2016 amfAR HIV Scholars Program Announcement

APPLICATIONS DUE 17 SEPTEMBER 2015 – 5:00 P.M. EDT

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research and the Center for LGBT Health Research at the Graduate School of Public Health (“Pitt Public Health”) at the University of Pittsburgh are announcing the continuation of the amfAR HIV Scholars Program: a training program for junior investigators from low- and middle-income countries who are interested in conducting HIV research among gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and/or transgender individuals (collectively, GMT). 

Four scholars from low- and middle-income countries will be accepted into the program for 2016. The program aims to build indigenous capacity to research GMT individuals’ health in low- and middle-income countries by training young investigators to conduct ground-breaking research on HIV among GMT individuals in resource-limited settings. The program also seeks to support emerging GMT leaders who will help define effective responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic among GMT populations in their home countries. The training program is being conducted in collaboration with an existing training program in LGBT health research at the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh.

Eligibility to Apply

Junior investigators from low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, or Oceania committed to studying HIV prevention and care needs among GMT individuals in their home countries are invited to apply to this program. Applicants must be fluent in English and able to read and write English at a high academic level.

Core Training Program

The training program includes three graduate-level classes to be taken in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, from January through May 2016, which is equivalent to a full-time graduate course load. The first of these classes is an overview of LGBT health research, the second is a research methods class, and the third is an advanced research methods class that focuses on research proposal writing. As part of these classes, scholars will develop a research question and write a short proposal (10–15 pages) that will be submitted to amfAR for peer review and possible funding at a pilot project level. During their time in Pittsburgh, participating scholars will also:

• Complete on-line courses in the ethical conduct of research;
• Complete a draft questionnaire for their proposed research study;
• Create a PowerPoint presentation to be delivered to amfAR staff during a visit to amfAR’s office in New York; and
• Develop a draft IRB application

Scholars will also attend two additional research methods seminars each week: one that focuses on HIV/LGBT health research being conducted by doctoral and post-doctoral students and professors at the Center for LGBT Health Research, and another that focuses specifically on the research being designed by the scholars themselves. Additional events sponsored by the Graduate School of Public Health and the Center for LGBT Health Research are also open to the scholars.

Funding and Support

Expenses covered by the program will include round-trip travel between the scholars’ home countries and Pittsburgh, PA, USA, visa fees, housing, a modest stipend to support the scholars during their time in Pittsburgh, and training-related costs. Scholars should plan to bring their own laptop computers to Pittsburgh to support their training.

Research proposals will be submitted to amfAR at the conclusion of the training program in the hope that each scholar will receive a pilot research grant to implement his or her proposed study. Please note that this funding is not guaranteed. If research proposals are selected for funding by amfAR, scholars will begin work on their projects after returning to their home countries.

The primary goal of the program is to increase the number of investigators in low- and middle-income countries who are able to conduct research among GMT individuals, advocate for their health needs, and, as a result, improve both HIV services and care for GMT individuals in these settings. It is also hoped that the training program will function to help advance the participating scholars’ careers and future training prospects and increase the amount of research being conducted among GMT individuals in low and middle income countries.

Application Instructions

The procedures for applying to the program are simple. Only three documents are needed:

• A letter of intent (3 page limit) that includes a short work history of the applicant and explains why s/he is interested in studying HIV prevention and care needs among GMT individuals. The letter of intent should relate the applicant’s research and/or training experience relevant to their research interests, and indicate the applicant’s capacity to design and run a research project.
• A resume or CV that lists the applicant’s training and job history.
• A short outline (1–2 pages) of the research topic that the applicant would like to develop into a grant application during their time at the University of Pittsburgh. This outline should include a clear research question (or questions) and indicate the feasibility of conducting this research in the proposed setting and with the proposed population.

Applications that are designed to focus on issues relevant to the HIV treatment cascade (i.e., innovative ways to identify unknown HIV seropositives; help patients who have been diagnosed as HIV positive access medical care, stay in treatment, and improve treatment adherence; and reconnect HIV-positive patients who have dropped out of medical care) are especially encouraged.

