India Must Care For MSM With HIV

Jun 222011
 

Delhi -India must make an “extra effort” in addressing the medical needs of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people affected by HIV and sexually-transmitted infections, a top WHO official said on Tuesday.

“Though India has addressed the HIV problem among MSM and transgender people, it has to make an extra effort in scaling up treatment and prevention services for HIV and sexually transmitted infections,” Dr. Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of HIV Department in World Health Organisation, told PTI.

In India, around 1.5 million transgender people and around 30.5 million MSM are vulnerable to the HIV and sexually-transmitted infections.

“In Asia, the odds of MSM being infected with HIV are 18.7 times higher than in the general population and the HIV prevalence ranges from 0 per cent to 40 per cent,” he said.

The WHO on Tuesday issued, for the first time, new public health recommendations to sensitise governments and health pressure groups in the developing world about the need to provide adequate medical treatment and prevention services to MSM and transgender people affected by HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

The guidelines call on governments to develop anti-discrimination laws and measures and provide more inclusive services for MSM and transgender people.

Health pressure groups must provide HIV testing and counselling followed by treatment for patients with CD4 count 350 or below.

Dr. Hirnschall said “criminalisation, and legal policy barriers play a key role in the vulnerability of MSM and transgender people to HIV.”

In many countries of Asia, transgender people lack legal recognition. Consequently, people affected by HIV among these two communities often face cultural stigma in seeking anti-retroviral treatment due to criminal sanctions.

“From a health systems’ perspective, MSM and transgender people may delay or avoid seeking health, STI or HIV-related information, care and services as a result of perceived homophobia, transphobia, ignorance and insensitivity,” according to WHO recommendations.

“The WHO guidelines both present evidence for effective prevention interventions for the populations and provide recommendations to help ensure that pervasive barriers like stigma and criminalization no longer stand in the way of life-saving services,” said George Ayala, executive director of the Global Forum MSM & HIV.

Unlike other countries in Asia and Africa, India has addressed the HIV among MSM and transgender communities, particularly in the North East and Western region.

Though around 2.5 million people with HIV/AIDS need second-line ARVs, the overall progress in access and services is impressive, said health analysts.

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UN Claims New AIDS Infections Down

Jun 042011
 

New York – A new UN report launched on Friday revealed that in the past decade, the global annual rate of new HIV infections dropped by nearly 25 percent as a record number of people accessed treatment.

The report titled “AIDS at 30 – Nations at the Crossroads” from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated that nearly 34 million people are currently living with HIV.

“We have come a long way since the first case of AIDS was reported 30 years ago,” Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS, said here in a press conference at the launch, “6.6 million people are now accessing treatment – 1.4 million more than in 2009.”

According to the report, at least 420,000 children were receiving antiretroviral therapy at the end of 2010 – a more than 50 percent increase since 2008 when only 275,000 children were on treatment.

The report found that increasing numbers of pregnant women living with HIV gained access to antiretroviral prophylaxis during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.

The number of children newly infected with HIV in 2009 was 26 percent lower than in 2001.

“Access to treatment will transform the AIDS response in the next decade,” Sidibe said. “We must invest in accelerating access and finding new treatment options.”

With the global rate of new HIV infections fallen by nearly 25 percent between 2001 and 2009, the report spotlighted India, whose rate of new HIV infections decreased by more than 50 percent.

Both India and South Africa, which decreased by more than 35 percent of new HIV infections, have the largest number of people living with HIV on their continents, said the report.

With HIV prevention efforts showing results, the report found that in the third decade of the epidemic, people started to adopt safer sexual behaviors, but noted that gaps still remain.

“We still have a long way to go,” urged Asha-Rose Migiro, UN deputy secretary-general, at the press conference. “Now we have to sustain this momentum and expand HIV services.”

Despite expanded access to antiretroviral therapy, the report said that at the end of 2010, 9 million people who were eligible for treatment did not have access.

“Next week’s high-level meeting is our chance to chart a new, bold path,” Migiro said.

From June 8 to 10, some 20 heads of state and government will meet and come together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York.

It is expected that a new declaration will be adopted, which will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.

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Cheap Condoms In Gay Anti-HIV Push

Mar 312011
 

Bangkok – Over a million condoms and lubricants will be distributed at fitness centres, saunas and sex and entertainment venues in 48 provinces across the country to promote safe sex and prevent HIV infections in the gay community. The move came after a new report showed infections among men who have sex with men were [...]

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Thai HIV Cases Hit 1.1 Million

Mar 302011
 

Bangkok – A Seminar on HIV/AIDS in Thailand has been told that HIV/AIDS cases have topped 1.1 million, with gays the fastest growing infection group. Thailand’s Public Health Ministry on Tuesday reported that the cumulative number of people living with HIV has reached 1.1 million while about 10,000 others became newly infected each year with [...]

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HIV Up Among Phuket Ladyboys

Feb 242011
 

Phuket – Increasing sexual activity among the youngest members of Phuket’s transgender community is leading to a worrying rise in HIV infection rates, public health officials say. Dr Sak Tanchaikul, head of Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), said he was deeply concerned about HIV infection rates among “men who have sex with men”, which [...]

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HIV Vaccine Test Gives Good Results

Sep 242009
 

Bangkok – (AP) For the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the AIDS virus, a watershed event in the deadly epidemic and a surprising result. Recent failures led many scientists to think such a vaccine might never be possible. The vaccine cut the risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than [...]

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HIV Breakthrough?

Sep 062009
 

New York – Reports say that has been a major breakthrough in the HIV research field. Apparently a major discovery was made indicating that there may be antibodies that prevent HIV from turning into AIDS. This is an outstanding discovery, and while this is in the earliest phases, it has proven to be very promising [...]

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MSM A Rising HIV Problem

Aug 132009
 

Bangkok – More than 90 per cent of men having sex with men (MSM) in Asia and the Pacific do not have access to HIV prevention and care services. And if the situation is not urgently addressed the spread of HIV will rise sharply in this vulnerable population in the near future, a conference in [...]

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