Category Archives: AIDS2016
AIDS 2016: Seeds planted at 2000 conference grow infectious disease responses in prisons
In 2000, when former South Africa President Nelson Mandela spoke at the International AIDS Conference in Durban, the former prisoner awakened the world’s conscience. It was not until the AIDS conference returned to Durban this year, however, that health access in prisons took center stage. In the meantime, an effort sparked by a session at that earlier conference introduced […]
AIDS 2016: Community health workers raise TB diagnoses in Malawi HIV clinic
DURBAN, South Africa – The average number of monthly tuberculosis diagnoses among the HIV patients increased twenty-fold, and pediatric TB was diagnosed for the first time at a busy Malawi hospital after a pilot intervention provided community health workers already experienced in HIV screening and care linkage with a one-day training to learn to screen for tuberculosis, […]
AIDS 2016: Partners project demonstrates preventive power of antiretroviral treatment
When doing the right thing is the best thing, Part 2 DURBAN, South Africa – In another example of what happens when proven HIV interventions are made appropriately available, final results from the Partners Demonstration Project presented here on Wednesday showed access to immediate HIV treatment for a person living with HIV, along with access to […]
AIDS 2016: While drop in medical circumcisions raises concerns, study shows impacts of targeted approaches for the HIV prevention measure
DURBAN, South Africa – The 11.7 million medical circumcisions delivered to prevent HIV since research in Kenya and Uganda definitively proved the 60 percent protective value of the one time intervention in 2007, will have prevented an estimated 335,000 HIV infections by 2025. “That’s if stopped now,” Julie Samuelson of the World Health Organization said in […]
AIDS 2016: SEARCH for HIV, links to care outstrips UNAIDS goals in two years
When doing the right thing is the best thing, Part 1 DURBAN, South Africa – Do the UNAIDS goals of diagnosing 90 percent of those with HIV, treating 90 percent of them, and suppressing the virus to undetectable levels in 90 percent of those all by 2020 sound daunting to you? How about doing it in […]
AIDS 2016: As the largest generation in history approaches greatest HIV risks, Gates discusses the magnitude of the work ahead
DURBAN, South Africa – When Bill Gates came to Durban Wednesday for a discussion of progress with physician scientists researching the next HIV responses, the Microsoft founder recounted his first visit to South Africa in 1997, when his focus was still on his business and, he says, “closing the digital divide.” The divide he discovered instead in Soweto, […]
AIDS 2016: Elton John, PEPFAR announce first recipients of joint fund supporting sexual minority access to HIV services
“No human being should be left behind” Sir Elton John DURBAN, South Africa – The International AIDS Alliance and the Global Forum on MSM & HIV will receive the first grants under a $10 million fund launched by the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to open and ensure access […]
AIDS 2016: Trial shows higher dose rifampicin could reduce deaths among TB/HIV patients who are severely immunosuppressed
DURBAN, South Africa – About 30 percent of TB/HIV patients die within 12 months of starting TB treatment. Efforts to reduce the risk of death among these patients has focused primarily on accelerating start of HIV treatment. In a trial discussed Wednesday, researchers explored whether changes in TB treatment could improve the odds of survival for these patients. The […]
AIDS 2016: Reducing stigma against gender and sexual minorities, a one-day training makes a difference
The following is a guest post from Ashley Gibbs and David Mbote who serve on Health Policy Plus (HP+), a USAID- and PEPFAR-funded project. To reach the ambitious targets of the global HIV response, including universal treatment and viral suppression, we must first reach all populations with lifesaving HIV services. Unfortunately, HIV programming for gay and […]
