First Lady highlights plight of Rwandan rape victims
Madame
Jeannete Kagame, the first lady of Rwanda, called for the international
community to make up for failing to intervene in the country’s 1994
massacre by providing anti-retroviral treatments to Rwandan rape victims. |
President Bush’s anti-Aids co-ordinator, Randall Tobias, has described
condoms as “not very effective” at preventing the spread of HIV
and Aids.
Speaking in Berlin last month, the retired chief executive of the US drugs
giant Ely Lilly, said abstinence and monogamy were the ‘two most effective
approaches to prevention’.
“
It’s been the principal prevention device for the last 20 years, and
I think one needs only to look at what’s happening with the infection
rates in the world to recognize it has not been working,” he said.
“
What the Ugandans have proved is that if you can get young people... to understand
how Aids is spread and to delay the age at which they become sexually active,
and then if you can get people who are sexually active to reduce to one,
the number of partners, proved to be the two most effective approaches to
prevention.”
A Cambridge University study, in the April edition of Science, says a dramatic
decline in HIV in Uganda is attributable to the later age of sexual debut,
and a reduction in the number of sexual partners, backed by a consistent
message from the Ugandan government.
Researchers concluded: “The outcome was equivalent to a highly effective
vaccine”. A recent editorial in the British Medical Journal also applauds
what it called the ‘simple truth’ that partner reduction is of
key importance to HIV prevention.
International Aids groups have frequently condemned abstinence campaigns
to fight the spread of HIV for relying on the false hope of convincing teenagers
not to have sex before marriage.
The Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank, UNICEF
and the Clinton Foundation, have struck a deal to enable developing countries
to buy high quality Aids drugs and diagnostics at very low prices.
Generic drugs made by four Indian and one South African company could eventually
become available in over 120 countries eligible for Global Fund grants, at
prices as low as $140 per patient per year (the current price is around $300).
These drugs are critical components in ‘first line’ treatment for
Aids recommended by the World Health Organization.
Presently, fewer than 200,000 of the 6 million people living in developing
countries with the virus have access to life-sustaining treatment.
Carol Bellamy, executive director of UNICEF, said: “This new partnership
works to break down some of the barriers, such as price, supply and demand,
impeding access to life-saving Aids medicines and diagnostics in developing
countries.”
The Clinton Foundation will work with suppliers to ensure low-priced medicines
and tests are available to as many countries as possible.
However, Indian generic drug manufacturers are still waiting for big orders
of the cheap HIV drugs so they can gear up factory production. One generic
company executive told Positive Nation there had been many “fine promises” to
provide cheap drugs but as yet few firm orders. Shalini Kukreja
 Lara Roxx: One of five stars diagnosed |
The number of performers in the US straight porn industry who have HIV tested
positive has risen to five.
Stars Darren James and Larra Roxx were diagnosed on April 13 closely followed
by Jessica Dee and Ms Arroyo on April 29 and a transsexual actress who had
not worked with the others.
The diagnoses led to a halt to film production in the industry.
“
This is not over,” said Sharon Mitchell, executive director of the Adult
Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation. In the last HIV scare in the straight
porn world in 1999, just one actor was diagnosed positive.
The US straight porn industry announced a 60-day shutdown of production and
put on the quarantine list 53 performers - contacts with the diagnosed stars.
The industry relies on frequent HIV tests to protect itself; only 17 per cent
are reported to use condoms regularly.
The American Civil Liberties Union accused the Los Angeles health department
of breaking the law by using medical records of the 53 performers thought to
have had contact with the positive actors.
 Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi |
Growing numbers of African leaders are breaking their silence about their
families’ experiences of HIV and Aids amid growing awareness of the
need to speak out.
Until now, the only African leader to admit the impact of Aids on his family
was former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda.
Now Malawi’s President Muluzi has revealed his brother died of Aids
and that he has undergone an Aids test. He announced the news after falling
out with South African President, Thabo Mbeki, and withdrawing from the
South African government.
Mangosuthu Buthelezi (pictured), leader of South Africa’s Zulu Inkatha
Freedom Party has also announced that his son died of Aids.
Openness, however, is less evident in Uganda where the Red Pepper newspaper
reported the death of foreign minister, James Wapakhabulo. Although not
mentioning Aids, the article alluded to the cause of death: “talking
diplomacy during the day, he spoke the language of love in the evening”.
The report provoked a furious reaction from Uganda’s information
minister, Nsaba Buturo who said: “This kind of journalism is a danger
to Uganda’s democratic gains.”
Last year, President Thabo Mbeki shocked the world when he said he didn’t
know anybody with Aids.
Ruban Rouge launch major HIV campaign in Morocco
The
Moroccan HIV awareness group L’Association Ruban Rouge has launched a
new awareness campaign about the growing dangers of HIV and Aids in Arab countries
last month. |
