UNAIDS calls for a virtual elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV by 2015

GENEVA, 21 May 2009 – During the week of the World Health Assembly, UNAIDS’ executive director met with Health Ministers to underscore UNAIDS’ commitment in supporting countries to achieve their universal access goals.

UNAIDS outlined key priority areas in which joint action by the United Nations will make a significant difference to the AIDS response and a positive contribution to the broader development agenda. Realizing results in the identified areas will have a direct impact on halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic.

Many of the priority areas call for urgent and effective actions which save lives including preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children and providing ongoing care and treatment for women, their partners and their children.

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UN Secretary-General meets HIV positive UN staff members

Members of UN Plus, UN Secretary-General and the UNAIDS Executive Director gathered for a meeting in Geneva on 20 May 2009. Credit: UNAIDS/P. Virot

The United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon held a meeting in Geneva with HIV positive UN staff members and the UNAIDS Executive Director. The staff are part of a UN system-wide advocacy group called UN Plus which was set up in 2005 to promote the rights of HIV-positive staff and provide peer support.

Addressing the group, the Secretary-General reiterated his support to UN Plus and acknowledged his pride in the commitment and strength of its members. UN Plus first met with Mr Ban in 2007, a meeting he described as “one of the most moving experiences of my life,” and today’s meeting was an opportunity for the group to update the UN Secretary-General on progress made and to request his continued support.

UN Plus Coordinator Bhatupe Mhango expressed her appreciation for work the Secretary-General has done in advocating for the rights of HIV positive people evidenced by his many meetings with people living with HIV when on official travel around the world.


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ASEAN Health Ministers discuss A(H1N1) and AIDS issues

Ministers of Health of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, gathered for an informal meeting on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly (WHA) on 19 May 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The main objective of the meeting was to discuss issues of common interest during the WHA, such as ASEAN’s strategies to address the A(H1N1) flu outbreak and prevent a pandemic as well as to discuss with UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé strategies to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

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2009 AIDS Candlelight in the Philippines

We will blog the ceremonies around the archipelago...

Here's some that we have monitored so far:

Sultan Kudarat 

Light a Candle Ceremony

Tacloban City 

DILG exhorts LGUs to support 26th Annual Int'l AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 15

Quezon City

at Quezon Memorial Circle

66 New HIV Cases - Highest Ever!

From just 16 per month in 2001-2005, to 28 in 2006-2007, to 44 last year... reported HIV cases in the Philippines now wallops at 60 cases per month in 2009. It recorded 66 new cases for the month of April 2009, the highest ever recorded number in a month.

Forget the terms "low and slow" and "hidden and growing" to describe the HIV epidemic in the Philippines. Clearly, HIV is an exploding epidemic in the country.

Download the April 2009 AIDS Registry Report here.

Influenza A(H1N1) and HIV

There are many questions concerning the potential impact of emerging influenza A(H1N1)* on people living with HIV, as they are more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

Read more here.

Download WHO Guidance Note here.

Photo: http://www.unaids.org/

Launch of GOP-UNDP HIV Programme

“Promoting Leadership and Mitigating the Negative Impacts of HIV and AIDS on Human Development”

Wednesday, 6 May 2009, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Ballroom 1, Renaissance Hotel, Makati City 

This programme aims to support leadership and capacity development to strengthen local responses and mitigate the negative impacts on human development of HIV and AIDS. It adopts a modular approach in programming to remain flexible and responsive to a growing epidemic and the needs of the Philippines’ 4th AIDS Medium Term Plan (AMTP-4).

HIV in the Philippines circa 2009

Excerpts from the HIV in the Philippines Presentation of the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) to the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), at EDSA Shangrila Hotel, Mandaluyong City last February 2009.

Source: AIDS Registry, January 2009

Think Positive - a GMA7 Documentary

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Source: http://gmanews.tv/video/39736/SNBO-Think-Positive

Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance

Visit: www.youthaidsfilipinasalliance.org

Let the VOICE of Filipino Youths be heard to STOP AIDS!

Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance is an online network of Filipino Youth working for HIV and AIDS in the Philippines.

"We, YAFA members, are committed to STOP AIDS -- to end the sufferings and inequities brought by HIV & AIDS stigma and discrimination. We value and support the meaningful participation of Filipino Youths, including the greater involvement of young Filipinos living with HIV, in all levels of HIV & AIDS interventions in the Philippines and worldwide."