UNICEF Teams Up With Buddhist Monks

Thanks to the Buddhist Leadership Initiative (BLI), a UNICEF-supported programme, adults and children living with HIV are able to access spiritual and material resources. In 2004, the Ministry of Cult and Religion started the BLI in Cambodia. Approximately 75,131 Cambodians live with HIV/AIDs.

Monks receive specialized HIV/AIDS counseling training; they offer group meditation and visit families that are affected by HIV/AIDs. An example of this are the recent activities at the Ang Popel Temple. Monks led a prayer session, meditation and support services for over 30 adults living with HIV. These sessions have an immense impact on people affected by HIV/AIDS. "Before these sessions, we were stressed and ashamed...But now we are a lot more positive," said Ken Chanthy. Sessions are also organized for children. At the Tula Sala Temple, monks taught life lessons and personal hygiene to children.

Ulrike Gilbert, a UNICEF HIV Specialist, has said that the monks "address the spiritual needs of a Buddhist people as well as mobilizing material support for affected families."Gilbert goes on to state that this programme is "instrumental in helping to reduce stigma and discrimination."

-Akshika Patel


SOURCE: UNICEF

Women's Education is the Smartest Investment

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged business leaders to increase their investment in women's education and health. "Investing in the health of women and girls is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do for national economies and global stability," said Mr.Ban.

Educating women is a tactic that can significantly contribute to the economy. The Secretary-General highlighted the role that business leaders can play to help women in their education pursuits.

Education aside, Mr.Ban made clear the need for improvement in women's health. In 2011, over 300,000 women died during child birth from preventable complications. Mr.Ban stressed that it is imperative that maternal health efforts be increased in order for women to safely give birth. The private sector has the resources to improve not only maternal health care, but also HIV/AIDS prevention among women.

In the words of the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "The private sector is uniquely positioned to deliver a better life for women and children around the world."

-Akshika Patel


SOURCE:UN News Centre

Working Toward Prevention

"Of the estimated 34 million people living with HIV/AIDS across the world, almost three quarters live in Eastern and Southern Africa."  This is a staggering statistic.  Combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the United Nations (UN) has made great strides in places like Botswana where mother-to-child infections have been reduced from 40% to 4% in just four years.  But in regions of Eastern and Southern Africa, lack of proper medical care combined with impoverished communities have stalled efforts to prevent the transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus.  Luckily, UN leaders and activists alike have already started taking crucial steps toward prevention.

Sheila Tlou, the Director of the Regional Support Team for the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) spoke at a conference in Geneva with words of encouragement for preventative care.  Focusing on behavioral change and mother-to-child transmission, the UNAIDS program will help expand anti-retroviral treatments to those who need it most.  Currently, of the 15 million HIV-infected individuals eligible for anti-retroviral treatment, only 4.2 million are receiving the care they need.  Tlou looks with optimism to areas in the Asian-Pacific where there has been a 20% reduction in new infections in the past ten years.

Efforts to prevent new infections and mother-to-child transmissions must start at the root.  As stressed by Tlou and the UNAIDS committee, behavior modification and crucial poverty reduction efforts are a necessity.  Education, proper medical treatments, and access to hygienic facilities are all steps toward preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the world's most impoverished communities.  Tlou states, "We have to now focus on making sure that we scale up voluntary medical male circumcision, behaviour change, and all those [interventions] to make sure that we reduce infections."  Although a mounting challenge, programs and successes such as these give millions living with HIV/AIDS the hope they need.

-Kenneth Louis

SOURCE: UN News Centre 

State of Silent Crisis

Urgent action needs to take place now for mortality rates in Central African Republic (CAR) are skyrocketing through the roof.  Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), medical aid group, has come forth and called on donor governments and development agencies to come through with their commitments of foreign assistance, whether it be through funds or humanitarian acts.  As one of world's poorest countries, ranking 179 out of 187 countries in the 2011 UN Human Development Index, life expectancy in CAR is 48 (second lowest in the world).  Cause of most deaths?  Malnutrition and diseases, like malaria, HIV and Aids, that could have been prevented or treated if necessary resources were at their disposal.  Also, with the notorious workings of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), violence, rape, and abduction are contributing factors to the high death rates.  