The due date for applications is 17 September 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. We plan to identify the four finalists for the training program by 1 November 2015, at the latest, and scholars should plan to arrive in Pittsburgh by 5 January 2016. Interested applicants should submit the three application documents via email to Dr. Ron Stall at rstall@pitt.edu. If you have any questions or comments regarding this announcement, please send them to Dr. Stall at the same email address.

Zim HIV Incentive funding - statement

Zimbabwe has been awarded an incentive funding of about $25 million from the Global fund, a development aimed at improving efforts to eradicate HIV in the country.

This is what the statement reads:

We will be sending the formal communication shortly to initiate the grant-making process, but we thought that you would be happy to be informed that the Technical Review Panel (TRP) of the Global Fund  has approved the Incentive Funding Request, and that Grants Approval Committee (GAC) of the Global Fund has awarded the incentive funding of US$25,274,085 based on TRP prioritization and recommendation.

The GAC incentive funding recommendation covers the following:

·         Laboratory services (US$11,946,687) – To address critical gaps in laboratory services including 6 viral load machines, integrated transport system, early infant diagnosis, and lab system strengthening.

·         Paediatric ARV and CARG (US$8,297,008) – To address critical gaps in paediatric treatment and provide community-based services to adolescents.

·         Male circumcision (US$2,959,684) – To support innovative approaches to reaching adolescents, a newly identified gap, through scale up of male circumcision focused on adolescent boys and young men.

·         BCC, VCT, Data for evidence (US$2,070,706) – To support innovative approaches to reaching young women and girls, and planning for future focusing, including operational research, mapping, and demand creation.

Nine months ahead of TARGET

The world has exceeded the AIDS targets of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 6 and is on track to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The AIDS targets of MDG 6—halting and reversing the spread of HIV—have been achieved and exceeded, according to a new report released today by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). New HIV infections have fallen by 35% and AIDS-related deaths by 41%. The global response to HIV has averted 30 million new HIV infections and nearly 8 million (7.8 million) AIDS-related deaths since 2000, when the MDGs were set.

“The world has delivered on halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic,” said Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations. “Now we must commit to ending the AIDS epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Released in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the report demonstrates that the response to HIV has been one of the smartest investments in global health and development, generating measurable results for people and economies. It also shows that the world is on track to meet the investment target of US$ 22 billion for the AIDS response by 2015 and that concerted action over the next five years can end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

“Fifteen years ago there was a conspiracy of silence. AIDS was a disease of the “others” and treatment was for the rich and not for the poor,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We proved them wrong, and today we have 15 million people on treatment—15 million success stories.”

How AIDS changed everything—MDG 6: 15 years, 15 lesson of hope from the AIDS response celebrates the milestone achievement of 15 million people on antiretroviral treatment—an accomplishment deemed impossible when the MDGs were established 15 years ago. It also looks at the incredible impact the AIDS response has had onpeople’s lives and livelihoods, on families, communities and economies, as well as the remarkable influence the AIDS response has had on many of the other MDGs. The report includes specific lessons to take forward into the SDGs, as well as the urgent need to front-load investments and streamline programmes for a five-year sprint to set the world on an irreversible path to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Achieving MDG 6: halting and reversing the spread of HIV

In 2000, the world was witnessing an extraordinary number of new HIV infections. Every day, 8500 people were becoming newly infected with the virus and 4300 people were dying of AIDS-related illnesses. How AIDS changed everything describes how, against all odds, huge rises in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths were halted and reversed.

New HIV infections

In 2000, AIDS began to be taken seriously. Far-sighted global leadership rallied, and the response that ensued made history. Between 2000 and 2014, new HIV infections dropped from 3.1 million to 2 million, a reduction of 35%. Had the world stood back to watch the epidemic unfold, the annual number of new HIV infections is likely to have risen to around 6 million by 2014.

