2nd Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference ends

The Second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference concluded on May 5 after three-days of dialogue centred on better responding to the region’s HIV epidemic.

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Second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference

A three-day conference on AIDS opens in Moscow on May 3 with a focus on the epidemic in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot will address the opening plenary and take part in sessions discussing the challenges facing the region in its AIDS response.

This year’s conference will provide dialogue and interaction among political and community leaders, scientists and other researchers, people living with HIV and representatives of civil society from across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The conference is hosted by the Russian Federation, with support from UNAIDS, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the International AIDS Society.

Read press release
Visit the official web site

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Towards Universal Access in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Delivering on AIDS today and in the longer term

Eastern Europe and Central Asia have faced significant increases in the numbers of new HIV infections in recent years. In 2007, an estimated 1.6 million people were living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, a dramatic increase of 150% from the 630,000 people in 2001.

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Recognizing the vital role of the education sector in national responses to HIV, the UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO) launched EDUCAIDS in March 2004.

EDUCAIDS is the UNAIDS Global Initiative on Education and AIDS. It is led by UNESCO in collaboration with governments, UN partners, and civil society organizations. The initiative seeks to promote, develop and support comprehensive education sector responses to HIV.

EDUCAIDS has two primary aims: to prevent the spread of HIV through education and to protect the core functions of the education system from the worst effects of the epidemic including the loss of teachers and other education professionals to the disease.

EDUCAIDS Resource Pack

As countries put in place and implement comprehensive, scaled-up responses towards universal access to HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support, EDUCAIDS aims to mobilize the education sector and has recently published a Resource Pack developed by UNESCO in close collaboration with a range of UN agencies and international organizations, including members of the UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on Education.

This resource pack is designed to support ministries of education and other stakeholders at the country level. It aims to give technical guidance on developing and implementing policies, determining resource allocations and implementing programmes for education and HIV.

In 2007, representatives from 60 countries participated in EDUCAIDS-related activities, with progress achieved in developing comprehensive HIV and AIDS education strategies in over half of these. National priority actions were identified in 39 countries for continued follow-up through seven sub-regional capacity-building workshops.

Capacity for policy development and programme implementation was further enhanced through technical assistance and information exchange including two UNESCO-supported sub-regional consultations in East and Southern Africa on addressing the needs of HIV-positive teachers and on strengthening the role of schools in HIV treatment, care and support.

Currently available in English, the Resource Pack will soon be published in Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. All language versions will also be included in a forthcoming CD-ROM.

Limited copies of the Resource Pack can be ordered free-of-charge by emailing aids@unesco.org and specifying the number of copies and preferred language version.

The resource pack contains the following materials:

1. EDUCAIDS Framework for Action
   This outlines five essential components of comprehensive education sector responses to HIV implementation support available through the EDUCAIDS initiative. This version is an update of the 2006 Framework, taking into account the 2007 UNESCO Strategy to Respond to HIV, as well as feedback from six recent regional and sub-regional meetings and workshops involving nearly 40 countries.
2. EDUCAIDS Technical Briefs
   These are 35 two-page summaries of key issues related to a comprehensive education sector response. Each brief can be used as a stand-alone reference, and together they offer comprehensive and flexible guidelines on the continuum of activities required to respond to the epidemic at the country level.
3. EDUCAIDS Overviews of Practical Resources
   These overviews provide guidance on the technical and operational aspects of the response.  Each includes a resource summary list and a two-page analysis of the included resources identifying crucial resource gaps, needs for further research, and additional online resources.

For millions of children, AIDS has starkly altered the experience of growing up. In 2007, it was estimated that 2.1 million children under age 15 were living with HIV and 15 million children had lost one or both parents to the virus . Millions more have experienced deepening poverty, school dropout and discrimination as a result of the epidemic.

Nonetheless, important progress has been made in reducing the spread of AIDS since UNICEF and UNAIDS issued a Call to Action to Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS in October 2005, according to the new ‘Children and AIDS: Second stocktaking report’.

