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African First Ladies and UNAIDS to work together for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

unaidsadmin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:56:04 +0200

3 August 2010

In its 8th General Assembly, members of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) gathered in Kampala, Uganda, to deliberate on the theme of "Maternal and Child Health." The First Ladies renewed their commitment to champion the well-being of African women and children in a Declaration presented at the end of the meeting.

UNAIDS calls better integration of HIV prevention and treatment in maternal, newborn and child health programmes in Ethiopia

unaidsadmin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:30:02 +0200

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé paid a visit to Ethiopia to discuss ways of accelerating progress towards achieving universal access to HIV services and reaching the Millennium Development Goals in the country.

High on the agenda was exploring the progress and challenges Ethiopia is facing in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT).

Financing the response

unaidsadmin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:37:52 +0200

Research for Development Institute and aids2031
Costs and choices: financing the long-term fight against AIDS

The Costs and Financing Working Group of the aids2031 project - an initiative named for the year marking a half-century after the discovery of HIV - has rigorously looked at the tough questions now facing policymakers about the future costs of AIDS. What we've found is that the decisions made today and in the coming years will have major ﬁnancial impact and health consequences for decades ahead. At stake are millions of HIV infections and human lives, and billions of dollars. It is imperative that wise choices be made now, and actions to carry them out are taken right away.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV is critical to achieving Millennium Development Goals in Africa

unaidsadmin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:24:39 +0200

Kampala, 27 July 2010 - Investing in the health of women and children was the focus of the high-level Summit of the African Union held 25-27 July in Kampala, Uganda. The meeting, attended by more than 35 Heads of State and politicians, highlighted progress and challenges in advancing Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5, which call for reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

With only 11% of the world's population, Africa accounts for more than half of all maternal and child deaths. Despite advancements in global health, the African continent has the world's highest maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate. Progress towards MDGs 4 and 5 has been slow at best, hindered in many countries by a lack of financial resources for health and programme management.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV is critical to achieving Millennium Development Goals in Africa

unaidsadmin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:09:20 +0200

New UNAIDS OUTLOOK report 2010 launched

unaidsadmin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:15:44 +0200

Ahead of the XVIII International AIDS Conference to be held in Vienna from 18 - 23 July, UNAIDS has launched its OUTLOOK Report 2010 in Geneva.

Key findings:

The new UNAIDS Outlook report outlines a radically simplified HIV treatment platform called Treatment 2.0 that could decrease the number of AIDS-related deaths drastically and could also greatly reduce the number of new HIV infections. Evidence shows that new HIV infections among young people, in the 15 countries most affected by HIV, are dropping significantly as young people embrace safer sexual behaviours.

Also in the report, a sweeping new UNAIDS and Zogby International public opinion poll shows that nearly 30 years into the AIDS epidemic, region by region, countries continue to rank AIDS high on the list of the most important issues facing the world.

Outlook 2010

unaidsadmin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:54:44 +0200

Ten million deaths and 1 million new HIV infections could be averted if countries meet HIV treatment targets

unaidsadmin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:34:29 +0200

New UNAIDS report shows that young people are leading the prevention revolution, with 15 of the most severely affected countries reporting a 25% drop in HIV prevalence among this key population. New global opinion poll shows that AIDS continues to be of major importance for the public around the world.

GENEVA, 13 July 2010 - The new UNAIDS Outlook report outlines a radically simplified HIV treatment platform called Treatment 2.0 that could decrease the number of AIDS-related deaths drastically and could also greatly reduce the number of new HIV infections. Evidence shows that new HIV infections among young people, in the 15 countries most affected by HIV, are dropping significantly as young people embrace safer sexual behaviours.

The 50% by 2015: a movement for HIV prevention.

unaidsadmin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:10:24 +0200

A Movement for HIV prevention has been established, with the primary target of reducing the number of new HIV infections in Southern Africa by 50% between 2010 and 2015 and an additional target of ending mother to child transmission of HIV.

The Movement is intended as a tool to guide constructive criticism, promote debate and stimulate community mobilization.

For more information, click here to download the 50% by 2015's pamphlet

Namibia lifts travel ban for people living with HIV

unaidsadmin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:08:00 +0200

GENEVA, 8 July 2010 - UNAIDS applauds the decision by the Government of Namibia to lift its travel restrictions for people living with HIV and align the country's legislation with international public health standards. The reforms-which took effect on 1 July-also remove entry restrictions against people living with other contagious diseases.

Restrictions that limit movement based on HIV-positive status only are discriminatory and violate human rights. There is no evidence that such restrictions prevent HIV transmission or protect public health. Furthermore, HIV-related travel restrictions have no economic justification, as people living with HIV can lead long and productive working lives.

"I am heartened by this announcement in Namibia" said Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director. "HIV-related travel restrictions serve no purpose and hamper the global AIDS response."