In 2014, the report shows that 83 countries, which account for 83% of all people living with HIV, have halted or reversed their epidemics, including countries with major epidemics, such as India, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

“As a mother living with HIV I did everything in my capacity to ensure my children were born HIV-free, said Abiyot Godana from the Ethiopian community of people living with HIV. “My husband has grabbed my vision of ending AIDS and together we won’t let go of this hope. Our two children are a part of an AIDS-free generation and will continue our legacy.” Ethiopia has made significant progress in preventing new HIV infections among children. In 2000, around 36 000 children became infected with HIV. However, by 2014 that number had dropped by 87%, to 4800, as coverage of antiretroviral therapy to prevent new HIV infections among children increased to 73%.

Stopping new HIV infections among children has been one of the most remarkable successes in the AIDS response. In 2000, around 520 000 children became newly infected with HIV. In the absence of antiretroviral therapy, children were dying in large numbers. This injustice prompted the world to act—ensuring that pregnant women living with HIV had access to medicines to prevent their children from becoming infected with the virus became a top global priority.

The unprecedented action that followed achieved results. Between 2000 and 2014, the percentage of pregnant women living with HIV with access to antiretroviral therapy rose to 73% and new HIV infections among children dropped by 58%.

By 2014, UNAIDS estimates that 85 countries had less than 50 new HIV infections among children per year, and in 2015 Cuba became the first country to be certified by the World Health Organization as having eliminated new HIV infections among children.

AIDS-related deaths

The second, critical measure for determining the success of MDG 6 is progress in halting and reversing the number of AIDS-related deaths. In 2000, AIDS was a death sentence. People who became infected with HIV had just a few years to live and the vast majority of children born with the virus died before they reached their fifth birthday.

Against incredible odds, the pace of antiretroviral therapy scale-up increased, ensuring more people remained alive and well. By 2005, AIDS-related deaths began to reverse, falling by 42% from 2004 to 2014.

Making the impossible, possible—15 million people on HIV treatment

Ensuring access to antiretroviral therapy for 15 million people is an achievement deemed impossible 15 years ago. In 2000, fewer than 1% of people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries had access to treatment, as the sky-high prices of medicines—around US$ 10 000 per person per year—put them out of reach. The inequity of access and injustice sparked global moral outrage, which created one of the most defining achievements of the response to HIV—massive reductions in the price of life-saving antiretroviral medicines.

By 2014, advocacy, activism, science, political will and a willingness by the pharmaceutical companies has brought the price of medicines for HIV down by 99%, to around US$ 100 per person per year for first-line formulations.

In 2014, 40% of all people living with HIV had access to antiretroviral therapy, a 22-fold increase over the past 14 years. In sub-Saharan Africa, 10.7 million people had access, 6.5 million (61%) of whom were women. Ensuring treatment for 15 million people around the world proves beyond a doubt that treatment can be scaled up even in resource-poor settings.

As access to treatment increased, the world raised the bar and has repeatedly set ambitious targets, culminating in today’s call of ensuring access to treatment for all 36.9 million people living with HIV.

Progress in ensuring access to HIV treatment has, however, been slower for children than for adults. As of 2014, only 32% of the 2.6 million children living with HIV had been diagnosed and only 32% of children living with HIV had access to antiretroviral therapy.

While the price of first-line medicines has reduced significantly, the prices of second and new generation medicines are still much too high and need to be urgently negotiated down.

SOURCE: http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2015/MDG6_15years-15lessonsfromtheAIDSresponse

Knowledge ensures access

How AIDS changed everything includes exciting new information about access to treatment once people know their HIV status. Some 75% of people who know they have the virus are accessing antiretroviral therapy, showing that the majority of people do come forward for treatment and have access once they are diagnosed with HIV.

This emphasizes the urgent need to scale up HIV testing. In 2014, only 54% (19.8 million) of the 36.9 million peoplewho are living with HIV knew that they are living with the virus.

