HIV & TB News

Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

In a historic and a (very) long overdue moment, finally, the Stop TB Partnership signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to work together in improving responses to TB and HIV.

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Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

In a historic and a (very) long overdue moment, finally, the Stop TB Partnership signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to work together in improving responses to TB and HIV.

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Posted by Ian Hodgson (ijhodgson)

At the International AIDS conference in Vienna today, the National AIDS Housing Coalition (NAHC) released a significant report reminding delegates that, in addition to the pursuit of universal access to treatment and care for people living with HIV (PLHIV), it is just as important to include housing as factor in HIV policy planning.

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Posted by evince

Governments need to move beyond collecting statistics of HIV positive persons in their countries and begin looking into the needs of the infected, delegates at the ongoing International Aids 2010 conference here have said.

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Thursday 22 July 2010

Bar Association leaders arbitrarily detained in an apparent attempt to stifle legitimate and peaceful protest, as part of an ongoing government crackdown.

The Jammu and Kashmir state government must immediately end the preventive detention of the leaders of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.

Mian Abdul Qayoom, the President of the Bar Association and Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, its General Secretary, have been arbitrarily detained under the J&K Public Safety Act (PSA) since 7 July and 18 July 2010 respectively.

The vaguely formulated PSA allows for detentions of up to two years without charge or trial on the presumption that future acts harmful to the state may be committed.

"The detention of the Bar Association leaders appears to be an attempt to stifle legitimate and peaceful protest, as part of the ongoing crackdown by the authorities in parts of Kashmir," said Sam Zarifi, Asia-Pacific Director at Amnesty International

The grounds of detention prepared by the Srinagar District Magistrate relating to Mian Qayoom allege he is attempting to turn the Bar Association into "a secessionist outfit" indulging in "illegal activities".

Four previous criminal cases registered involving Mian Qayoom between October 2008 and June 2010 are also mentioned in the document which accuses him of instigating recent protests that have reportedly left at least 18 people dead.

"The state administration has resorted to preventive detention under the PSA, which subverts the judicial process," Zarifi said. "If the government has criminal charges to bring, it should do so in a properly constituted criminal trial where Mian Qayoom will have the protections afforded under the law, for instance, the ability to post bail."

The official grounds of detention against Mian Qayoom state that he is being detained for questioning the conduct of government security forces and for his political views.

Reports indicate the General Secretary of the Bar Association, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, is being detained on similar grounds as well as for organizing public rallies seeking the release of Mian Qayoom.

"The arbitrary use of the PSA to detain government critics is yet another demonstration of why this law must be repealed," Zarifi said.

The Kashmir valley has witnessed mass public protests over the past several months, initially over the extrajudicial executions of three men at Machil, Baramulla district, and subsequently by killings of protesters by Central Reserve Police Force personnel.

At least 18 people, many of them teenagers, were allegedly killed during a crackdown on protests that began on 11 June 2010.

Amnesty International has previously demanded that the Indian authorities avoid excessive use of force and investigate all the deaths due to the shootings.

The State administration has also responded by placing a large number of people in preventive detention instead of charging and trying them – including those reportedly suspected of throwing stones at the police and others suspected of inciting violence by posting inflammatory material online.  

A number of political leaders have also been recently detained including Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, and his aides Mohammad Ashraf Sahrai, Ayaz Akbar, Mohammad Yousuf Mujahid and Zafar Akbar Bhat. Prominent Kashmiri leaders including Shabbir Shah and Nayeem Ahmed Khan also continue to remain in detention under the PSA.

Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

(1.) TB-HIV co-infection: Giving ART and treating TB slow HIV progression; (2.) Spain should increase investment in tuberculosis R & D; (3.) Can TB patients say "Rights Here, Right Now"?; (4.) A new TB vaccine could be ready by 2020; (5.) Priority is to up TB-HIV collaborative activities

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Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

Putting TB-HIV co-infected people on the anti-retroviral treatment (ART) do slow down HIV progression to AIDS. However ART induced immune maintenance and recovery have no difference on the outcome of anti-TB treatment in studies done in different parts of Asia and Africa, presented on second day of the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Vienna, Austria

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Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

The Spanish government was encouraged to invest in tuberculosis research and development (R&D) as part of its policy of international cooperation in health. "Spanish government should support and fund the tuberculosis (TB) research and development (R & D) because we don't have adequate health tools to face the TB pandemic globally: more effective tools are needed. Research and development is essential part of international cooperation policies," said Laia Ruiz Mingote from Planeta Salud, who had a poster discussion on this issue at the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Vienna, Austria.

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Posted by Kintu

During the current financial year 2010/2011, the Government plans to focus on developing health infrastructure through the rehabilitation of regional referral hospitals. But without health workers at the district level, will these hospitals merely be white elephants?

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Posted by Kintu

During the current financial year 2010/2011, the Government plans to focus on developing health infrastructure through the rehabilitation of regional referral hospitals. But without health workers at the district level, will these hospitals merely be white elephants?

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Posted by kyeswa johnson m (johni)

The latest African Union Summit is taking place in Uganda. The Theme for this year's summit is 'maternal, infant and child health' and there was a special session demanding better healthcare for rural populations. It was observed that most African Governments spend very little of their budgets on health services and during a tour in one of Uganda's hospitals, delegates found one hospital was serving more than three districts. The major obstacles to access are the long distances patients must travel and poor roads.

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Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a study analyzing evidence in Asia-Pacific on how punitive and discriminatory laws and human rights violations limit access to HIV prevention and care services for men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) and transgender people. The study report "Legal environments, human rights and HIV responses among men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific:An agenda for action" is co-published by the UNDP and Asia Pacific Coalition for male sexual health (APCOM)

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Wednesday 21 July 2010

Israeli military destroys a further 74 buildings in the Jordan Valley, forcibly displacing over 100 people.

Amnesty International has today called on the Israeli authorities to stop the demolition of Palestinian homes and other buildings in the West Bank, after a further 74 were destroyed in the Jordan Valley earlier this week.

The demolitions were carried out by the Israeli military in the villages of Hmayyir and 'Ein Ghazal in the area of al-Farisiya on Monday, displacing 107 people, including 52 children.

According to UN figures, at least 198 Palestinian structures in the West Bank have been demolished this year, resulting in the forced displacement of almost 300 Palestinians, half of them children, while 600 others have also been affected.

"These recent demolitions intensify concerns that this is part of a government strategy to remove the Palestinian population from the parts of the West Bank known as Area C, over which Israel has complete control in terms of planning and construction," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Among the property destroyed by the Israeli military on Monday were residential tents, separate kitchens and washrooms, agricultural buildings, and animal pens.

The army also damaged water tanks, wheat for human consumption and animal fodder.

The demolition came three weeks after the military handed out eviction orders in the village. Residents were told they had 24 hours to leave the area.

Unlike many other areas of the Jordan Valley, the communities of Hmayyir and 'Ein Ghazal had not experienced demolitions in the past.

According to Palestinian and Israeli media reports the Israeli military authority said the evictions were ordered because the homes are in a "closed military zone".

Most of the Jordan Valley area of the occupied West Bank has been declared a "closed military zone" by the Israeli army or has been taken over by some 36 Israeli settlements.

In a "closed military zone" Palestinians are forbidden from carrying out building construction and development.

On 24 June, the Israeli military also served eviction notices on two families - 15 people including five children - in the village of 'Ein al-Hilwe in the northern Jordan Valley and on a building for housing livestock in the nearby village of 'Ein al-Beida. Both villages are in Area C.

The buildings have not yet been demolished.

On 15 July, two buildings situated in a part of Area C southwest of Hebron in the West Bank were destroyed.

According to a report in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz on 19 July, the Israeli military authorities in the West Bank are acting on government orders to intensify its enforcement against what they deem to be "illegal" building in Area C.

Under the Oslo Accords, the Israeli authorities retain both civil and military control over areas designated as Area C, which make up more than 60 per cent of the West Bank.