The report, co-authored by UNICEF, UNAIDS and WHO reviews progress made on children and AIDS in four key areas: Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV; Provision of paediatric treatment; protection and support of children affected by AIDS; and prevention of infection among adolescents and young people.

Prevention mother-to-child transmission of HIV

The ‘Children and AIDS: Second stocktaking report’ highlights that improvement in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) has seen the most significant gains. In 2005, only 11% of women living with HIV received drugs to prevent transmission of the virus to their children; however by the end of 2006 that figure had risen to 31%.

In 2006, Botswana reported that only 7% of infants born to HIV-positive mothers became infected with HIV, compared to 35–40% before the PMTCT programme began.

However, most of the 2.1 million children under 15 living with HIV in 2007 were infected before their birth, during delivery or while breastfeeding.

Provision of paediatric treatment

Advances in paediatric care have been equally dramatic. In 2005, only 70,000 children were receiving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) but in 2006, that number had risen to 127,000 – a 70% increase in one year.

In South Africa , mortality was reduced by 75% in HIV-positive infants who were treated before they reached 12 weeks of age.

Protection and support of children affected by AIDS

The stocktaking report also show progress on the protection and care for children affected by AIDS in many countries and on their access to social services. Progress has also been made in school enrolment rates for children who have lost both parents to the disease, although children affected by HIV are still more likely to fall behind in school and to live in poorer households.

Prevention of HIV infection among adolescents and young people

The report highlights the urgent need for better evidence-based information on the behaviours of adolescents and young people to improve and focus HIV prevention efforts to where they will be most effective. It also outlines the importance of involving young people in the design, implementation and monitoring of HIV prevention programmes for young people.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, MTV has been working with UNICEF to produce ‘Sexpress Yourself’, a one-hour special in which young people talk openly and honestly about sex, sexuality, gender roles and HIV.

In India, focused peer outreach programmes, youth-friendly health services and communication activities in 43 high-prevalence districts are helping to reach adolescents, young people and especially girls at high risk.

While the news is mixed, the report argues that achieving an AIDS-free generation is possible. For that, the report calls for action to strengthen communities and families whose role is crucial to every aspect of a child-centred approach to AIDS; reinforce health, education and social welfare systems to support children affected by AIDS; integrate services for PMTCT programmes; and consolidate data in order to document advances and shortfalls and strengthen commitment.

The Indian President, Pratibha Patil met representatives from UNAIDS, UNICEF, HIV positive networks and government officials in New Delhi to mark the second anniversary of the UNICEF/UNAIDS Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign. The President of India pledged her full support to the campaign and to addressing myths and misconceptions around HIV that are driving stigma and discrimination.

“Raising awareness is the key to fight the stigma and discrimination faced by the HIV positive people especially women and children,” President Patil said.

As part of the event, children and their mothers living with HIV shared their life experiences with The President. President Patil also met with peer educators who presented her with artwork of their messages on stigma and discrimination.

Anand*, a child living with HIV presented Suraksha Bandhan (a blue and red band in which the blue colour represents children and red represents AIDS) to President Patil as a sign of solidarity in the response to AIDS.

Unite for Children Unite Against AIDS is the largest campaign mounted to bring the world’s attention to the global impact of AIDS on children and young people. It also recognizes and addresses the needs of their caregivers. It offers urgent and specific interventions and calls to action. Launched in October 2005, UNICEF and UNAIDS are leading the initiative along with partners from all sectors of society, including governments, NGOs, academic institutions, faith-based groups, community groups and youth and sporting organizations.

Speaking on the occasion of the meeting with the President of India, Dr Dennis Broun, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for India, said that “since its launch two years ago, the campaign has transformed the lives of thousands of children and their families.”

“Great progress has been achieved on prevention and early detection of HIV infection in children, access to care and treatment and the fight against discrimination, notably in schools. Many famous personalities have supported this fight and their engagement has been crucial. There is more to be done and the whole UN family will continue to respond to AIDS in India,” he said.