An investment, not a cost

How AIDS changed everything shows how the economic impact is one of the greatest achievements of the response to HIV and one that will continue to yield results in years to come.

“The world went from millions to billions and each dollar invested today is producing a US$ 17 return,” said Mr Sidibé. “If we frontload investments and Fast-Track our efforts over the next five years, we will end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.”

Since 2000, an estimated US$ 187 billion has been invested in the AIDS response, US$ 90 billion of which came from domestic sources. By 2014, around 57% of AIDS investments came from domestic sources and 50 countries invested more than 75% of their responses from their own budgets—a big success for country ownership.

The United States of America has invested more than US$ 59 billion in the AIDS response and is the largest international contributor. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria invests nearly US$ 4 billion each year towards AIDS programmes and has disbursed more than US$ 15.7 billion since its creation in 2002.

The report also shows that the next five years will be critical. Front-loading investments in the fragile five-year window up to 2020 could reduce new HIV infections by 89% and AIDS-related deaths by 81% by 2030.

Current investments in the AIDS response are around US$ 22 billion a year. That would need to be increased by US$ 8–12 billion a year in order to meet the Fast-Track Target of US$ 31.9 billion in 2020. By meeting the 2020 target, the need for resources would begin to permanently decline, reducing to US$ 29.3 billion in 2030 and far less in the future. This would produce benefits of more than US$ 3.2 trillion that extend well beyond 2030.

The report underscores that international assistance, especially for low-income and low-middle-income countries, will be necessary in the short term before sustainable financing can be secured in the long term. Sub-Saharan Africa will require the largest share of global AIDS financing: US$ 15.8 billion in 2020.

Countries that took charge have produced results

SOURCE: http://reliefweb.int

Countries that rapidly mounted robust responses to their epidemics saw impressive results. In 1980, life expectancy in Zimbabwe was around 60 years of age. In 2000, when the MDGs were set, life expectancy had dropped to just 44 years of age, largely owing to the impact of the AIDS epidemic. By 2013, however, life expectancy had risen again to 60 years of age as new HIV infections were reduced and access to antiretroviral treatment expanded.

Ethiopia has been particularly affected by the AIDS response, with 73 000 people dying of AIDS-related illnesses in 2000. Concerted efforts by the Ethiopian government have secured a drop of 71% in AIDS-related deaths between the peak in 2005 and 2014.

In Senegal, one of the earliest success stories of the global AIDS response, new HIV infections have declined by more than 87% since 2000. Similarly, Thailand, another success story, has reduced new HIV infections by 71% and AIDS-related deaths by 64%.

South Africa turned around its decline in life expectancy within 10 years, rising from 51 years in 2005 to 61 by the end of 2014, on the back a massive increase in access to antiretroviral therapy. South Africa has the largest HIV treatment programme in the world, with more than 3.1 million people on antiretroviral therapy, funded almost entirely from domestic sources. In the last five years alone, AIDS-related deaths have declined by 58% in South Africa.

Leaving no one behind

Much progress has been made in expanding HIV prevention services for key populations, even though significant gaps remain. Although more than 100 countries criminalize some form of sex work, sex workers continue to report the highest levels of condom use in the world—more than 80% in most regions.

Drug use remains criminalized in most countries, yet many do allow access to needle–syringe programmes and opioid substitution therapy. In 2014, HIV prevalence appears to have declined among people who inject drugs in almost all regions.

However, new HIV infections are rising among men who have sex with men, notably in western Europe and North America, where major declines were previously experienced. This indicates that HIV prevention efforts need to be adapted to respond to the new realities and needs of men who have sex with men.