Sure, health funding is allocated, but it appears that international donors are becoming less involved dropping from $39m in 2005 to $9.9m in 2009.  So, the issue at hand, accountability.  People need to start stepping up to the plate and be good on their commitments for their lives are ultimately in your hands.    

Sean Healey, MSF humanitarian affairs officer, said "The Central African Republican falls into the category of forgotten crises.  It is not receiving the humanitarian commitment that it should."

-Georisa Chang

SOURCE: The Guardian

The Gumption of Youths to Shape Our Future

In light of the many challenges the world is currently faced with, rising unemployment rates to severe climate changes, people are apprehensive about what lies ahead.  Despite the global unease, the young people are taking charge.

Don’t underestimate the power of the young people in the world.  This segment of society plays a vital role in building a better future that ensures “peace, prosperity, freedom, and justice for all”.  They are accomplishing more to shape this world for the better than we actually give them credit for.  Their efforts in fighting poverty and hunger, protecting the environment, acts of HIV/AIDS prevention, and taking a stand against discrimination (gender, race, or sexual orientation) should not go unnoticed.  With the limited resources they have and their gumption to stand up for what they believe in, there is no stopping them from changing this world for the better.

Also, communication today has transformed with advancements in technology and social media allowing them to globally connect and widen their perspective on the world around them.  The more they interact with the world, the more they learn, the more likely they will want to get involved.  They are our future; let their voice be heard, loud and proud.    

“They are, in short, demanding the dignity and opportunities that are their right.”

-Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General

-Georisa Chang

SOURCE: UN News

HIV AIDS Finally Has A Cure!!!

You cannot get better news than this one: AIDS finally has a cure! You are not hearing it wrong because it is true. A 45 year old man living in San Francisco, California has become the first person ever who has been cured of the deadly disease, HIV AIDS because of the discovery of an apparent HIV immunity gene.

Known as “The Berlin Patient”, Timothy Ray Brown was tested positive for HIV back in 1995. In 2007, Brown was living in Berlin, Germany dealing with HIV and leukemia, when scientists there gave him a bone marrow stem cell transplant. Scientists said that Brown received stem cells from a donor who was “immune to HIV”. An interesting note: about 1% of Caucasians are immune to HIV. Some researchers believe that the immunity gene goes back to the Great Plague: people who survived the plague passed their immunity down and their heirs have it today.

In Brown’s own word, “I quit taking my HIV medication the day that I got the transplant and haven’t had to take any since. I’m cured of HIV. I had HIV but I don’t anymore.”

UCSF’s Dr. Jay Levy, who co-discovered the HIV virus and is one of the most respected AIDS researchers in the world, said this case opens the door to the field of “cure research.” But the researchers are still using this case as an exception rather than the rule because of the unanswered questions related to the experiment.

Brown’s amazing progress continues to be monitored by doctors at San Francisco General Hospital and at the University of California at San Francisco medical center. The institute said that it plans to begin clinical trials next year in the hopes of replicating Brown’s success for broader populations of people with HIV.

We sincerely hope that the trial works and AIDS finally has a permanent cure for which we have been waiting so long.

-Nisha Noor

SOURCE: <"a href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/05/16/apparent-immunity-gene-cures-bay-area-man-of-aids/">CBS SAN FRANCISCO

USAID Funded Initiative Helping to Better the Lives of Young Mozambique Girls

Communities in Mozambique, like many other areas of Sub-Saharan Africa are fighting to better the lives of their children, who will come to endure the harsh realities of the AIDS/HIV virus, poverty, and lack of education among many others. According to the USAID, young women in Africa have increasingly become victim to the hardships of teen pregnancy, dropping out of school, and prostitution.

The Avante Raparigas! (Go Girls!) initiative is a local program in Mozambique that aims to educate and encourage communities in improving communication with young girls about topics such as risky sexual behavior, peer pressure and, alcohol abuse. All too often young girls are having to endure dangers and difficulties that affect the ability to better their futures. This initiative, funded by the USAID through PEPFAR (The U.S. President's Emergency Plan and AIDS Relief) and implemented by John Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, uses visuals, brochures, manuals and, training programs to reach local communities.

The Go Girls! program has been increasingly improving outlooks for the future of young girls in local communities. According to the USAID, "...just one year into the program, teen pregnancies in the Mogovolas District of Nampula Province...dropped all the way to zero." Such a great success provides a platform for young girls to continue schooling, improve community relationships and build trust. Participants of the program stated that, they felt a greater sense of safety at school if their teachers were in the program. This has prompted teachers from other communities to begin exploring the possibility of replicating the program across Mozambique.