The number of people living with HIV in India is estimated to be 2.0- 3.1 million. Some 70,000 children below the age of 15 are estimated to be living with HIV in the country.

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Links:

Visit the Unite for Children Unite Against AIDS web site

Visit the UNAIDS India web site

The Proteas skipper Graeme Smith is not only upbeat about victory in the ICC 2007 World Twenty20 but also optimistic about how cricket can add to combating HIV among children and young people.

Talking tough to the opponents, Smith, who joins an array of leading cricket icons to aid the “Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS” global campaign, couldn’t ignore the attention he was getting from scores of children and young admirers during a training session at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium.

“HIV and AIDS are relevant and pressing subjects here in South Africa. As cricketers we command the attention of the public and the media, and we want to use that to try and better the situation for the children and young people,” he said.

He added: “We have an important role to ensure that the message that says children’s rights and needs take prominence in the fight against AIDS reaches all the relevant people.

”Fielding coach Jonty Rhodes joined the skipper in a short coaching clinic for the children. The smiles on the children and how they treasured the autographed miniature bats by the cricket stars left an impression that cricket has touched them in more ways than one.

The “Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS” campaign stresses the unacceptable levels of HIV prevalence among children and young people. It also makes a call to action to de-stigmatize the AIDS epidemic and shows how the values of cricket are applicable responses to AIDS while giving greater visibility to children living with and affected by AIDS.

The campaign recognizes the power of world class cricket as a platform to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, especially among children and young people. The ICC World Twenty20 2007, taking place in South Africa in September, is expected to add impetus to the campaign.

The South African cricketers have also recorded video footage, amplifying key messages overarching the “Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS” campaign as part of the ongoing awareness programme.

The backdrop to the campaign is the staggering numbers of than 1000 children under 15 dying from AIDS-related diseases every 24 hours. So, far more than 15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.

 

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Links:

Read more on the ICC Twenty20 World Championships
Read more on Unite for Children: Unite against AIDS

Nathan Bracken and Brad Hodge took time out of their preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 2007 to visit a project as part of the ICC’s work with UNAIDS and UNICEF to raise awareness on AIDS.

They visited the loveLife Orange Farm Y-Centre, part of South Africa's national HIV prevention program for youth, to meet young people who both volunteer and attend the project.

Nathan Bracken said: "By visiting projects to raise AIDS awareness, hopefully we can play a role in the ICC's partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF to reduce stigma around HIV. It is important that projects like loveLife provide opportunities for young people to make informed choices about the way they live their lives and help halt the spread of HIV.

"loveLife Y Centres provide hubs for regional networks of franchise holders, adolescent friendly clinics and outreach programs. They serve as best-practice sites for youth leadership development and adolescent clinical services; training venues for groundBREAKER and loveLifestyle programs; and provide trained facilitators to support the loveLife Games and other outreach programs.

Brad Hodge: "Sport is a great way of inspiring young people and teaching them skills which they can use in all areas of their life. It has been very moving to see how loveLife provides opportunities for young people to develop their confidence by taking part in a range of team sports."

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Links:

Read more on the ICC Twenty20 World Championships
Read more on Unite for Children: Unite against AIDS

Head of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Malcolm Speed joined Indian star Virender Sehwag and Cecilio Adorna, UNICEF India country representative, in a visit to the Antiretroviral treatment centre of the Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital in New Delhi at the end of August. The visit was part of the ICC's partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF to raise awareness and reduce stigma around AIDS and the impact of AIDS on children through the global campaign, UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS .

As well as playing an impromptu game of cricket with a group of young children, the delegation also had the opportunity to meet with children and mothers living with HIV.

“Cricket is not all about the game,” said Malcolm Speed. “Having a social awareness programme associated with it is not only an excellent way to reach out to the cricket fans but also an uplifting experience for the cricketers as well, and puts everything into perspective,” he added.

