UNAIDS report: 33.4 million worldwide have HIV, but infections slow

A newly released United Nations report on HIV  says that while the disease has killed 25 million people worldwide, the rate of new infections is slowing sharply.  The UNAIDS agency report says the number of newly infected grew by 2.7 million in 2008,  bringing the world total to 33.4 million.
In sub-Saharan Africa,  where the scourge [...]

UN Report: 40% global increase in access to HIV treatment within the last year

Over 4 million people are now receiving treatment for HIV, marking a nearly 40 per cent jump from the previous year according to a new United Nations report.
The new study – produced jointly by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) – said [...]

HIV vaccine trial cuts infection by 31.2%

A Phase III clinical trial involving more than 16,000 adult volunteers in Thailand has demonstrated that an investigational HIV vaccine regimen was safe and modestly effective in preventing HIV infection. According to final results released by the trial sponsor (the U.S. Army Surgeon General), the prime boost combination of Sanofi Pasteur’s ALVAC vaccine and AIDSVAX, [...]

UN report on HIV transmission in Asia: more than 90% of HIV+ women in Asia were infected by husbands or long-term partners

A new UN report estimates that more than 90 per cent of the 1.7 million women living with HIV in Asia became infected from their husbands or partners while in long-term relationships.  A further 50 million women in Asia, who are either married or in long-term relationships with men who engage in high-risk sexual behaviours, [...]

HIV vaccine close to human trial

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario say they’re confident their HIV vaccine is only months away from being approved for human trials.
According to a report by the National Post, lead researcher Dr. Chil-Yong Kang said the approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can come as soon as two or three months.
The vaccine [...]

A Nigerian perspective on access barriers to medicines and treatment

What are the real access barriers to healthcare for people in Sub-Saharan Africa?  The following article from the Wall Street Journal Europe provides an interesting perspective on the healthcare challenges in Nigeria, with a focus on AIDS patients.  Mr. Ayodele states that the “real causes of restricted access to to AIDS drugs are Africa’s derelict transportation [...]

Lower tariffs to fight AIDS

25,000 people from around the world gathered this week in Mexico City for the 17th International AIDS Conference.  Thomson Ayodele’s column in yesterday’s New York Post focuses on the main challenges facing patients in developing countries:  lack of healthcare infrastructure and access to safe medicines.
( August 4, 2008 )  This week, 25,000 people from around the [...]