international community
must meet its commitments for francophone <u></u>Africa<u></u>,
and high-income francophone countries must take the lead,” said Mr
Sidibé. “At the same time, low- and middle-income francophone countries
must also increase their share of investments based on economic strength and
disease burden.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Bridging the investment gap<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">According to the report, low- and
middle-income IOF countries in sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u>
have the capacity to scale up domestic AIDS resources by increasing health
spending in line with economic growth and by reallocating HIV resources
according to each country’s relative burden of disease.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Based on these assumptions, IOF
countries in sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u> could boost
annual domestic AIDS spending by at least US$ 120 million by 2015—a 70%
increase over current funding levels. The report calls on international
partners to fill the remaining investment gap of approximately US$ 1.4
billion—a 160% increase over current funding commitments.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">HIV treatment<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">An estimated 826 000 people in low-
and middle-income IOF countries were receiving HIV treatment in 2011, up from
just 26 000 in 2003, according to the report. Increased access to HIV treatment
in IOF countries resulted in a nearly 30% decline in AIDS-related deaths
between 2004 and 2011.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Despite commendable progress, an
estimated 970 000 people are still waiting to access life-saving HIV treatment
in IOF countries—accounting for 14% of the global treatment gap.
Moreover, there are wide disparities in treatment coverage: two IOF member
states, <u></u>Rwanda<u></u> and <u></u><u></u>Cambodia<u></u><u></u>,
have reached more than 80% coverage of antiretroviral therapy while some
countries provide less than 5% coverage.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Taken as a whole, IOF countries in
sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u> achieved 43% coverage of
HIV treatment in 2011 compared to 59% coverage in non-IOF countries in the
region. Among IOF countries in the region, just one in five pregnant women
living with HIV has access to antiretroviral therapy for her own health and
only 15% of children eligible for HIV treatment are receiving it.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Preventing new HIV infections among
children<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Programmes to prevent new HIV
infections among children are gaining momentum across sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u>. Among IOF countries in the region, there was an
estimated 34% decline in new HIV infections between 2005 and 2011—from 73
000 to 48 000.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Despite progress, an estimated 450
000 children are living with HIV in low- and middle-income IOF member states of
sub-Saharan Africa; coverage of HIV medicines to prevent transmission of HIV
from pregnant women to their children in these countries remains low, at 36%.
This compares to 62% coverage among non-IOF countries in the region.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">A roadmap to accelerate progress<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Speaking at today’s press
conference, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé urged francophone leaders
across the globe to collectively push forward the AIDS response in IOF member
states. “It is decision time for La Francophonie,” said Michel
Sidibé. “While our actions so far are laudable, they will not take us to
the finish line. We must redouble our efforts for the AIDS response and act
decisively,” he added.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">For the 29 francophone countries in <u></u>Africa<u></u>, the African <i><span style="font-style:italic">Union’s
Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global Solidarity</span></i> has defined the
steps needed in financing, health governance and access to medicines to help
countries build long-term, sustainable solutions to HIV. The
Roadmap—launched under the leadership of President Boni Yayi of <u></u><u></u>Benin<u></u><u></u>—was
endorsed in July 2012 by African Heads of State and Government.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic">In 2011, an
estimated 3.1 million people were living with HIV in low- and middle income IOF
countries in sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u>, accounting
for 10% of the global total. HIV prevalence varies widely among member
countries in sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u>—from
less than 0.3% to 5% of the adult population.<u></u><u></u></span></font></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_FromUNAIDSorg02"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">2<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">14th Francophonie Summit: Shared
Responsibility and Global Solidarity on the Agenda of UNAIDS and Heads of State
<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">13/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">At the opening of the XIV
Francophonie Summit, held from 12 to 14 October 2012 in <u></u>Kinshasa<u></u>,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, French President François Hollande confirmed
the commitment of <u></u><u></u>France<u></u><u></u>
to continue the development of innovative financing through taxes, like the tax
on airline tickets, and those on financial transactions which are already in
place. The President of France aims to increase the financial potential of
these tools, and encouraged European countries to join these mechanisms, whose
revenues are "directly allocated to the fight against AIDS," he said.
This strong commitment to finance the AIDS response by President Hollande
reflects the policy of "shared responsibility" advocated by UNAIDS,
which calls on international donors, including members of the Francophonie, to
honour their commitments.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">The opening of the <u></u><u></u>Summit<u></u><u></u> also featured the
establishment of a "Forum of Francophone Women", uniting more than
500 women in 2013. With this initiative, <u></u><u></u>France<u></u><u></u> emphasizes its commitment to
the fight for violence against women, who are "the first victims of violence
and war," according to President Hollande, and echoed the position of
UNAIDS that ending violence against women is essential to reduce HIV
transmission. Underscoring the unchangeable status of the Congolese borders and
the need for peace in North and <u></u>South Kivu<u></u>,
President Hollande stressed that any conflict is an obstacle to development and
the advancement of health.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB">This view was also
emphasized by Macky Sall, the President of Senegal, who highlighted the
importance of peace and democracy in achieving the Millennium Development Goals
4, 5 and 6. Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organization of
the Francophonie, also made a call to respect the choices made by citizens.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="EN-GB"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The speeches delivered by Heads of
States at the opening echoed the key messages delivered on the eve of the
Summit by Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, when he launched the
report "Decision Point La Francophonie: No New HIV Infections, No One
Denied Treatment." Sidibé highlighted that Francophonie member states have
made progress towards the goals of the UN 2011 Political Declaration on
HIV/AIDS, but that "the access to HIV treatment in the Francophonie
countries of sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u> (43%) is lower
than among non-Francophonie countries in the same region (59%).