Virenda Sehwag added: “It is important for every one of us to spend time children living with HIV. It is a pleasure to be associated with the cause. When celebrities endorse a noble cause like this, it has more impact.”

In India, an estimated 70,000 children below the age of 15 are living with HIV. Worldwide, every day there are estimated to be nearly 1,800 new HIV infections in children under 15.

AIDS and young people will be a key theme of the upcoming ICC Twenty 20 World Championships being hosted by South Africa from 11 to 24 September as part of the unique partnership between the ICC, UNICEF, UNAIDS, the African Broadcast Media Partnership and the Kaiser Family Foundation, using the cricket tournament to draw attention to the impact of AIDS on the world’s children.

 

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Links:

Watch video footage of Malcolm Speed’s visit to the Indian Children’s hospital | High | Low
Read more on the ICC Twenty20 World Championships
Read more on Unite for Children: Unite against AIDS

International cricketers will highlight the situation of children and young people living with HIV as part of a far-reaching AIDS awareness campaign during the 2007 Twenty20 world cricket championship in South Africa.

Players, participating in the competition from 11 to 24 September in Johannesburg, will promote HIV prevention messages as part of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) ongoing partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF.

Cricket fans will also be targeted by loveLife - South Africa's national youth HIV prevention programme - who are also partners in the initiative.

Top players, including South Africa captain Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and India's Yuvraj Singh will feature in public service announcements for the 'Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS' campaign highlighting how HIV can affect the lives of young people. Broadcasters from 105 countries will be encouraged to use the messages that will be screened to fans on giant screens at the 27 matches during the tournament.

Other stars will visit UNICEF and loveLife community-based project activities in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to promote AIDS awareness to young people and encourage them to develop life-skills to avoid HIV infection.

Players also plan to wear red ribbons in selected matches to demonstrate their support for people living with HIV.

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara said: "I hope people will listen to cricketers, I hope that our support helps and that it brings a different perspective to building interest in these issues and raising awareness. It's important to raise awareness any way that you can and if different voices and fresh faces help then that is good."

South Africa star AB de Villiers added: "I have a very soft heart and to see those children and the way they cope with HIV puts a lot of what I do as a cricketer in perspective. I have been involved in a few projects to do with 'Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS' in different parts of the world where we have toured and it has been a very worthwhile thing to do.

"I feel a real calling to help wherever I can. The issue of AIDS is close to my heart because of the impact it has had on my country but I think we have a responsibility as high-profile sportsmen to do what we can as it helps to open eyes and it inspires people to do something about the problem. Awareness is a big factor in helping prevent the spread of HIV so the more we talk about it and keep it in the public eye the better."

India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh added: "Any social cause is important for top players playing any sport because people look up to you and you need to make them understand and educate them about issues relating to HIV. Through the ICC working with UNAIDS and UNICEF, we can deliver important messages to people all over the world."

Michael Hussey of Australia will also be supporting the campaign. He said: "When I visited an education project in the Caribbean during the ICC Cricket World Cup, I saw for myself the importance of educating young people on HIV and AIDS. UNICEF and UNAIDS play a vital role in addressing this epidemic and by supporting this partnership, by meeting young people and raising awareness of HIV and AIDS, I hope I can personally play a part in reducing discrimination."

As well as player-related activities, the 500 volunteers working at the event have all received HIV and AIDS education from loveLife health trainers, supported by UNAIDS. There will also be advertising boards at the grounds promoting the 'Unite for Children, Unite Against Aids' campaign.

The African Broadcast Media Partnership Against HIV/AIDS - a coalition of more than 50 African broadcast companies - will also be supporting the partnership, promoting player visits and event activities related to the partnership.

Cricket is popular in many of the countries that are most impacted by AIDS, including India and South Africa.

