Nairobi - Kenya's HIV and AIDS prevalence and new infections have declined over the last three years, says National AIDS Control Council Director Professor Alloys Orago.
The director said new infections had dropped from 60 000 in 2005 to 55 000 in 2006, he however stressed that women and girls were the most affected and needed more sensitisation.
National AIDS Control Council Chairman Professor Miriam said remarkable behaviour change is being reported among the youth who are now abstaining from sex.
They addressed the impact of AIDS on women and girls by exploring issues such as poverty, violence against women, children's rights and access to decision-making and resources.read more
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
How other countries are coping with the spread of HIV/AIDS
Thailand
The government launched a "100 per cent condom programme" in the mid-1990s. The focus was to ensure that sex workers practised safe sex. The use of condoms in "commercial" sex has jumped to 90 per cent. The programme instructs sex workers to refuse intercourse without condoms, monitoring health clinic statistics to locate brothels that allowed sex without protection.
Singapore
Soon after the first reported case of AIDS, the government set up an action plan to protect and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS among sex workers.read more
The government launched a "100 per cent condom programme" in the mid-1990s. The focus was to ensure that sex workers practised safe sex. The use of condoms in "commercial" sex has jumped to 90 per cent. The programme instructs sex workers to refuse intercourse without condoms, monitoring health clinic statistics to locate brothels that allowed sex without protection.
Singapore
Soon after the first reported case of AIDS, the government set up an action plan to protect and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS among sex workers.read more
What are the risks from occasional unprotected sex?
HIV levels have been shown to be very high in anal mucosa (the lining of your bottom) and if your partner is uncircumcised, the inside layer of his foreskin is an easy surface for the virus to pass though.
Viral load is one of the most important risk factors and treatment will bring this down to very low levels throughout your body.
There will always be a risk of transmission - whether this is 1 in 100 or 1 in 10,000. This would be lower if your viral load was undetectable, but it would involve you taking treatment perhaps a year or two earlier than current guidelines recommend.read more
Viral load is one of the most important risk factors and treatment will bring this down to very low levels throughout your body.
There will always be a risk of transmission - whether this is 1 in 100 or 1 in 10,000. This would be lower if your viral load was undetectable, but it would involve you taking treatment perhaps a year or two earlier than current guidelines recommend.read more
Family to Sue US Government Against HIV Patient's Death in Custody
Arrelano's family plans to file a wrongful death suit against the U.S. government that claims Arrelano was denied vital medical treatment while in custody. According to the Times, the case highlights an 'inadequate, even dangerous, medical system for the nearly 30,000 undocumented immigrants in custody nationwide.' Sue.
When Arrelano's condition became critical, he was transferred to a San Pedro hospital and died several days later, according to the Times. Lorri Jean -- chief executive of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, which provided treatment to Arrelano two years ago -- said she has 'no doubt' Arrelano died because he was 'denied the medications that [he] needed to stay alive.'read more
When Arrelano's condition became critical, he was transferred to a San Pedro hospital and died several days later, according to the Times. Lorri Jean -- chief executive of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, which provided treatment to Arrelano two years ago -- said she has 'no doubt' Arrelano died because he was 'denied the medications that [he] needed to stay alive.'read more
Selam Tesfaye, Ethiopia, 'My own father gave me HIV'
ADDIS ABABA, Selam Tesfaye* was born and raised in Mekele, northern Ethiopia. At the age of 13 she was raped by her father, who also infected her with HIV. This is her story.
"One night
I had a stomach-ache and went to my father for help. He gave me an injection, saying that it would relive the pain. Shortly afterwards I felt dizzy and become unconscious. The next day I woke up very sick and when I tried to go to the bathroom to urinate I discovered that I had been raped.
He was put in prison for a brief period and released on bail. "After he was released, news of his HIV status reached me, but I could not confirm the story as I had moved in with my aunt again. I was not aware of my own HIV status until I had a disagreement with my cousin and she said that I had AIDS. I was devastated, because even if I was aware that my father had the virus, I did not know that he had given it to me. read more
"One night
I had a stomach-ache and went to my father for help. He gave me an injection, saying that it would relive the pain. Shortly afterwards I felt dizzy and become unconscious. The next day I woke up very sick and when I tried to go to the bathroom to urinate I discovered that I had been raped.He was put in prison for a brief period and released on bail. "After he was released, news of his HIV status reached me, but I could not confirm the story as I had moved in with my aunt again. I was not aware of my own HIV status until I had a disagreement with my cousin and she said that I had AIDS. I was devastated, because even if I was aware that my father had the virus, I did not know that he had given it to me. read more
News - HIV cases increase across region
David Greenway, from the trust in Yorkshire,was commenting on figures released by the Health Protection Agency, which said about 63,500 UK adults were living with HIV in 2005 - with as many as a third unaware of their infection.
