(From left:) Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for the pastoral care of Health Care Workers; Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
Credit: UNAIDS

On 28 May UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé gave the guest lecture at an international study meeting, “The Centrality of Care for the Person in the Prevention and Treatment of Illnesses Caused by HIV/AIDS”. The meeting was hosted by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers and Good Samaritan Foundation in Rome. The event brought together experts on HIV to discuss “people-centred approaches” to the provision of HIV prevention, treatment and care services and economic support to people most in need.

Michel Sidibé engaged the audience in a passionate call for social justice in the HIV response. Highlighting recent ground breaking research on the impact of HIV Treatment for Prevention; he urged the global community to rise to the challenge of funding the global AIDS response because, “funding sustainable health care is a moral obligation, a right not a luxury.” 

Mr Sidibé highlighted the recent results of a study in which early treatment of people living with HIV can be 96% effective in preventing sexual transmission of the HIV virus. “This is a true game changer in the AIDS response,” Mr Sidibé said. “Serodiscordant couples have another extremely effective option for HIV protection. This is very important –something we did not know a few months ago.”

Mr Sidibé described how Treatment for Prevention sits as one element in an important comprehensive set of HIV prevention approaches. UNAIDS believes it is every person's right, including young people, to have access to effective education on human sexuality, health and life skills to enable that person to make informed choices and follow through on them, including abstinence, reducing the number of sexual partners, mutual fidelity and how to use condoms consistently and correctly. Research has shown that such education does not result in increased sexual relations.

He welcomed Pope Benedict’s recent clarification of the use of condoms to prevent HIV who wrote that, “in the case of some individuals,” to use a condom for HIV prevention purposes could represent “a first assumption of responsibility.” Mr Sidibé said this statement was very important: “it has helped me to understand his position better and has opened up a new space for dialogue.”

Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for the pastoral care of Health Care Workers, highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to HIV prevention, treatment and care in his inaugural address to the meeting.

“Thus the prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV should be approached from the perspective of the total, holistic response against the infection and its roots, no longer and not only limited to the medical-public health aspect, as important as that is.”

(From left) Mrs Ban Soon-taek; Mrs Carla Bruni-Sarkozy; Mr Michel Sidibé; Prof Michel Kazatchkine. Deauville, 27 May 2011.
Credit: Laurent Blevennec

Mrs Carla Bruni-Sarkozy brought together the spouses of Heads of State and Government attending the G8-Africa Summit in Deauville to a working lunch dedicated to the protection of mothers and children against HIV.

As Global Ambassador for the Protection of Mothers and Children Against HIV and founder of the Born HIV-Free campaign, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy engaged the spouses to support the goal of ending new HIV infections among children by 2015. The luncheon included Michel Sibidé, Executive Director of UNAIDS who also represented Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF in his absence, and Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The luncheon was an opportunity to take stock of the initiatives already undertaken in the field and to reaffirm the need for all partners to work together to eliminate new HIV infections among children.

Speaking at the luncheon, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy stated, “Every year, almost 400,000 children are born with HIV. Over 90% of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, today, effective treatment to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child is available and inexpensive. It is unfair and unacceptable that only pregnant women in the richest countries benefit from appropriate medical care and access to treatment. We must mobilize political leaders, the media and the public at large to put an end to this inequity so that by 2015 a new generation can be born HIV free.”

(From left) Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS; Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Deauville, 27 May 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS

Calling for the need for increased leadership, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, “As a father I know that every parent’s wish is to do the best for their children. Mothers must be given access to treatment and have the opportunity to ensure their children are born free from HIV.” Echoing this, Professor Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria said, “With G8 leadership and a strong commitment from developing countries, I know we can improve women’s health and by 2015 have an AIDS free generation.”

These efforts will continue when world leaders meet in New York from June 8-10 at the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS to chart the future of the global AIDS response.