“UNAIDS has worked for many years with the ICC and the partnership has helped us reach large audiences with HIV prevention messages. Sport is a powerful force for change and the cricket players are great roles models helping us not only promote HIV prevention but also tackle the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS,” said Andy Seale, team leader for civil society partnerships at UNAIDS.

Part of this story first appeared on the ICC web site: http://www.icc-cricket.com/

 

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Links:

View the two new 30-second Public Service Announcements featuring five of the world's
   top cricketers talking about how children and young people are affected by HIV

Read feature story: Cricket chief and star show AIDS solidarity in India

Read more on the ICC Twenty20 World Championship

Read more on Unite for Children: Unite against AIDS

As part of the international scout jamboree held in Britain over the summer, UNAIDS ran workshops on HIV prevention, personal responsibility in HIV transmission and respect for the human rights of positive people.

This summer, residents of Chelmsford, a town in eastern England, woke up to an unusual array of sights and sounds.

The banging of early morning drums and excited screeches of hundreds of teenage boys and girls filled the air – this was the international scout jamboree, and the 40,000 teenagers attending from all over the world wanted to make sure everyone knew it!

For UNAIDS staff attending the jamboree to run special workshops on HIV prevention, personal responsibility in HIV transmission and respect for the human rights of positive people, it was a bit of an eye opener. “We would look at each other and think: ‘Are you as lost as I am?’ ” laughs Bhatupe Mhango, coordinator of UN Plus – the UN system-wide group of staff living with HIV, who took part in the event with Alex McLelland, an intern with UNAIDS, in the Civil Society Partnerships Unit. “But we became hooked on those sessions every morning. I still hear them drumming and humming in my ears,” she says.

This was a particularly significant jamboree, as it marked the centenary of scouting and 40,000 teenagers attended from all over the world. UNAIDS had an area in the Global Development Village, a section dedicated to workshops on human rights and the work of UN agencies.

“The scouts as a movement has so much potential to mobilize towards the HIV response,” says Alex, who is studying for a degree in International Development at York University in Toronto, Canada . “They are eager to get further engaged. With approximately 28 million young people as members you can see the possibilities.”

Bhatupe and Alex planned and ran five workshops on the topic “HIV Sensitisation and Safeguarding Human Rights.” One of the UNAIDS objectives was to initiate a dialogue on the need for a policy to work with HIV positive scouts, and for UN Plus to look for possible partnerships.

“We established that there are some Positive scouts in several countries, particularly Africa, and UN Plus could foster a partnership with them,” says Bhatupe.

Over three days, he and Bhatupe spoke to youngsters from Norway , Germany, Italy, Chile, Brazil, Denmark, Britain, Turkey and Finland.

In spite of the big subject, it was all very informal. “Most of the workshops took place outside because the young scouts wanted to lie on the grass,” says Bhatupe. She and Alex shared their personal stories as people living with HIV. Scouts asked questions about stigma, treatment, nutrition guidelines and human rights issues for people living with HIV.  

Bhatupe also did a live radio interview with the jamboree radio station, to promote the workshops and encourage scouts to be aware of the means of protecting themselves from HIV transmission. 

There were the obvious drawbacks of talking about sex to teenage boys: “A memorable moment was watching young, Italian boys laughing hysterically at a UNFPA-led workshop we participated in, demonstrating male condoms using bananas,” says Bhatupe.

But many of the scouts showed real insight and understanding into the issue – Alex and Bhatupe were delighted by a group of 14-16 year old girls from Chile, who were well informed about HIV, AIDS and sex, having studied the subject at school. The girls held a debate on abstinence versus early sex.

“The maturity of the debate convinced me that the message on HIV prevention and empowerment of young girls is getting across,” says Bhatupe.

The girls were evenly divided - indicating that no one method is the obvious solution to managing yourself as a young woman in a relationship. 

The views expressed included:

“If I love my boyfriend and I trust him…and if he has gone for an HIV test and tells me he is HIV negative, why should I not express my feelings for him and have sex with him?  If that is what I want to do, I will just go ahead…if you love someone, you can not put controls on what you can do with that person.”

