News
“Court rejects HIV asylum seeker”
Deporting the HIV-positive asylum seeker to Uganda does not breach human rights, European Court rules reports the BBC.
More explicit, visual and technical communication is needed for HIV health promotion on the internet
The finding of the US survey, the largest ever so far, is recently published online in the journal, AIDS and Behavior. The study targeted more than 2,700 users of the gay social internet site, gay.com. Results showed that men wanted comprehensive knowledge around HIV for example; social care and mental health and not only intervention issues. Click here for further details.
UNGASS 2008 High Level Meeting 2008
“The 2008 UNGASS reporting process is a dramatic step forward in international and country level collaborations and it is the most coordinated effort to date. It is also very exciting that civil society has become part of the process in so many countries," said Dr Deborah Rugg, Chief Monitoring and Evaluation Division. Read more on this from UNAIDS.
Consultations
Integrated Care for Drug or Alcohol Users: Principles and Practice Update 2008
The Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse (SACDM) produced a document on Integrated Care in order to provide further guidance and information on what integrated care should look like and what it should deliver for service users.
The current report aim was to bring up to date the 'Integrated care for Drug Users' first published in 2002needed. Integrated care has developed at different rates across the substance misuse field in Scotland. Furthermore, a number of developments have taken place within the substance misuse field, and health and social care organisations have been re-structured to accommodate better joint working. Click here to read the document
The Scottish Government launched the second phase of the Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland
The government committed £ 43 million to tackle Hepatitis C virus in Scotland. The Action Plan will perceive improved testing, treatment, care and support services for those infected, with a main emphasis on increasing the numbers of people receiving treatment. The importance of prevention is addressed through several actions designed to reduce the sharing of needles/syringes and other injecting paraphernalia by injecting drug users. The Action Plan can be accessed via the Hepatitis C Scotland website.
Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation
Responding to the Scottish Government’s Discussion Paper, HIV Scotland will be consulting the sector in the coming two weeks. The deadline for submitting the report is 30 June 2008, once finalised the report will be posted on our website.
Treatment news
The debate on the controversial Swiss statement is fuelled by new research from the USA
Recently published research in the journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases, showed that women with good adherence to treatment, maintained suppressed viral loads. High percentage of both 3TC and tenofovir was observed in their genital tract. This data indicate the potential to reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV. From aidsmap.com
Global news
Zambia achieves 1.3% reductions in HIV /AIDS prevalence rate and about 99% increase in HIV/AIDS awareness among its population.
The Zambian health minister attributed the success to government determination to improving the health sector and to stakeholders' involvement in the fighting against the pandemic. Read more on this topic
'Faith in Action', to combat HIV/AIDS in India.
UNAIDS, Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA), and the Art of living will jointly host 'Faith in Action', a gathering that will build a platform for Hindu leaders to work out a coherent HIV/AIDS strategy and action plan for communities across India. Read more on this here
CAN ITK STOP HIV MUTATING?
Scientists working in the laboratory were able to block HIV infection by inactivating a key human protein, in a new approach to dealing with the virus. Researchers in the US found that inactivating the protein, known as ITK, suppressed HIV's ability to infect key human immune cells. ITK is a signaling molecule that activates T cells, part of the body's immune system.
When HIV enters the body it enters T cells and takes them over. Instead of defending the body against invaders, the T cells now devote themselves to helping the HIV virus replicate. But without active ITK, the virus cannot take advantage of the signaling pathways within T cells to promote viral replication.
HIV mutates at such a high rate thereby modifying its genes. This characteristic of the virus contributes to the emergence of strains that are resistant to the antiviral drugs. Having a drug target that is impervious to the virus mutations can reduce the likelihood of drug resistance, which is the benefit of such a new approach if found to be effective in further studies. Click here for more
Boosting vaginal health could cut HIV risk
Evaluation of an HIV Prevention Intervention Adapted for Black Men Who Have Sex With Men.
New Publications:
How PCTs managed sexual health and HIV in 2007
Since 2002, the annual Disturbing Symptoms report has illustrated the impact on sexual health and HIV services of high level policy and structural changes in the NHS. This sixth edition of the collaborative research series is again based on the analysis of responses from primary care trust sexual health staff and specialist clinicians to two short surveys. The report is produced by THT, BHIVA and BASHH and this year’s results have once again highlighted a mixed picture across English sexual health and HIV services. The full report is available to download from the BHIVA website
UNAIDS mandate is "wrong and harmful”
Health expert calls for end to UN HIV programme. The joint United Nations programme on HIV and Aids should be "closed down rapidly", according to a health management expert. Roger England, chairman of ...read here
Is poverty driving risky sexual behaviour? Click here to read the report |