The number of adult men who have opted for voluntary medical male circumcision to prevent HIV transmission continues to increase. From 2008 to December 2014, about 9.1 million men in 14 priority countries opted to be circumcised. In 2014 alone, 3.2 million men in 14 priority countries were circumcised. Ethiopia and Kenya have both already exceeded their target of 80% coverage.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death among people living with HIV, accounting for one in five AIDS-related deaths globally. However, between 2004 and 2014, TB deaths declined by 33% thanks to the rapid increase in antiretroviral treatment, which reduces the risk that a person living with HIV will develop TB by 65%.

Some 74 countries reported having laws in place prohibiting discrimination against people living with HIV. However, at present, 61 countries have legislation that allows for the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure, exposure or transmission. In 76 countries, same-sex sexual practices are criminalized. In seven countries they are punishable by death.

Transgender people are not recognized as a separate gender in most countries and are generally absent from public policy formulation and social protection programmes. The world remains far short of achieving its goal of eliminating gender inequalities and gender-based violence and abuse.

Better data

Countries have invested heavily in monitoring and evaluating their responses to HIV. In 2014, 92% of United Nations Member States reported HIV data to UNAIDS. State-of-the-art epidemic monitoring, data collection and reporting have made HIV data the most robust in the world, far more complete than data for any other disease. This has not only enabled the world to have a clear picture of HIV trends, it has also enabled HIV programming to be tailored to the specific dynamics of each country’s epidemic.

Together with How AIDS changed everything, UNAIDS is launching its new data visualization feature AIDSinfo. This innovative visualization tool allows users to view global, regional and national data on HIV through easy-to-use maps, graphs and tables adapted for all devices.

How AIDS changed everything

The UNAIDS book gives a vivid and insightful description of the impact the AIDS response has had on global health and development over the past 15 years and of the incredible importance of the lessons learned for ensuring the success of the SDGs.

How AIDS changed everything—MDG 6: 15 years, 15 lesson of hope from the AIDS response is both a look back on the journey of the last 15 years and a look forward to the future of the AIDS response and the path to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The flagship publication from UNAIDS was released at a community event at Zewditu Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 14 July 2015 by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Minister of Health, Kesetebirhan Admassu of the  Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé and Abiyot Godana from the Ethiopian community of people living with HIV.

Cuba ends mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis

Cuba is the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission, the World Health Organization announced.

Picture taken from CNN.com

Officials said it shows that an end to the AIDS epidemic is possible, and they expect more countries to seek validation from the World Health Organization. The country was also the first to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of syphilis.

"Eliminating transmission of a virus is one of the greatest public health achievements possible," Dr. Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general, said in a Tuesday press release. "This is a major victory in our long fight against HIV and sexually transmitted infections, and an important step towards having an AIDS-free generation."

The WHO and the Pan American Health Organization began to work with Cuba and other countries in 2010 to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. The country's efforts include prenatal care, HIV and syphilis testing for pregnant women and their partners, treatment for women who test positive and their babies, cesarean deliveries and breastfeeding substitution. Maternal and child health programs are integrated with HIV and sexually transmitted infection programs.

Prevention can mean no babies with HIV

Preventive treatment for mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis is not 100% effective, so the World Health Organization defines elimination as a reduction of transmission to a level that it no longer constitutes a public health problem. In 2013, two babies were born with HIV in Cuba, and five were born with congenital syphilis.

Worldwide, the number of children born with HIV dropped to 240,000 in 2013 from 400,000 in 2009, the WHO reported. In order to reach a target of no more than 40,000 new child infections in 2015, health officials say more effort will be needed around the world.

An estimated 1.4 million women with HIV become pregnant worldwide every year, the WHO reported, and if they're untreated, they have a 15% to 45% chance of transmitting the virus during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding. But when antiretroviral medicines are given to mothers and children, the risk drops to slightly more than 1%.

Source 

Zim wins bid to host ICASA conference

Zimbabwe has won the bid to host the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) to be held from the 29th of November to the 4th of December 2015. Announcing the outcome of the assessment that was carried out over three days, ICASA President, Dr Ihab Ahmed thanked President Robert Mugabe for accepting to host one of the largest AIDS conferences in Africa.

