World AIDS Day - 1st December

*** 1 ***

World AIDS Day - 1st December

According to UNAIDS estimates, new data show global HIV prevalence—the percentage of people living with HIV—has levelled off and that the number of new infections has fallen, in part as a result of the impact of HIV programmes. However, in 2007 33.2 million [30.6 – 36.1 million] people were estimated to be living with HIV, 2.5 million [1.8 – 4.1 million] people became newly infected and 2.1 million [1.9 – 2.4 million] people died of AIDS.

There were an estimated 1.7 million [1.4 – 2.4 million] new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2007—a significant reduction since 2001. However, the region remains most severely affected. An estimated 22.5 million [20.9 – 24.3 million] people living with HIV, or 68% of the global total, are in sub-Saharan Africa. Eight countries in this region now account for almost one-third of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths globally.

Since 2001, when the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed, the number of people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has increased by more than 150% from 630 000 [490 000 – 1.1 million] to 1.6 million [1.2 – 2.1 million] in 2007. In Asia, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Viet Nam has more than doubled between 2000 and 2005 and Indonesia has the fastest growing epidemic. These findings were released on 20 November 2007 (Geneva) by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the report 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update.

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is not just about raising money, but also about increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.


http://www.unaids.org/en/

*** 2 ***

Revision of estimates

UNAIDS, WHO and the Reference Group on Estimates, Modelling and Projections have recently undertaken the most comprehensive review of their methodologies and monitoring systems since 2001. The epidemic estimates presented in this year’s report reflect improvements in country data collection and analysis, as well as a better understanding of the natural history and distribution of HIV infection. This information is vital in helping countries understand their epidemics and respond to them more effectively.

UNAIDS and WHO are now working with better information from many more countries. In the past few years a number of countries, most notably in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, have expanded and improved their HIV surveillance systems, conducting new, more accurate studies that provide more precise information about HIV prevalence than earlier studies. In addition, 30 countries mostly in Africa have conducted national representative
population-based household surveys. These have also informed adjustments for other countries with similar epidemics that have not conducted these surveys. New assumptions have also been made as a result of a better understanding of the natural history of untreated HIV infection.

The current estimate of 33.2 million [30.6 – 36.1 million] people living with HIV replaces the 2006 estimate of 39.5 million [34.1 – 47.1 million]. Applying the improved methodology retrospectively to the 2006 data, the 2007 report revises that figure, now estimating that in 2006 there were 32.7 million [30.2 – 35.3 million] people living with HIV. The single biggest reason for the reduction in global HIV prevalence figures in the past year was the recent revision of estimates in India after an intensive reassessment of the epidemic in that country. The revised estimates for India, combined with important revisions of estimates in five sub-Saharan African countries (Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe) account for 70% of the reduction in HIV prevalence as compared to 2006 estimates.

"The data for measuring the HIV epidemic used by UNAIDS/WHO has considerably expanded and improved in recent years,” said Ron Brookmeyer, Professor of Biostatistics and Chair of the Master of Public Health Program, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Nevertheless, there is a need to further improve the representativeness of the underlying data. There is a need to expand disease surveillance systems to better track the sub-epidemics in risk populations within each county."

*** 3 ***
The theme for World AIDS Day 2007
World AIDS Day was originally organised by UNAIDS, who chose the theme after consultation with other organisations. In 2005 UNAIDS handed over responsibility for World AIDS Day to an independent organisation known as The World AIDS Campaign (WAC).

The WAC’s slogan for their work is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise". This is an appeal to governments, policy makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they meet the many targets that have been set in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and especially the promise of universal access to HIV treatment, care, support and prevention services by 2010. This campaign will run until 2010, with a related theme chosen for World AIDS Day each year.

Previous World AIDS Day themes
World AIDS Day themes over the years have included:
2007 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Leadership
2006 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise - Accountability
2005 - Stop AIDS; Keep the Promise
2004 - Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS
2003 - Stigma & Discrimination
2002 - Stigma & Discrimination
2001 - I care. Do you?
2000 - AIDS : Men make a difference
1999 - Listen, Learn, Live: World AIDS Campaign with Children & Young People
1998 - Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign With Young People
1997 - Children Living in a World with AIDS
1996 - One World, One Hope
1995 - Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities
1994 - AIDS & the Family
1993 - Act
1992 - Community Commitment
1991 - Sharing the Challenge
1990 - Women & AIDS
1989 - Youth
1988 - Communication

The 2007 theme, “leadership”, highlights the need for innovation, vision and perseverance in the face of the AIDS challenge. The campaign calls on all sectors of society such as families, communities and civil society organisations - rather than just governments - to take the initiative and provide leadership on AIDS.

*** 4 ***
Epidemic update 2007 - essential findings
Every day, over 6800 persons become infected with HIV and over 5700 persons die from AIDS, mostly because of inadequate access to HIV prevention and treatment services. The HIV pandemic remains the most serious of infectious disease challenges to public health. Nonetheless, the current epidemiologic assessment has encouraging elements since it suggests:

*the global prevalence of HIV infection (percentage of persons infected with HIV) is remaining at the same level, although the global number of persons living with HIV is increasing because of ongoing accumulation of new infections with longer survival times, measured over a continuously growing general population;

* there are localized reductions in prevalence in specific countries;

* a reduction in HIV-associated deaths, partly attributable to the recent scaling up of treatment access; and

* a reduction in the number of annual new HIV infections globally.

