21:40 09.11.2008 | All news from "AIDS/HIV"
Africa: Daily HIV/Aids Report
Gates Says 'Strong Voice' Is Needed To Ensure Impoverished People Worldwide Do Not Suffer From Financial Crisis
[Nov 05, 2008]
Bill Gates on Wednesday in New Delhi said that he is concerned the global financial crisis could last two to three years and prompt wealthy nations to reduce spending on health aid for developing countries, Reuters India reports. According to Gates, the world's most impoverished people will suffer most during the economic crisis and a "strong voice" is needed to ensure that they remain a priority. "We certainly are concerned that some of the rich world governments could either reduce their increase or even cut back the amount they spend on these issues," Gates said, adding, "We have to admit that getting that generosity gets even more challenging when there's tough economic times."
The U.S. likely will undergo a two-to-three year period of "economic contraction" because of the economic situation, Gates said. He added that he is optimistic about the efforts of President-Elect Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to address global health, saying that Obama has "shown a lot of interest" and would "drive improvements in those areas." Gates is visiting India on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to focus on health issues such as HIV/AIDS and polio eradication (Williams, Reuters India, 11/5).
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U.K. Development Minister Launches $350M Fund for HIV/AIDS Research
[Nov 05, 2008]
United Kingdom Development Minister Gareth Thomas on Tuesday announced a new fund worth 220 million British pounds, or about $350 million, for research into technologies aimed at curbing the spread of HIV worldwide, London's Guardian reports. The fund likely will be aimed at researchers who are developing new HIV/AIDS technologies -- such as microbicides, vaccines or new treatments. "Only through research will we find ways to halt this epidemic," Thomas said when announcing the fund at a meeting of researchers and other experts convened by the government in London. He added, "I hope this funding will help discover new lifesaving technology."
According to Thomas, the HIV/AIDS pandemic will worsen unless increased funding and effort are dedicated to curbing its spread. He added that although more HIV-positive people worldwide are gaining access to antiretroviral drugs and some statistics indicate a decline in global HIV/AIDS cases, such progress will be fruitless unless effective prevention methods are available. "The reality is that the spread of HIV is set to spiral out of control unless we act now," he said, adding, "Five people are infected with HIV every minute. We must increase our efforts, and increase them now" (Boseley, Guardian, 11/4).
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HIV/AIDS 'Cure' Promoted by Gambian President Has Increased Use of Antiretrovirals, Reduced Stigma Associated With Disease
[Nov 05, 2008]
An herbal treatment that Gambian President Yahya Jammeh in January 2007 claimed to be a cure for HIV/AIDS has had an "unanticipated" outcome on the fight against the disease in the country, according to some HIV/AIDS experts, IRIN News reports. The experts say that rather than drawing HIV-positive people toward the herbal cure, it has increased the use of antiretroviral drugs and reduced the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
IRIN News reports that not only have individuals who switched to the president's herbal treatment returned to antiretrovirals but also that Jammeh has recently started to modify the language he uses to describe the treatment. An anonymous HIV/AIDS expert in The Gambia said that Jammeh "no longer says people have been 'cured' through it, but instead that 'no virus has been found'" in the immune systems of participants once they finish the treatment. Nevertheless, IRIN News reports that although "there is increasing scrutiny of the president's treatment and its impact among HIV/AIDS experts and people with HIV/AIDS in The Gambia, the subject remains highly sensitive" (IRIN News, 11/3).
Jammeh's treatment, which has been largely condemned by the international community, is applied over several weeks and involves application of a green paste, as well as application of a gray-colored solution splashed on people's skin and drinking a yellowish tea-like liquid. In addition, Jammeh said people taking the treatment should refrain from drinking alcohol, tea and coffee; eating kola nuts; and having sex. The biggest concern among public health workers was that Jammeh asked HIV-positive people to stop taking antiretroviras, which weakens their immune systems and makes them more prone to infections (, 2/22/07).
Although Jammeh continues to provide his treatment, IRIN News reports that he also is now a supporter of the National AIDS Secretariat, which coordinates clinics, not-for-profit organizations and other groups to provide antiretroviral treatment throughout The Gambia. NAS Director Alieu Jammeh said he considers the president's treatment as "complementary" to antiretrovirals. However, although the treatment has worked to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma in the country, Alieu Jammeh said more needs to be done to stop discrimination, particularly among at-risk groups. According to Alieu Jammeh, a national strategy on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment that would achieve basic steps -- such as ensuring the safety of blood stocks once people are tested and monitoring prevalence rates -- is needed. He added that NAS currently is working on a five-year proposal with the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to fund this work. Alieu Jammeh said, "We cannot be complacent. We want to make sure we halt prevalence rates and reverse it" (IRIN News, 11/3).
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