Earlier in the day Mr Sidibé addressed a press conference to highlight the joint letter that was submitted to the G8 Heads of State. The letter requests the commitment of the G8 leaders to support the goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive. It was signed by Mr Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS; Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF; and Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

(From left): Mme Viviane Wade, Sénégal; Mme Dominique Ouattara, Côte d’Ivoire; Mme Conde Djenè Kaba, Guinée; Mme Ban Soon-taek, United Nations; Mme Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France; M. Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS; M. Michel Kazathchkine, Global Fund; Mme Aissata Issoufou, Niger; Mme Geertrui Van Rompuy, European Council; Mme Laureen Harper, Canada; Mme Svetlana Medvedeva, Russian Federation; Mme Margarida Barroso, European Commission.
Credit: Laurent Blevennec

Credit: UNAIDS

Ahead of the 2011 United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS, the Reference Group to the United Nations on HIV and Injecting Drug Use has issued a statement calling for Member States to focus on HIV transmission among people who inject drugs. The statement details eight key priorities for Member States as they negotiate the outcome document for June’s General Assembly meeting.  

“Harm reduction is neither a matter of rhetoric, nor of politics. It is evidence-based and when implemented to scale, reduces HIV transmission among people who inject drugs,” says Bronwyn Myers, Reference Group Secretariat and Specialist Scientist at the Medical Research Council.

The statement issued by the Reference Group asks governments to commit to scaling-up evidence-based interventions to addressing HIV among people who inject drugs. It details a rights-based public health approach to achieving universal access, such as providing anti-retroviral treatment to people who are living with HIV, and it calls for countries to revise punitive drug and law enforcement policies that can undermine the AIDS response and human rights. 

“There is still a misconception that people who use drugs can not adhere to HIV treatment regimens, but research shows that they adhere well, especially if HIV treatment is offered in conjunction with drug treatment,” said Steffanie Strathdee, Associate Dean of Global Health at UC San Diego and a member of the Reference Group. “Denying drug users life-saving HIV treatments and drug treatment violates their right to health and harms the community, since it is now known that HIV treatment reduces viral load and can prevent HIV transmission,” Dr Strathdee said. 

The Reference Group further underscored the importance of Member States’ ensuring access to the comprehensive package of nine interventions outlined in the WHO, UNODC, UNAIDS technical guide for the prevention and treatment of HIV among people who inject drugs. The need to engage people who inject drugs in the shaping of AIDS responses was also underline. It also highlighted that too many countries have little to no behavioural surveillance on people who inject drugs; even fewer of those who do, have no basic programmes such as needle syringe exchange programmes and opioid substitution therapy. 

The statement is a call to the international community to renew its commitment to equitable access to HIV prevention, care and treatment among people who inject drugs and to recognize that injecting drug use is a global phenomenon which affects HIV transmission in both concentrated and generalized epidemic settings. 

Reference Group to the UN on HIV and Injecting Drug Use

The Reference Group to the United Nations on HIV and Injecting Drug Use was established in 2002 to advise the UN on the epidemiology of HIV and HIV prevention among people who inject drugs. The Group comprises independent experts and its views and recommendations do not necessarily reflect the positions of the United Nations, the UNAIDS Secretariat or its Cosponsors.

The Right Honorable Prime Minister Jhala Nath Kanal and Mr. Kush Kumar Joshi, Chair of FNCCI, unveil the BCAN logo.
Credit: UNAIDS

Nepal’s AIDS response has received a business boost with the launch of a national Business Coalition on AIDS (BCAN). The Coalition brings together multiple Nepalese private sector companies, leaders, innovators and industrialists to work collectively in the response to AIDS.

The Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) launched the Coalition with the goal of reducing HIV infection among the country’s workforce. It is also expects that the Business Coalition will create a supportive environment for the care and treatment of employees living with and affected by HIV and their families. “This Coalition will work to remove stigma associated with HIV so that people living with HIV do not suffer from discriminatory treatment in the workplace and in society,” said Mr Kush Kumar Joshi, Chair of FNCCI.

In a high-profile event held in Kathmandu in May, Nepalese Prime Minister and Chair of the National AIDS Council, the Right Honorable Mr Jhala Nath welcomed the business sector as vital partners: “The Government of Nepal acknowledges with utmost appreciation this initiative from the business sector to be engaged and contribute to the country’s response on HIV. This is an important part of the business sectors’ response towards the social development of Nepal”.