“For me I say no. I have to wait until I am married before I have sex. It is scary. I am scared of getting HIV or falling pregnant so the best thing to do is to wait.”

For Bhatupe and Alex, the UNAIDS messages were getting across: prevention, personal responsibility in HIV transmission, the need for more support and less stigma for positive people.

Alex was encouraged to see so much focus on AIDS at the jamboree.

“There were other workshops from UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, as well as the South African and Ugandan Scout associations. The Girl Guides did a big presentation about HIV. The ILO discussed child labour and vulnerability to HIV.

“There’s a quite a lot of awareness among the Scouts. It was gratifying to see so much going on,” he said.

 

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Links:

Visit the world scout jamboree web site
More information on young people and HIV

 

Following the official opening of the HIV/AIDS Implementers Meeting in Kigali, presenters from Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uzbekistan, Namibia and Haiti shared their experiences in HIV prevention programming for young people.

During the session, Robert Bernard Morehead of the US Peace Corps gave a presentation on “Secondary School Communications Clubs for Behaviour Change in Young Mozambican Men”. Mr Morehead explained that the communication programme was aimed at reducing HIV incidence among young people in secondary schools in Mozambique. “Our approach is to work with young men and guide them on behaviour change,” he said.

In Mozambique in 2005, the prevalence rate among adults aged 15-49 was 16.1%, with 10.7% among young women aged between 15-24 and 3.6% among young men of the same age range. Mr Morehead emphasized the need to explore individuals’ and society’s gender stereotypes, to discuss with young women in facilitated sessions and recognize how gender inequalities can lead to HIV transmission. He also highlighted the necessity of involving community professionals to provide technical support for peer educators. The evaluation of the programme observed that at the end of the programme students did articulate an understanding of how some traditional male roles can increase the risk of HIV transmission.

Another approach, used in the Amharic Region of Ethiopia and presented by Annabel S. Erulkar of the Population Council, aims to prevent new HIV infections and promote mutual faithfulness through addressing the risk of HIV transmission among adolescents. Erulkar said that religious institutions may be the only sustained institutional contact for rural populations. With a population of more than 19 million people, the Amharic region is the biggest in Ethiopia. Some 89% of is inhabitants are rural.

The introduction of youth-friendly health services in Uzbekistan is another model that was presented at the session. Komiljon Akhmedov of UNICEF noted the need to use youth-friendly services when focusing on young adolescents who are the most at risk in Uzbekistan.

Mr Akhmedov said that the number of HIV cases had been growing among young people in Uzbekistan and added that 35% of adolescents engaged in selling sex could not identify the modes of HIV transmission. He stressed the need to involve parents in the programmes as reproductive health information sessions cannot be provided to juveniles without their parents’ consent.

Johane Philogene from Haiti shared her experiences on working on a model of an adapted nationwide multi-faceted HIV program for young people. “This programme is based on the active participation of young people as key actors in all interventions,” she said. A network of 15 youth-friendly centres in Haiti were set up and offer a number of activities including education, training, and edutainment. More than 38,000 youths have been tested for HIV in Haiti while 30,000 are receiving family life education training.

Rushnan Murtaza of UNICEF Namibia presented on the “Window of Opportunities” programme which has been set up to support children in Namibia. Namibia is a country that enjoys a per capita income of US $1,800 but 42% of rural families still live in poverty and HIV prevalence among 14-19 year-olds was at around 10% in 2005. Murtaza noted that findings in 2006 in one region showed that 41% of girls had dropped out of school due to pregnancy.

Participants debated the importance of supporting youth programmes and particularly those focusing on those most at risk of HIV infection. They emphasized the need to advocate for young people so that concerted efforts could be put in place to help prevent HIV infection. Participants agreed that it is crucial to establish trust with young people and to coordinate interventions with other stakeholders involved in similar programmes.

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Links:

More on the implementers' meeting