Official Bank Sites Related Information August 24, 2006—The first case of the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) was detected 25 years ago in Los Angeles. Yet HIV and AIDS are spreading and there is still no vaccine available. Organizers of the 16th International AIDS Conference August 13 to 18 in Toronto chose the theme “Time to deliver” to urge the international community to act. That theme resonated throughout the sessions last week. But what did the Conference actually deliver?
Medical Research The scientific community delivered rich data and directions to one day find a vaccine against HIV. Researchers want to better understand the factors driving the virus’ progression and are working to find better treatments with fewer side effects, including less nausea, which many treated people with HIV suffer from. There is hope in the new pill Atripla combining the three current medicines needed, which simplifies treatment. They are also looking into the links between HIV and other diseases. For example, in some settings, tuberculosis—the leading cause of death among people living with HIV—could be prevented by providing effective TB treatment. Hepatitis C is also prevalent among injecting drug users, and again there are effective ways to prevent this disease, as well as HIV, such as by providing clean needles to injecting drug users and other harm reduction. Moreover scientists are also looking into improving drugs for children. Medicines are engineered for adults, and often doctors don’t exactly know which dosage is right for children. Too often children don’t know their status, and the earlier HIV is detected the faster they can get treated.
Prevention In spite of well-known ways of preventing the infection – such as use of condoms and clean needles – studies show that most people in need do not know how to protect themselves and others and do not have access to prevention. As a result, the epidemic is still spreading fast. With 4.1 million people being infected in 2005, several speakers noted that we would not treat our way out of this epidemic. The Conference delivered a clear message: it is crucial to focus on both treatment and prevention. HIV and AIDS rates will keep increasing unless women are given the means to fight this disease. They need access to microbicides--a gel that is still being developed--so that they can use it before having sex to protect themselves. Often, women are not able to protect themselves and negotiate safe sex. In some countries, women don’t have the rights to own property and inherit if their husband dies. As a consequence, they have to find other ways to feed their children, and too often they become sex workers and contract HIV. Moreover in spite of the fact that drugs exist to prevent a pregnant woman infected with HIV from contaminating her child, babies are still born with the virus on a daily basis, especially in the developing world. Still, too few pregnant women have access to this treatment to prevent their newborns from infection. Studies show that if a pregnant HIV positive woman takes this type of drugs, delivers through a cesarean section, and doesn’t breastfeed her child, she will not transmit the virus. Another important way to fight HIV is to give health workers the means to help their own communities. Low wages in developing countries often forces skilled health workers to leave for Europe or the United States where salaries are higher. Many health workers die from AIDS, as other young adults do, because even they don’t have access to anti-retroviral treatment. The message delivered by the scientific community clearly stated that countries have to reform their health system, improve prevention and treatment programs, as well as increase financing to make sure that health workers are protected and have the medicines to treat their patients. Non governmental organizations at the Conference also delivered messages to encourage governments to empower women and pay their health workers higher salaries. Reaching Youth Youth organizations were also very active. They want young people to be part of the discussion when politicians plan their prevention programs for example. They stressed the importance of reaching and educating young people before they become sexually active. MTV was also part of the effort to reach youth. They gave eight teams of seven young people 48 hours to produce a short film about AIDS (visit http://eu.staying-alive.org/48fest/index.htmlfor more details). The films addressed issues such as getting tested, violence at home, sugar daddies, talking with your parents, and myths. The winning film showed the devastating effects of stigma on a young girl seen leaving an HIV clinic. The Conference had an official youth website and several sessions focused on issues youth face.
Suzanne Dhalival, a student in Toronto who volunteers for Médecins Sans Frontières, thought however that there wasn’t enough youth among the delegates. Her friend Jennifer Hoff agreed and said youth should get more involved in helping their community. The Global Village hosted a series on informal discussions on a variety of subjects including youth and how to reach them. There was for example a musical performance addressing the issue of when youth should start having sex. Young activists from Ukraine and Ethiopia presented what they were doing to inform and support young people. Colleen Patterson who spoke for youth at the Closing Ceremony said the Youth Pavilion was the most visited booth at the Global Village, and that even if a record number of youth attended the Conference (about 10,000), they needed more representatives from marginalized groups: young people who are injected-drug users, sex workers, indigenous, transgender, from Asia and the Pacific regions. Conclusion During the closing session, speakers called for government accountability, political and religious leadership, a stronger civil society and better coordination between international organizations. There was a sense of urgency as well as demand for long-term financing. The vaccine is at least 10 years away, and in the meantime everyone needs prevention and people living with HIV need access to anti-retroviral treatment.
The main message the Conference delivered may be that in spite of the progress over the last 25 years, there was no room for complacency. It is time to deliver! There are almost 40 million people living with HIV, including 24.5 million in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2005, 2.8 million people died of AIDS. |
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