Pioneered by business leader Mr Rajendra Khetan who also leads the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on AIDS (APLF), and who for many years has worked to bring AIDS higher on political, business and social agendas, the FNCCI-BCAN already has more than 1 500 members from across the country. These private sector leaders have underlined their commitment to put in place HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes to help maintain a healthy and competitive environment for their workers and their families, including those from key affected communities.

In Nepal, estimated adult HIV prevalence is 0.4% but the country also has a ‘concentrated’ epidemic where estimated HIV prevalence among key affected populations reaches more than 5%. According to latest national reports, more than 85% of the newly reported HIV cases are among people aged 16-45, which is the most economically active age group.

“The most immediate way that business and the new business Coalition can take action is by protecting its greatest resource—its employees. In doing so, the Coalition is investing in the well being and morale of employees and communities, and investing in the sustained growth and development of Nepal,” said UNAIDS Country Coordinator Marlyn Borromeo.

As a first priority, businesses within BCAN commit to ensure the implementation of the National Policy on HIV/AIDS in the Workplace which highlights the need for increased resources and action from the private sector on AIDS and the importance of protecting employees living with HIV and their families.

Ms Sita Shashi, President of Srijanshil Mahila Samuha, an organization of women living with HIV in Nepal, heralded the increased involvement of the business community in Nepal’s HIV response: “[This] has enhanced our confidence that business can bring positive change; ensuring access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in workplace; supporting economic empowerment opportunities for women living with HIV in communities and; promoting accepting attitude towards people living with HIV and their families,” she said.

Charity event spotlights HIV epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

VIENNA, 23 May 2011—Celebrities and influential leaders in the global AIDS response gathered at Vienna’s City Hall on 21 May for the 2011 Life Ball, Europe’s largest annual AIDS charity event. This year’s Life Ball commemorated 30 years of AIDS and focused on the rapidly growing HIV epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“The Life Ball is not only about celebrating life, but also about creating a social movement to stop stigma and discrimination,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, speaking at a press conference on 21 May. “Gery (Keszler) and AIDS LIFE are a voice and force of change in this movement,” he added.

Mr Sidibé was joined at the press conference by Gery Keszler, co-founder and Chairman of AIDS LIFE, a non-profit organization that organizes the Life Ball. Other speakers included singer Janet Jackson representing amfAR, clothing designers Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2, and Hollywood actress Brooke Shields.

Before the opening ceremony of Life Ball, a number of eminent guests attended the AIDS Solidarity Gala, a fundraising dinner co-hosted by UNAIDS and AIDS LIFE under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Austria, Heinz Fischer. Proceeds from the event will be used, in part, to support UNAIDS programmes in the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Over the past decade, the number of people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia nearly tripled—from an estimated 530 000 in 2000 to 1.4 million in 2009. The Russian Federation and Ukraine together account for nearly 90% of newly reported HIV infections in the region. Though the epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are mainly concentrated among people who inject drugs, sex workers and men who have sex with men, these populations have limited access to HIV services.

At the Life Ball opening ceremony, 30 international personalities presented milestones in the epidemic’s 30-year history. The UNAIDS Executive Director highlighted the founding of UNAIDS in 1996 and the “glimmer of hope” that same year when combination antiretroviral therapy proved effective in keeping people living with HIV alive.

Former United States President Bill Clinton noted in his remarks that substantial price reductions in antiretroviral medicines since the year 2002 had greatly expanded access to treatment for millions of people. However, he said, a major treatment gap remains: “Ten million people in poor countries still need to be on (antiretroviral) medicines. If you want to cut the infection rate, if you want to cut the death rate, we have to finish the job.”

Every year, the Life Ball recognizes the work and dedication of pioneers in the AIDS response through the “Crystal of Hope” award. This year’s award of 100 000 EUR was presented to Anya Sarang, President of the Andrey Rylkov Foundation for Health and Social Justice, a non-governmental organization based in the Russian Federation that advocates for the human rights of people who use drugs.



