More feature stories on Western and Central Africa

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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.
UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé
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.
ICASA 2008: Men who have sex with men and HIV in Africa
07 December 2008|
From Cape Town to Lagos, several new studies are starting to provide a better understanding of men who have sex with men (MSM) within the context of HIV in Africa. “Homosexuality is very much understudied in West Africa, and in Nigeria it is criminalized, making it difficult to reach MSM,” said Sylvia Adebajo, a researcher at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. “As a result, the lives of MSM are characterized by denial, violence, and stigmatization”. Ms Adebajo was speaking at an ICASA session
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ICASA 2008 ends with call for stronger youth focus
07 December 2008|
ICASA 2008 closed on 7 December with a strong message: youth are essential in the response to AIDS in Africa, especially those living with HIV. The closing ceremony began with a statement delivered by Ms Souadou N'Doye, a young Senegalese. She spoke on behalf of all young Africans and urged those in attendance to ensure that young people are involved in the design of HIV programmes.
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Religious and traditional leaders discuss HIV at ICASA 2008
05 December 2008|
Opinions on sexuality and condom use vary depending on the different beliefs of religious and traditional leaders in Africa. Nonetheless, today at ICASA there was general agreement that regardless of an individual’s choices, human beings should be treated equally and with respect.
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ICASA 2008: Princess Mathilde of Belgium highlights the role of young people in Africa’s AIDS response
05 December 2008|
Participants in a series of ICASA sessions on youth leadership and Africa’s AIDS response were in clear and unanimous agreement: young people are vital to preventing new HIV infections and moving towards the goal of an AIDS-free generation. UNAIDS and UNICEF Special Representative HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium today reconfirmed her commitment to youth and HIV issues.
ICASA 2008: Long term financing for a sustainable response in Africa
05 December 2008|
The priority of investment in health is crucial for African countries’ successful development stressed Dr Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Dr Kazatchkine was speaking at the 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) where he highlighted the need for a long-term approach to the reinforcement of health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Only this will mean a sustainable response to the AIDS epidemic.
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ILO and workplace leaders pledge action at ICASA 2008
04 December 2008|
On the occasion of the 15th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), about fifty workplace leaders gathered together on 4 December at the invitation of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
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ICASA 2008: Improving national private sector HIV responses
04 December 2008|
A consensus is emerging at ICASA that in countries across Africa the private sector needs to work more closely together in order to be successful in responding to AIDS.
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ICASA 2008: Free condoms in hotels as part of HIV prevention initiative
04 December 2008|
As 5000 delegates from across Africa and the world gather in Dakar this week, condoms are being made freely available for delegates in hotels in the city as part of a HIV prevention drive.
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ICASA 2008: Dr Piot reflects on 25 years of AIDS in Africa
04 December 2008|
“We can not predict the future but we can certainly influence it,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot looking ahead after his review of the past 25 years of AIDS in Africa. Dr Piot traced the history of the AIDS epidemic in Africa over the past quarter century and highlighted some key milestones in the response during a plenary session at ICASA.
Understanding HIV transmission for an improved AIDS response in West Africa
03 December 2008|
On the opening day of International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), taking place in Mali under the theme “Africa’s Response: Face the facts,” the World Bank launched a new report exploring the character of the HIV epidemics and responses in countries in West Africa.

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