ID :
46742
Sat, 02/21/2009 - 14:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/46742
The shortlink copeid
WHO calls for concerted effort to fight AIDS+
HONG KONG, Feb. 20 Kyodo - The World Health Organization called Friday for health authorities and HIV/AIDS groups in Asia to collaborate to fight the rising trend of transmission of the
disease among gay men.
Men having sex with men, MSM, remains the group facing the highest risk of HIV
transmission and no sector can single-handedly solve the issue, a WHO scientist
said at a closing press conference of a three-day consultation on the health
sector in Hong Kong.
''A concerted effort is needed (to educate MSM about condom use),'' WHO
regional adviser Massimo Ghidinelli said. ''The health sector can contribute,
but it can't do it alone.''
Ghidinelli said one of the obstacles to the epidemic is a lack of reliable data
and information for program planning, resources allocation and advocacy
initiatives.
''Several countries in the Asia-Pacific region still maintain highly
prohibitive legal frameworks regarding same-sex sexual practices and gender
norms, which inhibits effective responses to the HIV epidemic among MSM,'' he
said.
An individual could be infected and carry the human immunodeficiency virus,
HIV, for as long as 10 years before it turned into AIDS.
An estimated 10 million people are living with the virus in Asian countries,
but Edmund Settle, an HIV/AIDS policy specialist for the U.N. Development
Program, said the number appears to be too conservative.
Age, drug use, high turnover of sex partners, mobility of people and condom use
are all factors causing the rising trend of HIV infection among MSM, Settle
said.
The consultation concluded there is a need to strengthen data collection and
analysis and to promote sharing of data across countries in the region and it
recommended establishing a broad-based regional MSM and HIV task force to
engage different stakeholders in the health sector in the epidemic.
''We haven't learned anything new from the consultation, but we have drawn
significant attention'' and hopefully responses toward fighting the epidemic
from countries across the region, Ghidinelli said.
In 2007, there were 50,000 new HIV infections and 20,000 deaths from AIDS in
China.
About 700,000 people are HIV positive, but fewer than 50,000 receive
antiretroviral treatment, according to the China AIDS Initiative, A U.S.-based
advocacy group founded in 2003.
Zhen Li, head of the Chinese advocacy group Tong Zhi Forum, said at the press
conference that communications between grassroots working groups and the
government is open, but among the difficulties they face when working to combat
HIV infection are people who do not understand or support their effort.
==Kyodo
2009-02-20 20:30:35
disease among gay men.
Men having sex with men, MSM, remains the group facing the highest risk of HIV
transmission and no sector can single-handedly solve the issue, a WHO scientist
said at a closing press conference of a three-day consultation on the health
sector in Hong Kong.
''A concerted effort is needed (to educate MSM about condom use),'' WHO
regional adviser Massimo Ghidinelli said. ''The health sector can contribute,
but it can't do it alone.''
Ghidinelli said one of the obstacles to the epidemic is a lack of reliable data
and information for program planning, resources allocation and advocacy
initiatives.
''Several countries in the Asia-Pacific region still maintain highly
prohibitive legal frameworks regarding same-sex sexual practices and gender
norms, which inhibits effective responses to the HIV epidemic among MSM,'' he
said.
An individual could be infected and carry the human immunodeficiency virus,
HIV, for as long as 10 years before it turned into AIDS.
An estimated 10 million people are living with the virus in Asian countries,
but Edmund Settle, an HIV/AIDS policy specialist for the U.N. Development
Program, said the number appears to be too conservative.
Age, drug use, high turnover of sex partners, mobility of people and condom use
are all factors causing the rising trend of HIV infection among MSM, Settle
said.
The consultation concluded there is a need to strengthen data collection and
analysis and to promote sharing of data across countries in the region and it
recommended establishing a broad-based regional MSM and HIV task force to
engage different stakeholders in the health sector in the epidemic.
''We haven't learned anything new from the consultation, but we have drawn
significant attention'' and hopefully responses toward fighting the epidemic
from countries across the region, Ghidinelli said.
In 2007, there were 50,000 new HIV infections and 20,000 deaths from AIDS in
China.
About 700,000 people are HIV positive, but fewer than 50,000 receive
antiretroviral treatment, according to the China AIDS Initiative, A U.S.-based
advocacy group founded in 2003.
Zhen Li, head of the Chinese advocacy group Tong Zhi Forum, said at the press
conference that communications between grassroots working groups and the
government is open, but among the difficulties they face when working to combat
HIV infection are people who do not understand or support their effort.
==Kyodo
2009-02-20 20:30:35