Credit: UNAIDS/L.Taylor

In the context of decreasing international funding for HIV responses, policymakers in many middle- and low- income countries are trying to contain the increasing costs for service delivery, commodities, drugs and other costs, while at the same time scaling up HIV prevention, treatment and care services.

In order to help countries monitor and evaluate the economic aspects of HIV service provision, UNAIDS has produced a generic HIV facility costing document titled  Manual for Costing HIV Facilities and Services.

The manual, together with an accompanying Workbook for collection of Cost Information of HIV Services, have been produced to provide standardized guidance for countries to collect cost data in their facilities that provide HIV prevention or treatment services.

“A major problem in middle- and low-income countries continues to be a lack of basic information on the use of services, their cost, outcome and impact; those few costing studies which are performed are often not done so in a standardized fashion,” said Eddy Beck, UNAIDS Senior Technical Advisor.

The new publications aim to provide policymakers and implementers with the tools to provide robust and contemporary strategic data, which can inform their national strategic plans. This includes financial information on expenditure and costs to help the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV services that are sustainable in the long term.

Efficiencies can pre-empt increasing costs such as the future number of people requiring second- or third-line drugs thanks to the success in closing the gap in treatment access. These guidelines are therefore designed to help countries achieve such much-needed efficiency gains that will allow them to efficiently scale up and deliver all HIV services required.

The World Health Assembly today adopted a new comprehensive Global Health Sector Strategy for HIV/AIDS 2011-2015, spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO). The strategy aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive guide to how health sectors can most effectively tackle the epidemic.

Recognizing that the nature of the epidemic has evolved in recent years, and that the AIDS response has to be dynamic and flexible, the World Health Assembly in 2010 called for a new HIV strategy to inform global health sector action. In consultation with some 100 member states, civil society and other key players, a number of whom participated online; a strategy has been formulated which takes into account great strides made in the AIDS response and maps out what needs to be done in the future.

The latest UNAIDS global report has shown that the AIDS epidemic has been halted and that the spread of HIV is beginning to be reversed. New infections have fallen by almost 20% in the last 10 years and between 2003 and 2009 there was a 13-fold increase in treatment coverage. However, in 2009 only a third of people in need of treatment received it and the demand for resources is still outstripping supply.

The new Global Health Sector Strategy for HIV/AIDS, which is fully aligned with, and complements, the UNAIDS strategy 2011-15, Getting to Zero, will operate within this changed landscape to optimize progress towards universal access and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. It promotes tailored responses to national and regional epidemics and analyzes the underlying socio-economic and cultural determinants contributing to the spread of the virus.

The strategy seeks to reduce vulnerability and structural barriers to accessing good quality services. It also demonstrates how HIV programmes can play a role in broader health outcomes and recognizes the importance of strong health and community systems to guarantee a sustainable response.

WHO will make five key contributions to the Global Health Sector Strategy:

• Scale up innovation in prevention
• Optimize treatment and care
• Support health for women and children
• Promote strategic health-sector information and planning
• Provide leadership in addressing health equity and HIV (examining inequities in access to HIV services)

The new strategy represents another significant step forward in the global response to HIV.

Visitors to the Positive Faces photo exhibition.

To highlight the power of people to create social change including ending HIV-related stigma, a photography exhibition has opened in Cairo. It displays a combination of portraits from the Egyptian revolution that took place in January 2011 and portraits submitted to a World AIDS Day photo contest in 2010 by young photographers under the theme Positive Faces.

It has been 30 years since a grassroots movement of activists mobilized in response to HIV that was impacting their communities. They had no money and even less recognition from the world but with courage and strong belief in their cause they made, and continue to make, a difference for people infected with and affected by HIV. Now, a photo exhibition brings together two movements led by anonymous individuals and communities that share a call for equity and justice.

The exhibition, co-organized by UNAIDS and Sawy Cultural Wheel, opened on 11 May and will run until 21 May at the Cultural Centre in central Cairo. It borrows from the spirit of the Egyptian revolution to extend dignity and freedom to people living with HIV and affected communities.