Examination of global and regional trends suggests the pandemic has formed two broad patterns:

* generalized epidemics sustained in the general populations of many sub-Saharan African countries, especially in the southern part of the continent; and

* epidemics in the rest of the world that are primarily concentrated among populations most at risk, such as men who have with men, injecting drug users, workers and their sexual partners.

*** 5 ***
Global summary of the AIDS epidemic December 2007


Figure 1: Estimated number of people living with HIV globally, 1990–2007

*** 6 ***
Figure 2: Estimated adult (15–49) HIV prevalence (%) globally and in sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2007

*** 7 ***
Figure 3: Estimated number of adult and child deaths due to AIDS globally, 1990–2007

*** 8 ***

Figure 4: Estimated number of people newly infected with HIV globally, 1990–2007

it's 3:30 past midnight, and I actually woke up thinking... isn't it time our political and our religous leaders to start taking some issues seriously? specifically this HIV-AIDS issue... I mean it would mean A LOT (raising awareness wise also highligting the importance of this issue wise) if Al IMAM AL Sadig al MAhdi, would make this dinner(amongst one of his famed "unnecessary dinners) and invite a symbolic number of 100 persons inflicted with HIV, just a nice cosy dinner, bring the press..let them take photos...and see how that will work..not only amongst the sudanese but even regionally...I chose this figure because its revered figure by many... SO if he can shake hands with an inflicted person...so can I, and if he took "special" time to talk about HIV- AIDS so can I. I'm not an umma party member... but I bet you if I see the in the news Alimam with people inflicted HIV AIDS , I would talk about it for a loooong time and talk on hte street would branch out. Do u know what I'm getting to...it's like tha t"historic" Princess Diana visit to the hospital hugging people and children with HIVAIDS, I mean those photos changed the world view on HIV AIDS!! or when Magic Johnson came up an talked about him being inflicted with HIV-AIDS, it was an eye opening moment.
And if some people are going about saying that they are soooo far from being infected by AIDS... and they don't care about those who are.... think pragmatically!!... according to a report by the world bank in the year 2000- HIV-AIDS is a MAJOR obstacle for getting inflicted with HIV-AIDS!!!!

U know what? I'm going to find me a red ribbon, tie it around my wrist with my golden bracelets, and when women ask me what this is for.... I'll say for HIV-AIDS awareness-compassion and understanding

NO need to be apathetic

your post is very INFORMATIVE, a sign of concern "Thank GOd for peple like you"

Dear Maysoon Nigoumi

Many thanks for your time and your valuable contribution and input to the hot topic of AIDS/HIV awareness. You know what, last April I was trying to convince people here (in Sudaneseonline) for their contribution in the 24th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on May 2007, but I found no response.
الذكري الرابعة والعشرين الدولية لضحايا مرض الايدز يوم 20 مايو 2007-Hope And Awareness

I am just writing whenever I found a few spare moments hoping that people out there will get more organized information for the sake of knowledge and awareness. In addition, you could also join our initiative “Towards a better life for Sudanese kids” by reading its outlines and sending me email ([email protected]) if you are interested.
مبادرة : "نحو غدا مشرق لاطفال السـودان"

Quote: U know what? I'm going to find me a red ribbon, tie it around my wrist with my golden bracelets, and when women ask me what this is for.... I'll say for HIV-AIDS awareness-compassion and understanding

There are many ways in which you can support World AIDS Day. For example: send emails to your friends and co-workers who are in your email list requesting them to read this post and the attached websites, ask them to wear a red ribbon and ask others to do the same and join the campaign: Stop AIDS in Children.
Join the campaign: Stop AIDS in Children

If you are Interested in Volunteering? Click here for more details to get involved! (we do need people who can translate medical information from English to Arabic language):
http://www.sccdo.org/
http://www.smvo-online.org/
http://cancerinsudan.maktoobblog.com/


Best regards and Stay tuned!

Faisal Mohamed
Vancouver, Canada

*** 9 ***
The AIDS red ribbon


The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness that is worn by people all year round and particularly around World AIDS Day to demonstrate care and concern about HIV and AIDS, and to remind others of the need for their support and commitment.

The red ribbon started as a "grass roots" effort; as a result there is no one official AIDS ribbon manufacturer, and many people make their own. It's easily done - just use some ordinary red ribbon and a safety pin!

*** 10 ***

Many ways in which you can support World AIDS Day:
• Raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in your area.
• Wear a red ribbon and ask others to do the same.
• Sign up as a supporter of the Stop AIDS in Children campaign (http://www.avert.org/stop-aids-children.php.
• Protect yourself and your partners - this is the first and best way to stop the spread of HIV.
• If you are worried - get tested.

At school or work, you can support World AIDS Day by:
• Having a dressing up, down or fancy dress day.
• Putting up some posters - get people talking.
• Making and selling red ribbons.
• Organising a creative writing/poster campaign.
• Setting up a debate or a quiz - there are lots of ideas for topics on our site.
• Cooking an international meal or having a cake sale.
• Arranging a sponsored three-legged race or balloon release.
• Getting your friends, family, colleagues or pupils to express their feelings and expand their knowledge about AIDS.
• Using your imagination!

*** 11 ***