UNAIDS web contest 2010

unaidsadmin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:00:46 +0200

5 June 2010

Every 4 years, the world turns its eyes to the football World Cup, the biggest sporting tournament on the planet. This year, the World Cup is being held in South Africa with many top teams and stars taking part. As in years past, UNAIDS will be hosting a web-competition, under the slogan "Give AIDS the Red Card" in order to celebrate the games. With the help of UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors Michael Ballack and Emmanuel Adebayor, the "Give AIDS the Red Card" campaign leads us in the direction of preventing and ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the year 2015.

Contestants can win a variety of prizes, including signed memorabilia from players, if they can answer these 3 questions correctly.

WHO and UNAIDS resource kit for writing Global Fund HIV proposals for round 10

unaidsadmin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:08:15 +0200

This resource kit has been developed jointly by WHO and UNAIDS to provide specific guidance in planning for and writing Global Fund HIV proposals for Round 10. UNICEF, UNFPA and other UN co-sponsor agencies and Civil Society organizations have contributed to the development of technical documents. The kit is intended for use by individuals, teams involved in writing Round 10 HIV proposals. The content does not represent an official publication by WHO or UNAIDS. The resource kit consists of six sections:

UNAIDS launches ‘red card’ campaign against HIV

unaidsadmin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:30:18 +0200

New global initiative at the FIFA World Cup shines spotlight on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Ahead of World Cup, national team captains appeal: “Give AIDS the red card

unaidsadmin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:35:31 +0200

7 June 2010 - Captains of South Africa, Nigeria, France, Paraguay, Uruguay, Australia, Cote D'Ivoire, Uruguay, Greece, and Serbia national teams join appeal to prevent mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV.

Each day nearly 1200 babies are born with HIV worldwide-during the course of a 90-minute football match almost 80 babies will become newly infected.

Captains of the teams competing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa may be rivals on the pitch in the coming weeks, but off the pitch they are joining forces to support a global campaign to prevent mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV.

UNAIDS and Global Fund welcomes presidential pardon of jailed couple in Malawi

unaidsadmin — Mon, 31 May 2010 10:38:57 +0200

Announcement comes after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets with President Bingu Wa Mutharika

GENEVA, 29 May 2010 - Calling the pardon "courageous" United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also called on legislators to change the nation's laws on homosexuality. Saying "this outdated penal code should be reformed wherever it may exist."

UNAIDS expresses serious concern over ruling in Malawi

unaidsadmin — Fri, 21 May 2010 10:14:37 +0200

Press statement

GENEVA, 20 May 2010 - UNAIDS is greatly concerned about the guilty verdict handed down by a magistrate court in Malawi against Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga.

The two men were arrested in December 2009 by police officials on charges of engaging in "indecent practices between males" and "unnatural offenses." Both men were subsequently detained for nearly five months, despite several applications for bail and concerns about their health. They were each sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment and hard labour.

UNAIDS considers the criminalization of individuals based on their sexual orientation as a setback for human rights that threatens public health gains in the AIDS response. Criminalizing sexual behaviour drives people who engage in same-sex relations underground and hampers HIV-related programmes aimed at addressing their needs.

PACANet MCP Consultation Communique'

unaidsadmin — Tue, 04 May 2010 16:26:29 +0200

Johannesburg - 4 May 2010 From 27^th-29^th April 2010 in Ezulwini, Swaziland, the Pan African Christian AIDS Network (PACANet) convened a consultation of senior Church leaders, Christian organisations and individuals involved in the response to HIV and AIDS in Africa, hosted by the Swaziland Church Forum on HIV and AIDS. This event was held in collaboration with SIDA, UNAIDS, Christian Connections for International Health, ANHERTHA, and INERELA+. The purpose of the consultation was to provide a forum for key stakeholders to discuss the issue of multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships (MCP) as a risk behaviour for HIV. In attendance were 90 participants from 18 countries. The participants represented different church backgrounds, namely the African Instituted churches, the Evangelical movement and the mainline established churches.

Internationally acclaimed entertainer Lebo M is appointed as UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador

unaidsadmin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:02:00 +0200

Geneva, 26 April 2010 - Grammy award-winning producer, composer and singer Lebohang Morake, known professionally as Lebo M, has been named as Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Known for the musical blockbuster, The Lion King, Lebo M will use his talent, outreach and deep understanding of HIV to raise awareness about the epidemic globally, including helping to break the cycle of stigma and discrimination associated with the virus.

UNAIDS Executive Director Launches the National HIV Counselling and Testing Drive in South Africa

unaidsadmin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:59:10 +0200

Johannesburg, 25 April 2010 - UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Sidibe' joined South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, Minster of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Gauteng Premier Ms Nomvula Mokonyane for the launch of the world's largest HIV testing and counselling campaign at the Natalspruit hospital in Erkuhuleni, east of Johannesburg on 25 April.

The campaign, which hopes to test 15-million people by the end of June 2011, is aimed at providing antiretroviral drugs to 80% of South Africans in need of treatment.

The campaign's prevention drive includes an increase in the provision of male condoms from 450-million to more than 1,5-billion condoms.

The Annual Award for Excellence in HIV and AIDS Communication in Africa

unaidsadmin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:08:00 +0200

2010 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet) is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the fourth Annual Award for Excellence in HIV and AIDS Communication in Africa