Health and Child Care Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa and the visiting Uganda's Minister of Health, Sarah Opendi said the decision to grant Zimbabwe the honour to host the conference will further buttress strides registered in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The bid to host the 18th ICASA conference had initially been won by Tunisia, but the North African nation failed to meet some requirements, leading to the cancellation of the bid.

Photo credit: twitter.com

The cancellation of the Tunisia bid paved the way for other African countries to express interest to host more than 5000 delegates from across the globe who will attend the conference. Zimbabwe then won the bid ahead of four other countries selected for further assessment. Before announcing the ICASA decision, Dr Ahmed and his team held meetings with the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Parirenyatwa, some government officials, as well as various HIV and AIDS organisations in the country.

The conference, which will bring together scientists, policy makers, activists, people living with HIV and some civil society representatives, is expected to review the HIV and AIDS response mechanisms adopted by countries as well as come up with ways of strengthening the partnership among governments and co-operating partners. The conference will be held under the theme ‘AIDS in Post 2015, Linking Leadership, Science and Human Rights.

SOURCE

Power to the vagina... FINALLY

It has been said countless of time that one of the contributory factors regarding the spread of HIV in Zimbabwe are gender imbalances. Women are not bold enough to negotiate for safe sex. It is up to the men to decide whether a condom is used or not. In the few instances when women do carry the condom, the men will deem them promiscuous. Besides, back in the day, women carrying condoms where charged for prostitution and a condom would be used as "evidence". So with all these stereotypes associated with having a condom as a woman or having the guts to negotiate for safer sex, have continued to dog women drastically.

AN example of a microbicide (credit: nature.com)

As a means to empower women all across the globe sexually, a "solution" is on the pipeline. Microbicides is the bullet proof to dodge HIV, without the stress of having used a condom or not during sex. The term microbicides refers to substances being studied that could be used in the vagina o reduce the risk of HIV infection via sexual exposure. Currently, there are no licensed microbicides available today. But, hey, all we need is girl power to advocate for its licencing.

Microbicides can come in a number of forms like vaginal rings that release the active ingredient over a few weeks or months; creams; gels; films; suppositories that could be used vaginally.

Are there any trials going on or trials have been done?

Yes. At the moment, there are  ongoing trials of vagina ring containing the ARV drug (dapivirine) that is designed to be inserted for four weeks at a time. These trials are known as "The Ring Study" and "Aspire" and they are expected to have data in 2016. Aspire (MTN 020) was launched by the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) has enrolled 2 629 women in Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Results are expected towards the end of 2015 or early next year. the ring study (IPM 027), sponsored by the International partnership for Microbicides (IPM) is enrolling 1 950 women in Uganda and South Africa. We should be expected in late 2016.

Additionally, the vagina microbicide (one percent) gel is the ARV drug tenofovir (TFV) formulated in gel form. There have been three efficacy trials of this gel.

1. The first CAPRISA 004 found evidence of modest benefit.
2. Two subsequent trials, VOICE and FACTS 001 found no overall evidence of protection. However in both trials there was evidence that in small subset of women who were able to use the product correctly and consistently (the two trials had different dosing regimens), the gel did reduce the risk of HIV acquisition. But the overall finding from two out of three trials was that this product wasn't one that women could use enough of the time to achieve the potential benefits.
3. The results of these trials underscore the need to ensure that "the healthy choice is the easy choice" and that women initiated HIV prevention includes strategies that can fit into the lives of women at the greatest risk of HIV.

Loopholes

Microbicides DO NOT prevent against STIs and STD, pregnancies or any other infections that poses as a threat to the vagina. Meaning to say, it is not a multi purpose prevention method  Its sole purpose is to prevent the transmission of HIV as there are recommendations to uses condom.

