More feature stories on Western and Central Africa

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Global Fund projects that UNAIDS’ call for elimination of mother–to-child HIV transmission by 2015 is within reach
08 March 2010|
A new report by the Global Fund projects that UNAIDS’ call for the virtual elimination of mother–to-child transmission by 2015 is within reach. UNAIDS’ Executive Director and South Africa’s Health Minister joined the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the launch of the Global Fund 2010 Results Report in South Africa which highlights progress made towards these three diseases.
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New wave of cooperatives in Cameroon help HIV-positive women gain economic independence
25 February 2010|
Many people living with HIV face not only health issues but may also struggle to make ends meet economically. A number of HIV-positive women in north-west Cameroon are taking the initiative by generating income through cooperatives, with the assistance of the International Labour Organization (ILO) funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
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Nigeria to accelerate universal access efforts in HIV response
23 February 2010|
There are nearly three million people living with HIV in Nigeria. After South Africa, the country has the largest number of people living with HIV in the continent. Each day there are about 1000 new infections. National HIV prevalence is around 4.6%. But these figures mask the multiple epidemics in the various states of the country. Many of the people living with HIV are poor. Add to this stigma and discrimination.
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Pampaida: millennium development in action in Nigeria
22 February 2010|
Agnes, barely six months old, was comfortable going into the lap of complete strangers, smiling and clutching fingers that were extended towards her. She has been making regular visits to the clinic with her mother Sarah and father Yusuf Samalia. These have been made possible by the Millennium Village Project that is providing comprehensive health, education and poverty alleviation programmes in the Pampaida village located in the Kaduna state of Nigeria. Of the 20,000 people who live in the area around 44% are in the reproductive age groups.
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Removing bottle-necks for Universal Access in Central African Republic
08 February 2010|
The Central African Republic, one of the poorest countries in the world, has been heavily affected by the HIV epidemic. It is estimated that 160 000 people are living with HIV in the country, and only one in four of those in need have access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART).
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16 Days of Activism: The forgotten victims of conflict in the Congo
09 December 2009|
Tomorrow, December 10 marks the end of 16 days of activism to end violence against women, an international campaign. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, is taking the opportunity to draw attention to its work, alongside local partners, in challenging the very high number of rapes occurring in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Private sector in West and Central Africa explore strategic partnerships for improved health outcomes
27 October 2009|
A strategic combination of private sector know-how and technologies with public sector expertise and funding could lead to improved health and a more efficient AIDS response in West and Central Africa. This was the message from a one day workshop held in Ghana focusing on the role of the private sector in Global Fund processes that brought together companies, national business coalitions tackling HIV and employers federations, as well as trade unions and development partners from all over West and Central Africa.
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Nigeria launches postal service campaign for HIV awareness
21 October 2009|
To mark World Post Day on 9 October, Nigeria held a national launch of a global awareness campaign in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union, UNAIDS, the ILO and UNI Global.
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Governments and civil society expand access to HIV testing and counselling
30 September 2009|
A brightly coloured van known as the ‘Tutu Tester’ has become a familiar sight in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of an accelerating drive to persuade people to know their HIV status. More than 10 000 people have been tested and counselled since May 2008 when the mobile clinic from the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation took to the road.
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UNAIDS, Millennium Villages join forces to keep children free from HIV in Africa
21 September 2009|
UNAIDS and the Millennium Villages Project signed an agreement in New York to strengthen efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa. The aim of the partnership is to help local governments create “Mother to child transmission-free zones” in 14 ‘Millennium Villages’ across ten African countries.
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Revitalizing community mobilization for universal access in West and Central Africa
21 August 2009|
Thirty civil society organizations involved in the HIV response in West and Central Africa (WCA) identified six priority areas for action to accelerate the movement towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the region. This decision was the outcome of a regional consultation organized by the UNAIDS Regional Support Team, in collaboration with three regional civil society networks (AfriCASO, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ENDA Santé) in Dakar from 11 to 14 August 2009.
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Evidence shows new drug combination dramatically reduces mother-to child transmission of HIV during breastfeeding
22 July 2009|
According to a new study led by WHO, if HIV-positive pregnant women are given a combination of antiretroviral drugs from late in pregnancy until six months into breastfeeding, rather than a short course of drugs that ends at delivery, their babies are over 40% less likely to become infected with HIV.
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Made in Africa
02 July 2009|
Recently published op-ed by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé -- There are 22 million people living with HIV in Africa. For every two people who start on antiretroviral treatment, five are newly infected with HIV. This means the number of people in need of treatment will always increase.
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Addressing the HIV-related needs of “people on the move”
19 June 2009|
June 20 is World Refugee Day, an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of addressing the HIV-related needs of “people on the move”. Love in the time of AIDS, a video co-produced by UNHCR, highlights the story of Noe Sebisaba, a former Burundian refugee who set up a successful NGO which provides a lifeline to many fellow refugees affected by HIV. The video will be featured during the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board thematic session on forced displacement at the Board’s 24th meeting.
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The challenges of pandemics for Africa’s development
27 May 2009|
Africa Day, the official day of the African Union, is observed every 25 May. It is an opportunity to celebrate African diversity and success, but also a time to reflect on the challenges remaining in Africa’s road to development.
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African Parliamentarians commit to universal access to HIV services
18 May 2009|
UNAIDS and UNDP in West and Central Africa have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Forum of Arab and African Parliamentarians for Population and Development (FAAPPD) formalizing the commitment of the Parliamentarians to work towards the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services in the region.
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UNICEF working to teach AIDS prevention to young people in Guinea
16 April 2009|
Nene Gallé Barry sells charcoal in a very poor area of the Koloma quarter in Conakry, Guinea’s capital. She is 18 now, but left her home village four years ago to earn a living in the city. She has a boyfriend and is sexually active and, until recently, she had never heard of AIDS and had never seen or used a condom.
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Leadership in Senegal’s AIDS response
09 April 2009|
UNAIDS estimates that one per cent of adults in Senegal are living with HIV. In 1992, at a time when the full impact of AIDS on society was only beginning to be recognised in the country, the Catholic church in Senegal founded “SIDA Service,” an organization to support and care for people living with or affected by HIV.
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Supporting young learners living with HIV in Namibia and Tanzania
23 December 2008|
According to a new UNESCO report the learning needs of HIV-positive children in Namibia and Tanzania are currently not being met by their education sectors whose AIDS responses are described as wanting in many respects.
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Public and private sector partnerships in the AIDS response: An opportunity for innovation and leadership
07 December 2008|
Assessing what really works in the AIDS response, and understanding how it works, is all the more pressing in the current context of global financial slowdown said experts at an ICASA session on Friday. The event, “Public private partnerships against HIV: how can we together turn the tide?” was organized by UNAIDS as part of the conference’s Leadership Programme.

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21 March 2013

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20 March 2013

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