South Asia Development Marketplace on AIDS related stigma and discrimination was launched by World Bank
On November 26th, the South Asia Development Marketplace on AIDS related stigma and discrimination was launched. Proposals for innovative ideas to tackle stigma can be submitted until January 31 by private sector groups, CBOs, NGOs, foundations, universities and schools, local municipal bodies and government institutions - in collaboration with (other) NGOs and CBOs. The 75 candidates who will be selected from India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, will be invited to the regional Development Marketplace in Mumbai 15 May, and there 25 winners will be selected and awarded up to US$40.000 each for an 18 month implementation period.
To know about the South Asia Regional Development Marketplace: Tackling HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination, please visit the website http://www.worldbank.org/sardm2008. Proposals can be submitted here, and could include a range of ideas for private sector initiatives for how to tackle stigma at the work place, through information and advocacy, by "changing mindsets"starting with children and youth and any other ideas to tackle stigma-
Red Ribbon Express carrying HIV/AIDS messages flagged off
December 01st, 2008
Source : http://www.rediff.com
A specially-designed seven coach train, which will travel across the country carrying HIV/AIDS prevention messages, was on Saturday flagged off by United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi, on the occasion of World AIDS Day.
The Red Ribbon Express will aim at spreading awareness about HIV, promoting safe behavioural practises and fighting the stigma and discrimination against AIDS. Emphasizing on the urgent need of fighting social discrimination against those affected with AIDS, Gandhi said, "It is a battle which can and must be won". This project will help in bringing to the mainstream the fight against the disease, she added.
"It continues to be a major public health concern. No single thing has had such an impact in the world. Men and women in the prime of their youth have been lost to this disease," she said.
AIDS: Ignorance is not Bliss
On World AIDS Day today, it is important to cite two shocking truths. First, one in three people in the world's major industrialised countries "know little or nothing" about the deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic and second 25% believe that the problem has been "greatly exaggerated" by the media, a poll said.
The survey conducted by global polling firm IPSOS, however, found that 44% respondents, including 50% in the US, are prepared to pay more taxes to combat the disease.
The disease is estimated to have killed 28 million people in the last 26 years.
The Global AIDS Attitudes survey, published by the non-governmental organization World Vision, reveals the awareness and attitudes of population in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, all members of the "Group of Eight" industrialized nations, towards those affected by HIV and AIDS globally.
Speaking at the launch of the survey on Thursday, the director of the joint UN programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Bunmi Makinwa underlined that "the more we understand the epidemic, the better we can make policies."
Source : http://www.zeenews.comHIV COUNSELLING AND TESTING UNDER THE NATIONAL AIDS CONTROL PROGRAMME
December 14th, 2008
Dr Kunal Saha, contracted by the World Bank as a member of the team for review of World Bank aided health programmes, including the National AIDS Control Programme Phase II, during the period 1999 to 2006 has been making accusations regarding the use of substandard kits in the National AIDS Control Programme in India. Some newspapers have reported this also. The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) strongly refutes these allegations, as the conclusions drawn by him are not based on scientific facts.
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The HIV rapid test kits were not used in any blood bank as mentioned by him. He has cited 10 instances as being erroneous where the first test proved positive. However, neither the second or third test provided a positive result. He has alleged that the kit used for the second test is not of quality. However, NACO confirms that the kit used for the second test in question is a pre-qualified World Health Organisation (WHO) kit. The obvious interpretation of the results is that the algorithm worked properly in eliminating false positives.
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