"Innovation in the most advanced countries of the Francophonie should
benefit the poor," he said, stressing that "Francophonie countries in
sub-Saharan <u></u>Africa<u></u> should also increase the
proportion of their investments in AIDS as a proportion of their economic
growth and the burden of disease."<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">The concept of shared responsibility
advanced in this report was reflected by President Hollande's commitment to
innovative financing and by other initiatives highlighted by Michel Sidibé. <u></u>Equatorial Guinea<u></u> is now providing 100% of the
funding to cover the cost of HIV treatment, <u></u>Congo<u></u>
has committed to increase its domestic funding by 50%, and <u></u><u></u>Burkina Faso<u></u><u></u> has committed to
double its investments in AIDS. During Michel Sidibé's meeting with Prime
Minister Matata Poyo and Health Minister Felix Kabange Numbi of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, they confirmed the commitment of President Kabila to reach
an AIDS-free generation, and increase the government’s share of the
national AIDS response from 3% to 6% in 2013.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">Minister Yamina Benguigui, <u></u>France<u></u>'s Minister for la Francophonie, who also
participated in the launch of the report, noted that <u></u><u></u>France<u></u><u></u>'s contribution to
international AIDS response will not diminish. Minister Benguigui also
highlighted the importance of collaboration with UNAIDS to develop programmes
that will preserve the rights and dignity of women in the Global Forum of
Francophone Women.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">At the summit, UNAIDS opened its
booth in the <u></u>Francophonie<u></u> <u></u>Village<u></u>, which featured information and documentation
for <u></u><u></u>Summit<u></u><u></u>
participants. The booth was visited by Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the
OIF, and <u></u><u></u>Youssou N'Dour<u></u>, <u></u>Senegal<u></u><u></u>'s Minister of Culture, both
accompanied by Michel Sidibé.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial">As host of the <u></u>Summit<u></u>,
the city of <u></u><u></u>Kinshasa<u></u><u></u>
launched a public campaign reflecting the theme "The Francophonie and an
AIDS-free generation", which featured three messages: "One million
people waiting for access to HIV treatment," "Elimination of HIV
transmission from mother to child is possible," and "Shared
Responsibility and Global Solidarity. " These key UNAIDS messages were on
display during the opening ceremony of the Francophone Summit.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><a name="13a6455a1ef78fa4_FromUNAIDSorg03"><b><font color="white" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:white;font-weight:bold" lang="EN-GB">3<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">Equatorial
Guinea</span></font></span><u></u><u></u><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB"> increases domestic
investments for AIDS <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="EN-GB">UNAIDS<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#e93e35" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#e93e35" lang="ES-TRAD">12/10/2012<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font color="#ff99cc" face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#ff99cc" lang="ES-TRAD"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">Press
statement<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">GENEVA,
12 October 2012––The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) recognizes Equatorial Guinea’s efforts in financing its entire
national AIDS response from domestic resources. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema
Mbasogo stated that “Equatorial Guinea is financing its national programmes
on school HIV/AIDS prevention, condom distribution and the financing of
antiretrovirals for infected populations.” He made the statement at a
special side event organized by the African Union at the United Nations General
Assembly meeting in New York last month.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">“Equatorial
Guinea is an example of how country ownership and shared responsibility for the
AIDS response can reduce AIDS dependency,” said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS
Executive Director. “As a high-income country in Africa, it has taken
responsibility for investing in the AIDS response from domestic sources. Now a
concerted effort is needed to expand HIV programmes in the country to stop new
HIV infections and ensure that everyone who is eligible for treatment has
access.”<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">HIV
prevalence is high in Equatorial Guinea. At the end of 2009, around 5% of the
adult population were living with the virus, an estimated 20 000 people.
According to its 2012 country progress report, more than 4500 people have
access to antiretroviral therapy in Equatorial Guinea—48% of people
eligible for treatment in 2011. The report also states that less than 19% of
pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral therapy to stop HIV
transmission to their children, compared to 57% who have access globally.<u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.0pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial" lang="PT-BR">The
United Nations Development Programme, at the request of the government, is
supporting the procurement of antiretroviral medicines and HIV testing kits.
The United Nations Country Team is providing technical support. UNAIDS will
continue to support Equatorial Guinea in further accelerating its AIDS response
and achieving the 2015 global AIDS targets. <u></u><u></u></span></font></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>HIV TWG Listserv<br><br>Address to post message: <a href="mailto:hivaids-twg@ngocentre.org.vn">hivaids-twg@ngocentre.org.vn</a><br><br>Subscribe to the listserv: <a href="http://mailman.ngocentre.org.vn/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hivaids-twg">http://mailman.ngocentre.org.vn/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hivaids-twg</a> <br>