It's women empowerment right there

Such trials can only allow for licensing if they are attract a 70+ percent success rate. I can only keep my fingers crossed for the success of the above trials. Just prevention methods give women the power to control the spread of HIV.  Gaps on gender imbalances are closed. Women don't even say a word about negotiating for safe sex. The women just do it and BOMB, they are protected. The vagina is empowered all the way.

Are HotSpots in Bulawayo neccessary?

The hot spot analysis project provides a prospect to review and analyse populations at greatest risk of HIV/AIDS infection, population being left out by current interventions and geographic hotspots. This project is an Inter-agency programme between (Ministry of Health and Child Care, NAC, UNAIDS and WFP), an initiated discussion to identify the HIV hotspots in Zimbabwe through analysis of the available datasets and present the findings in a series of high quality maps and charts. By conducting the HIV hot spot analysis and identifying the hotspots, will assist in future programming and interventions strategies. A detailed Desktop review of peer reviewed documents, surveys and published articles was conducted. However, this project does not give detailed discussion on the selected indicators why?

 

Picture take from meindia.net

 

The project explores the HIV Hotspots through the identification of HIV drivers in Zimbabwe, incidence, HIV prevalence and the measures (interventions) that have been put in place to curb new incidences. At the same time, the same project tries to understand the impacts of HIV on the economy and on food security (at country, household and individual levels).

 

With this in mind, will the creation of hotspots in Bulawayo accelerate the decrease of HIV prevalence in the province? If so how?  Let's engage!

 

 

 

 

Fasting VS ARVs

About two weeks ago, I joined the rest of the church in a one week fast. It wasn’t easy cause we had to break after evening prayers which usually ended after 7pm. Yes so imagine, while I had to starve my flesh of food, I was feeding my spirit with the word of God. In serious cases, congregates can stretch for a month long fast or even pull for 40 days and 40 nights fasting just like Jesus. Remember?

Image taken from youtube.com

Now today, something crossed my mind, and I certainly hope you will help out. During that church fast weeks ago, how did people taking antiretrovirals and multivitamins go about it? In most cases, it is a requirement that these pills are taken with water or food. Common to most religions, fasting starts from dawn to dusk. Is it healthy for someone on HIV treatment to fast every day for weeks to fulfil spiritual and religious obligations?

New formulation of HIV treatment to save more children’s lives -- UNICEF and UNAIDS (Joint Press release)

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 5 June 2015—Children affected by HIV and AIDS will benefit from the decision by the United States Food and Drug Administration to grant approval to a new antiretroviral formulation that can be mixed with food to make it easier for children living with HIV to take the life-saving medicines, UNAIDS and UNICEF said today.

“Treatment innovations such as this that replace unpleasant and bad tasting medicines are a real breakthrough, accelerating access to treatment for children and keeping our youngest healthy,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “It is unacceptable that only 24% of children living with HIV have access to antiretroviral medicines.”

The oral pellets, manufactured by Indian generic medicines manufacturer CIPLA, contain an antiretroviral formulation of lopinavir and ritonavir that can be mixed into a child’s food. The treatment is heat stable and more palatable than medicines currently available, making it particularly suitable for treating very young children.

“This new formulation is a step in the right direction towards saving more lives of children living with HIV,” said Craig McClure, UNICEF’s Chief of HIV and AIDS and Associate Director, Programmes. “We expect it to greatly improve treatment access for many more children and support UNICEF’s equity focused programming aimed at reaching the most disadvantaged children throughout the world.”

HIV infection progresses rapidly in children and, in highly impacted countries, is a major contributor to child morbidity and mortality. Without treatment, one in three children who become infected with HIV will die before their first birthday. Half will die before their second birthday.

Early initiation of antiretroviral treatment in children as recommended by the World Health Organization substantially reduces the risk of death. Many countries have not been able to fully implement the WHO recommendation because of the challenge of not having a more appropriate, heat stable and palatable paediatric formulation of lopinavir/ritonavir used as part of the treatment options for children under 3 years of age.