Without continued foreign assistance funding and funding for the USAID, program successes such as these will be greatly affected, reducing the possibilities for young women to better their lives through continued education. Please continue to support foreign assistance funding by calling your congressional leaders weekly.

-Kelsey Christianson

SOURCE: USAID

5 More Million US$ Against HIV/AIDS in Bahamas

US Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Nicole Avant announced in the Caribbean Regional HIV Prevention Summit celebrated yesterday that the US will provide with 5 million US$ over the next five years in support of the country's fight against HIV/AIDS. The money will come from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, a US Government initiative to combat the disease around the world. This money will complement the existing US Foreign Aid efforts against HIV/AIDS in Bahamas.

US foreign aid against HIV/AIDS in Bahamas, (some 50,000 US$ a year) was distributed by the Embassy in form of small grants for organizations and NGOs that promote HIV/AIDS prevention, public awareness, and also for those that fight HIV/AIDS social stigma. The new PEPFAR funding will support Bahamas's efforts in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: The Bahama Journal

UNICEF Gives Hope to Uzbek Children

UNICEF has been supporting day care centers in Uzbekistan for children affected by HIV/AIDs and creating a positive effect in Uzbek communities. Since June 2010, over 550 children who have experienced stigma and discrimination because of their HIV status have found solace in these kinds of centers.

Today, four UNICEF-supported day care centers for children and their families function in the country’s capital, Tashkent and in the provinces of Andijan, Namangan and Fergana. In these centers, children and adults whose lives are impacted by HIV are given access to psycho-social support, medical and legal counseling and most importantly to an environment free of stigma and discrimination. These centers also help surrounding communities by providing HIV/AIDS awareness programs, care and treatment for HIV positive children including orphans, and support groups for families.

By removing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDs, these centers also give families affected by the disease a sense of hope. One mother’s experience is indicative of the positive effect centers have had on people’s lives in Uzbekistan: "When we came to the Center, it was the first time I saw moms like me and children like my son. They were playing, talking and having a good time. I received counseling and openly talked about my problems with other parents. This was a great relief for me. I stopped feeling lonely. This experience completely changed my life and today I am a full time employee of the Center."

-Clare Ortblad

SOURCE: UNICEF

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day, and the UN has recently just issued a global report on the HIV epidemic. The 2010 UNAIDS report shows that since 1999 the overall HIV infection rate has declined almost 20 percent in 10 years. Much of that decline can be attributed to funding from donor nations, such as the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The program funds education about prevention, safe sex, and making condoms more available. Despite the progress, in 2009 more than 33 million people worldwide were living with HIV- with the biggest epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa.

One of the most important components of tackling the AIDS epidemic is providing access to universal treatment. Today, more people than ever before are receiving antiretroviral therapy, which is an approach of treatment for infections of retroviruses, like AIDS. Typically, three or four medications are taken in combination to fight the disease. Although overall access for such treatment has increased, there are substantially greater gains in some regions than in others.

In 2009, nearly 37 percent of people eligible for treatment in sub-Saharan Africa were able to access life-saving medicines. In Central and South America the number is slightly higher with approximately 42% accessing such treatment. Antiretroviral therapy coverage for children is lower than that for adults, and a low percentage of pregnant women were able to receive therapy for their own health. In addition, many key populations at higher risk received very low coverage. Access to treatment needs to be made more available for all populations.

Investing for AIDS is an essential global responsibility. It improves the lives of people living with HIV and lowers future health costs associated with the disease. In 2009, international donors and governments provided $15.9 billion for the global AIDS response. This investment has resulted in more than 5 million people receiving life-saving treatment, basic education and health care access for millions of orphans, and more tolerant social environments due to campaigns that fight the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. Although there is still much more progress to be made, it is important to recognize what can be accomplished with the strong mobilization of the global community.

-Martina Georgieva

SOURCE: UNAIDS Global Report 2010

IMAGE SOURCE: http://arladii.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/aids-ribbon.jpg

Bill and Melinda Gates on 60 Minutes

Sunday Bill and Melinda Gates were featured on 60 Minutes in a montage of interviews and videos in which they discussed their plans for charitable investments domestically and around the world through their foundation.