The launch event included a discussion forum with panellists Menna Shalabi, UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for Egypt; the photographer Mr Monir El Shazly; and Dr Mohamed Slalah, President of the International Federation of Medical Students Association in Egypt.

While Dr Slalah underlined the role of art in communicating messages to promote social justice and human rights, Ms Shalaby drew from her personal engagement with people living with HIV to emphasize that people can get trapped by feelings of disempowerment. “I hope that people living with HIV in the country realize they have the power to make a difference, to help themselves and others by speaking up for their rights,” she said.

Menna Shalabi, UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador for Egypt at the launch of the photo exhibition.

Mr Shazly, who is a professional photographer of note, commented that the photographs were so expressive and profound that they communicated to both the heart and mind. In his opinion, the sense of solidarity around a common cause is what drove the popular uprising and revolution in Egypt. “The HIV response needs to solicit the same sense of unity and people living with HIV should realize they have the power to make that happen,” he said.

Wessam El Beih, UNAIDS Country Officer Egypt explains that the idea to combine photographs was, “to emphasize that overcoming the fear and silence barrier is key to galvanize action that brings about change and the realization of rights.”

Three winners of the 2010 HIV photo contest were presented with digital cameras sponsored by Canon during the launch. The first prize winner, Dina Ezzat, explained that her child was the inspiration behind her photograph. According to Ms Ezzat, the image of a baby wrapped in a red ribbon symbolizes that the future can be bright and free from HIV, and that there is an obligation for society to protect that future through an effective AIDS response.

Credit: UN Photo/Marie Frechon

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) have published On the front line: A review of programmes that address HIV among international peacekeepers and uniformed services 2005–2010. This report outlines the progress made and the obstacles encountered in implementing Resolution 1308 and will serve as background when the Security Council meet on 7 June to deliberate progress towards the resolution.

In 2000 when the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1308 it was a watershed moment in the global AIDS response. It was the first time in its history that the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution addressing a public health concern and its implications for international peace and security.

The resolution recognized that societal violence and instability exacerbate the spread of HIV and, left unchecked, could pose a threat to international peace and security. It called on UNAIDS and DPKO to develop HIV-specific strategies and programmes within the context of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

The report notes that significant progress has been made in providing access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services for all sections of society—including peacekeepers and other uniformed services personnel. Nevertheless, during the past 10 years, the evolving landscape of crises and conflicts throughout the world has reshaped these challenges and underscored the need for a new response to AIDS in the context of United Nations actions to help prevent conflict, ensure security and build peace.

Writing in the introduction, Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director and Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations note: “There are clearly new opportunities for consolidating the progress and addressing new challenges. The imperative to further explore the relationship between AIDS and insecurity is also clear.”

Credit: UNAIDS

In her keynote address to the 2011 World Health Assembly, taking place in Geneva from 16-24 May, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina highlighted the progress made by her country in the response to HIV. “In Bangladesh, we have been able to keep HIV prevalence rates to less than 0.01% due to our effective national programme aided by our strong inherent social values. The decline has been due to rapid expansion of HIV services and dedicated AIDS financing.”

Ms Hasina also noted that although progress has been made in the global response to HIV, due attention and continued support from international community should continue.

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh discussed the serious impact that HIV has on migrant workers during a bilateral meeting with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. More than five million Bangladesh citizens work abroad, mostly in the Middle East region, where many face lack of HIV services due to their migrant status which can make people even more vulnerable to HIV infection.  

During the meeting, Mr Sidibé recognized the special contribution of the Government of Bangladesh to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Bangladesh is ranked first in terms of its contribution, with more than 10 000 military and law enforcement personnel attached to various UN peacekeeping forces worldwide. UNAIDS is working closely with the members of the UN Security Council to review programmes that addresses HIV among international peacekeepers and uniformed services.

The UNAIDS Executive Director also took the opportunity to commend the Government of Bangladesh for hosting the opening of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which featured messages on HIV-related stigma and discrimination. According to Mr Sidibé, “the Government of Bangladesh and the International Cricket Council demonstrated that cricket is a powerful force for promoting respect and dignity of people living with HIV.”