The estimated 150,000 Palestinians living there face severe restrictions on building and also on their freedom of movement.

There are no Palestinian representatives on the planning institutions for Area C and, moreover, Palestinian residents in these areas have only very limited ability to submit objections to eviction and demolition.

"The current system whereby the Israeli military has sole responsibility for what Palestinians can or cannot build in the majority of the occupied West Bank is unacceptable," said Philip Luther. “Planning and building decisions should lie with the local Palestinian communities.”

Israeli authorities must stop demolitions of Palestinian homes (News, 16 June 2010)

The UN says at least 198 Palestinian structures in the West Bank have been demolished this year

Publication Date:  Thursday 22 July 2010

Amnesty International has called on Somali authorities and armed opposition groups in the country to respect freedom of expression amid a growing government crackdown on independent journalism.

Amnesty International Index Number:  AFR52/009/2010

Amnesty International has called on Somali authorities and armed opposition groups in the country to respect freedom of expression amid a growing government crackdown on independent journalism.

A campaign of harassment and intimidation has seen a spate of arrests and interrogations of journalists since June. Media workers already face serious threats from armed groups, with 10 reporters killed in the last 18 months.

Amnesty International's new briefing paper, Hard News: Journalists' lives in danger in Somalia, launched on Somali Human Rights Day (22 July), documents the targeting of journalists in the country.

"Somali journalists are being prevented from informing the local population about daily violence that affects their lives - a service that is particularly vital in a conflict too dangerous for consistent international media reporting," said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International's Africa deputy director.

"Somalia's authorities must investigate the attacks and harassment of journalists, both by armed groups and members of their own government, and ensure that freedom of expression is respected."

Somalia's internationally backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) controls only a small part of the capital Mogadishu, while the rest of southern and central Somalia is under the control of armed groups.

The two largest are al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam, which are allied against the TFG but have also engaged in fighting against each other.
While the armed groups are the most deadly threat to journalists in the country, media workers have come under increased pressure from the TFG in a recent clampdown on independent journalism.

On 26 June, New York Times correspondent Mohammed Ibrahim fled Somalia after threats from government security forces, following the publication of an article alleging that government forces included child soldiers.

On 29 June, several journalists were wounded when missiles were fired on a press conference being held by Al-Shabab in Mogadishu. Local journalists at the scene believe they were indirectly targeted by the TFG, who did not want the press conference to go ahead.

On 1 July, police detained journalist Mustafa Haji Abdinur and freelance cameraman Yusuf Jama Abdullahi for taking pictures of their colleague, photojournalist Farah Abdi Warsame, who had been hit in the crossfire during fighting in Mogadishu.

The journalists were interrogated and forced to delete their photographs. Warsame was only able to get medical treatment after being interrogated.

"Rather than protecting journalists from feared armed groups such as al-Shabab, the Somali authorities are increasing the problems for media workers by adding to the harassment they face," said Michelle Kagari.

Armed groups opposed to the Somali government now control many towns in the country. They have killed, harassed and intimidated journalists, shut down radio stations, restricted what local media can report on and frequently prevent journalists from publishing information which they believe is unfavourable towards them. This makes it almost impossible to disseminate vital information on the situation in Somalia.

On 5 May - the most recent journalist killing - three gunmen shot dead broadcast journalist Sheik Nur Mohamed Abkey as he was returning home from the state-run Radio Mogadishu.

He was abducted by the gunmen near his home in southern Mogadishu and then shot repeatedly in the head. Members of al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the killing.

In 2009, nine journalists were killed, the highest total in any one year since 1991, when armed conflict broke out after the collapse of ex-President Siad Barre’s government.

In the first five months of 2010, in addition to the killing of one journalist, many more were abducted and harassed by armed groups.

The TFG was backed militarily by Ethiopian troops who remained in Somalia until early 2009. TFG officials and institutions are now protected by the African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM.

The TFG is opposed by a number of armed Islamist groups. Groups on both sides of the conflict often overlap, forge or shift alliances, or divide into separate groups.

