Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Summarizes New Reports, Surveys, Ad Campaigns Released for World AIDS Day
The following programs and publications have been launched in correlation with World AIDS Day on Wednesday:
- "HIV/AIDS Church Information Kit," California Statewide HIV/AIDS Church Outreach Advisory Board: The board, a coalition formed to educate African-American churches about HIV/AIDS, has distributed more than 800 HIV testing information kits to churches in California. The kit offers recommendations on how to motivate African-American churchgoers to get tested for HIV (Church Outreach Advisory Board release, 11/22).
- "The Macroeconomics of HIV/AIDS," International Monetary Fund: The book brings together experts from a variety of international organizations and other institutions to show how HIV/AIDS affects both society and the economy. It aims to be a resource for public policymakers to develop an "effective response to the epidemic and appropriate economic and fiscal policies" (Haacker, "The Macroeconomics of HIV/AIDS," IMF, 12/1).
- "Promotion of HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support," Medical Knowledge Institute and International Confederation of Midwives: The goal of the program, which is set to begin in April 2005, will be to prepare trainers of nurse midwifery trainers to implement strategies for the training of nurse midwives and other health care workers. The initiative calls for HIV/AIDS organizations to financially support trainers of trainers programs (MKI release, 12/1).
- "Is the '3 by 5' Initiative the Best Approach to Tackling the HIV Pandemic?" PLoS Medicine: Jim Yong Kim, director of the Department of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization, and Arthur Ammann, president of Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, write opposing editorials on WHO's 3 by 5 Initiative, which aims to treat three million HIV-positive people with antiretroviral drugs by 2005. Kim writes that the initiative is a "point of entry, not an end in itself" to the fight against HIV/AIDS, while Ammann says that while the "intentions" of 3 by 5 are good, the "approach is wrong" (Kim/Ammann, PLoS Medicine, November 2004).
- "Native Americans and HIV/AIDS: Key Issues and Recommendations for Health Departments," National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors: The report profiles the work of several government jurisdictions on HIV/AIDS in Native American communities and provides recommendations for health departments seeking to work with Native Americans to address existing health disparities in their communities. NASTAD also hopes the report will raise awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on Native Americans (NASTAD release, 11/30).
- "Renewing Our Voice: Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS": The initiative was started by 11 nongovernmental organizations this year to provide a "common framework" and "good practice" guidelines for all NGOs that respond to HIV/AIDS (Cabassi, "Renewing Our Voice: Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS," December 2004). Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS North America and the International Community of Women in North America are the latest NGOs to join the more than 160 organizations that have signed on to the initiative (GNP+NA release, 12/1).
- "Access to Condoms and HIV/AIDS Information: A Global Health and Human Rights Concern," Human Rights Watch: The 30-page briefing documents "censorship ... about condoms in government-funded programs, myths about condoms spread by religious leaders and restrictions on condoms in numerous countries" (HRW release, 11/30).
- "Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection," Working Group on Antiretroviral Therapy and Medical Management of HIV-Infected Children: The updated guidelines now include supplements II and III, titled, "Managing Complications of HIV Infection in HIV-Infected Children on Antiretroviral Therapy" and "Adverse Drug Effects," respectively. Supplement I, titled "Pediatric Antiretroviral Drug Information," also has been updated (AIDSinfo release, 11/30).
- "2004 Survey: Medicines in Development for HIV/AIDS," Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America: The survey found that companies are in the process of developing 79 new HIV/AIDS-related medicines, including 16 vaccines. All of the medicines either are in human clinical trials or awaiting FDA approval (PhRMA release, 11/30).
- "Reducing the Burden of HIV/AIDS," Canadian Auto Workers, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief: The organizations are collaborating on a four-year program in rural Malawi that has a goal of reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS in the rural workplace, households and community areas of the country (CPAR release, 12/1).