Despite global efforts to accelerate access to HIV paediatric care and treatment, fewer than 800 000 of the 3.2 million children living with HIV worldwide had access to antiretroviral medicines in 2013.

UNAIDSThe Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Learn more atunaids.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit: http://www.unicef.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

For more information, please contact:

Sophie Barton-Knott, UNAIDS Geneva, tel. +41 22 791 1697, bartonknotts@unaids.org

Kate Donovan, UNICEF New York, tel. +1 212 326 7452, kdonovan@unicef.org

HIV Testing and Counselling - It's Not Just Routine

A visit to an HIV testing clinic left Waza blogger, Nokuthaba Mathema feeling vulnerable and disaffected,instead of leaving her empowered. She writes about the experience in her inaugural blog for Waza.

I did my first HIV test in November 2010 at the New Start Centre at Haddon and Sly, Bulawayo. The first time experience was worth my time.

I went again for an HIV test sometime last week, and believe me, things have changed drastically. A lot has transformed and the paradigm shift is not pleasant.

The first time, when I got to reception, I was kindly referred to the payment desk, where I paid the nominal $1 fee.

Before long, I joined close to twelve people in a focus group counselling session that lasted close to 20 minutes.

The discussion was informative - to say the least. Tests were done, and I was counselled again before being showed my results. That encounter was very much encouraging for a first timer.

Counselling

Sadly, five years down the line, that same song cannot be sung.

Thirty minutes of what they deem counselling has been rebranded to an interrogation, or a question and answer tablet/ipad session. The counsellors are glued to these gadgets from start to end.

By definition counselling is a private conversation with a specially trained person aimed at helping you to help yourself. Counselling encourages you to explore possible solutions to your problems, and to consider the impact that certain decision may have on your life.

You must receive face-to-face counselling before you have the test. This is known as pre-test counselling, aimed at ensuring that you make a well-informed decision about whether to have the HIV test or not. It encourages you to explore the possible impact that having the test may have on your life.

Changed attitudes

Well I cannot say all that happened the last time I was there. The counsellor seemed to be conducting some tired routine that has become redundant and lifeless.

Despite the burning questions I had, owing to the unfriendliness reflected by the so called counsellor, I shut my mouth and agreed to everything.

On that day when I had my last test, after cross checking the numbers on my card and the the numbers on the result-slip, she threw the piece of paper on my lap and said, "You are negative, So what will you do about that?"

"You are negative, So what will you do about that?"

"I will continue to protect myself," I responded and she said, "Okay!" then she took the result-slip, stood up, and were we done.

Just like that!

Considering that I was anticipating a brief post-counselling session, I was clearly shocked.

So as I left, I pondered to myself, "So these people are paid to be moody?"

What ever happened to compassion? Surely I could have received much better treatment. Is it because I am a woman or that I am a youth or both?

Stereotypes

It is through these societal stereotypes that marginalized communities such as women and youths fear such institutions.

Such tendencies and uncalled for behavior by professional counsellors could be a contributory factor, and the reason why they are sometimes hesitant when it comes to HIV testing.

The roots of patriarchal segmentation continue to grow in public institutions, especially places of HIV testing, despite the advocacy for youth empowerment and gender parity.

How can one be empowered as a citizen through HIV testing when the platform is a bit shaky, when the environment is not conducive enough to promote such practices.

Mere statistics

That experience reduced me from a human being, to just a mere figure to add on to their statistics of HIV prevalence.

My sexual and reproductive health rights were violated. I opened up, revealed personal sexual and reproductive information in exchange for a "routine" and an attitude.

Such service delivery infringes on the full execution and exercise of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Will I ever want to go through that again? I doubt. I did not like the way I was left feeling vulnerable, and I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Waza is proud to feature as part of its content local bloggers who have a knack for expressing their unique perspectives, independent thoughts and engaging stories. The opinions expressed here are those of the author.

Be sure to check out Waza blogger Joseph Elunya's experience with Uganda's health system.

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