READ MORE
TAKE ACTION - Speak out for Somali journalists

Files:  Armed groups such as al-Shabab now control many towns in the country

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Authorities urged to surrender President al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court, where he is wanted on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Amnesty International has called on the Chadian authorities to arrest wanted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and surrender him to the International Criminal Court, after it was reported that he arrived in Chad on Wednesday to attend a meeting of regional leaders.

"Chad should not shield President al-Bashir from international justice", said Christopher Hall, Amnesty International’s senior legal advisor. “His visit to Chad is an opportunity to enforce the arrest warrant and send a message that justice will prevail."

An arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir was issued by the ICC on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

If it were not to arrest him, Chad would violate its obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which it ratified in November 2006.

President al-Bashir has arrived in Chad to take part in a meeting of leaders and heads of state of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), which will start in Chad on Thursday 22 July 2010.

Amnesty International has called on all members of the international community to ensure full accountability for crimes under international law committed in Sudan.

Sudanese security service carries out brutal campaign against opponents (News, 19 July 2010)

President al-Bashir's visit to Chad is an opportunity to enforce the arrest warrant

Posted by kibuchi

Health Advocates have coined a name to describe their dissastifaction with the way donors and other stakeholders are handling the issue of screening of TB among People Living with HIV. MOSOTOS is the new name, an acronym for More Of the Same Old Talk, Opinions and Speeches. So far globally only 4.1% of the PLWHAs are screen for TB. Will Vienna conference make a difference or are we out for more MOSOTOS?

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Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

These are sculptures using syringes and medicine bottles which are displayed currently at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria. These are made by noted artist Daniel Goldstein

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Posted by Bobby Ramakant (bobby)

These are sculptures using syringes and medicine bottles which are displayed currently at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria. These are made by noted artist Daniel Goldstein

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Publication Date:  Thursday 22 July 2010

Government urged to end its widespread use of arbitrary detentions and torture as activists worldwide stage protests against the authorities' appalling human rights record.

Amnesty International is calling on the Gambian government to end its widespread use of arbitrary detentions and torture as activists worldwide stage protests against the authorities' appalling human rights record on 22 July, the country's national holiday known as "Freedom Day".

"The Gambia is a torture state, where the authorities commit widespread human rights violations with total impunity," said Etelle Higonnet, West Africa Researcher for Amnesty International. "Last week's sentencing to death of eight men in a mockery of a trial for supposed attempts to overthrow the government is a testament to the level of human rights abuse being carried out in the country today."

"It is a shameful travesty that, in country where freedom remains an illusion for most people, the President names the national holiday Freedom Day."

Since gaining power through a coup in 1994, President Yahya Jammeh's government has cracked down on political freedom, subjecting Gambians to unlawful arrest, torture, incommunicado detention, unfair trials, rape, disappearance, and extra-judicial executions.

The eight men sentenced to death last week are the only people to have been tried out of hundreds arrested in November 2009 and March 2010, accused of treason or attempts to destabilise the government.

In the video, Gambian journalist Sarata Jabbi Dibba talks about life in the country and how she was arrested and sentenced to two years in prison for criticizing the government.

Read More: 

Gambia: Stop the Rule of Fear and Start the Rule of Law (Amnesty International USA page)
Stop the rule of fear in Gambia (Appeal for action, 21 July 2010)

Journalist Sarata Jabbi Dibba talks about life in Gambia and the time she spent in prison Former member of Gambian Parliament Demba Dem talks about his time in prison AttachmentSize Case studies of the disappeared, detained and imprisoned in Gambia.pdf124.7 KB

Posted by Evelyn Harvey (Evelyn)

A good article by Priya Shetty from AIDS 2010: Moral crusades against HIV/AIDS may have good intentions, but there is no substitute for sound evidence on behaviour change. When it comes to health policies on sex and drugs, science has a hard time competing with morality. Policies on HIV/AIDS, for example, are often strongly moralistic, driven by personal judgements about how people such as sex workers and drug users should behave despite their high risk of infection.

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