He said: “We can prevent new infections by hammering home those safer sex messages to people most at risk of HIV.
“The message is clear: use a condom, and get tested if you think you’ve been at risk of infection.
“To bring numbers down, we must make it easier and faster to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.”
read more
He said: “We can prevent new infections by hammering home those safer sex messages to people most at risk of HIV.
“The message is clear: use a condom, and get tested if you think you’ve been at risk of infection.
“To bring numbers down, we must make it easier and faster to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.”
read more
South African HIV trial gets long-awaited go ahead
A clinical trial investigating ways to prevent newborns from contracting HIV through breast milk is set to proceed in South Africa, following a court judgement overruling the apparent reluctance of the country's drugs regulators to let the trial go ahead. 
South Africa's Medicines Control Council (MCC) finally approved the trial last week (30 July) after a protracted battle between the MCC and paediatric HIV/AIDS researchers that ended in court.
The situation highlights problems in scaling up HIV/AIDS research in South Africa. The Sydney Declaration at the recent International AIDS Society conference in Australia (22–28 July) called for an increase in research in the developing world (see Scientists: Don't neglect HIV/AIDS research).
read more
South Africa's Medicines Control Council (MCC) finally approved the trial last week (30 July) after a protracted battle between the MCC and paediatric HIV/AIDS researchers that ended in court.
The situation highlights problems in scaling up HIV/AIDS research in South Africa. The Sydney Declaration at the recent International AIDS Society conference in Australia (22–28 July) called for an increase in research in the developing world (see Scientists: Don't neglect HIV/AIDS research).
read more
Breastfeeding Reduces a Baby's Risk of HIV, Death, Diarrhea
On March 30, 2007, Doctors in the UN proposed changes in their guidelines about HIV+ women and breastfeeding. New research has demonstrated that nursing actually lowers the baby's risk of HIV infection. Many organizations recommend that HIV+ mothers bottle-feed their infants whenever possible, but these policies may soon change. Moreover, the urge to wait to introduce solids until six months may become stronger.
In Africa, women are more likely to supplement with formula and solids before si
x months than breastfeed exclusively. Breastfeeding and supplementing with solids raises a baby's risk of HIV infection eleven-fold. Supplementing with formula doubles the risk. This was true for babies of HIV+ mothers in the study, but other information tells us that exclusively breastfeeding -- just for six months -- decreases the risk for all babies.
We've had information about this since 1998, when a report demonstrated that exclusively breastfeeding may decrease the chances of HIV transmission. Another, larger trial in 2005 showed that babies given supplements before six months of age were three times more likely to become infected with HIV. A controlled study was then done by Coovadia and colleagues' where that factor was considered, producing more conclusive results: breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life can help prevent HIV.read more
In Africa, women are more likely to supplement with formula and solids before si
x months than breastfeed exclusively. Breastfeeding and supplementing with solids raises a baby's risk of HIV infection eleven-fold. Supplementing with formula doubles the risk. This was true for babies of HIV+ mothers in the study, but other information tells us that exclusively breastfeeding -- just for six months -- decreases the risk for all babies.We've had information about this since 1998, when a report demonstrated that exclusively breastfeeding may decrease the chances of HIV transmission. Another, larger trial in 2005 showed that babies given supplements before six months of age were three times more likely to become infected with HIV. A controlled study was then done by Coovadia and colleagues' where that factor was considered, producing more conclusive results: breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life can help prevent HIV.read more
Singapore To Launch New Strategy In Fight Against HIV
Singapore's health officials are pushing a new strategy based on the Australian model, to effectively fight the spread of HIV. Dr. Balaji Sadasivan, senior minister of state, after visiting Sydney, Australia last month, said a close cooperation is needed between the government and non-governmental organizations in battling HIV.
Data from Singapore showed that the number of new HIV cases recorded 357 more or up by 26 percent from last year. Most HIV cases were spread through homosexual sex.
The new strategy calls for the government and the NGOs working with MSMs to better educate them.
"The Ministry of Health (MOH) wants to do health prevention through safe sex, but the Media Development Authority says that anything gay is not allowed. It's a conundrum we're in," he addsread more
Data from Singapore showed that the number of new HIV cases recorded 357 more or up by 26 percent from last year. Most HIV cases were spread through homosexual sex.
The new strategy calls for the government and the NGOs working with MSMs to better educate them.
"The Ministry of Health (MOH) wants to do health prevention through safe sex, but the Media Development Authority says that anything gay is not allowed. It's a conundrum we're in," he addsread more
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