The plan is to give away $60 billion. Part of this money will go towards funding The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s global priorities which are HIV/AIDS, malaria, and mother and child deaths. While those are the priorities, the Foundation is also working to eradicate polio where it still exists.

With the opening of The Global Fund’s replenishment meeting today, it is a good time to ask yourself how you would give away that much money. Once you have answered that question, take action. Call your congressional leaders in favor of foreign assistance laws. Call the White House in favor of a higher Global Fund pledge. Most of us are not billionaire philanthropists; however, collectively, we still have the power to create change. As for Melinda Gates, she is less worried about the amount of money they invest than with the result that is going to come from that investment.

-Kelli Hanson

SOURCE: CBS News

New Steps in HIV Vaccine

In May 2010, Seth Berkley addressed the TED audience about new steps towards a vaccine for HIV, the disease that leads to the development of AIDS. HIV is the most complicated virus that scientists have ever seen. The disease constantly mutates within the human host, sends out decoys when the body first detects a foreign invader, attacks the very cells the immune system uses for defense (T-cells), and genetically modifies the cell it inhabits so that the body begins to produce HIV on its own. It is the constant mutation that makes a vaccine so hard to find. For the flu, each season scientists choose three strains that they expect to be the strongest and make a vaccine. Each person infected with HIV in effect has their own strain.

Tests in April 2010 in Thailand have shown the vaccine works in humans, albeit modestly. Scientists have done this by isolating a part of the HIV cell that does not mutate very much from human to human. Separately, they have also found the antibody that the body produces to fight HIV. They are working to make this antibody stronger, and reshape it to fit to the part of the cell that doesn't mutate. The idea is, once this UNIVERSAL vaccine is given, the body will produce its own strain of these antibodies to fight HIV if it were to become present.

That was a really complicated paragraph, and the TED talk is a bit heady as well, but take a second to read it closely. This means that scientists have discovered the one part of the HIV cell that can be susceptible to a vaccine. They have also found the one antibody that can fight it. This is amazing!

Furthermore, they have found a much cheaper way to produce the vaccines so that they can be globally available faster. Additionally, the same science can be used to find a vaccine for all versions of the flu.

WOW!

-Erica Stetz

SOURCE: TED

Join the Baby Protest

ONE International is staging a Baby Protest. You may rightly be wondering what in the world a baby protest entails. Well, this Baby Protest is a campaign to ensure that no babies are born with HIV by 2015. The protest began at the UN Summit last week, where ONE and other advocacy organizations passed the message on to world leaders. Born HIV Free (a campaign for the Global Fund) also staged a very poignant campaign during the Summit (see video above). However, these campaigns are just beginning.

October 4-5 is the Second Meeting of the Third Voluntary Replenishment of the Global Fund. The Global Fund is a world monetary fund dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Donor countries along with private sector donors will meet to discuss the progress that has been made as well as to pledge more money for the Fund. Since 2002, the Fund has disbursed US$ 19.3 billion for over 572 programs in 144 countries. While this has tremendously helped the fight against these diseases, the bottom line is that more than 1,000 babies per day are still being born with HIV.

The Baby Protest and Born HIV Free are campaigning to end this. To learn more about the Baby Protest or to join go to ONE’s website. You can also act now by visiting Born HIV Free’s website. Both are great resources for learning about the cause and joining the fight against it. We can all help end mother to child transmission of HIV by 2015!

-Kelli Hanson

SOURCE: ONE Blog, The Global Fund

Decline in New HIV Cases in Sub-Saharan Africa

A global decline in new HIV infections is lead by Sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNAids. This is due to greater awareness and better use of preventative measures. UNAids Executive Director, Michel Sidibe said, "for the first time change is happening at the heart of the epidemic. In places where HIV was stealing away dreams, we now have hope." Due to increases in worldwide treatment, 200,000 fewer people died from the virus in 2008 than in 2004. UNAids said "young people are leading the prevention revolution by choosing to have sex later, having fewer multiple partners and using condoms, resulting in significantly fewer new HIV infections in many countries highly affected by AIDS." Additionally, the report also said that the complete elimination of mother-to-child transmission is possible by 2015.

These statistics mark significant progress in the implementation of MDG #6, to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015.

SOURCE: UNAids Report

-Erica Stetz