Researchers’ efforts seem to be coming to fruition as drug giant Pfizer Inc. is planning to bring anti-AIDS drug into the market. Now you may ask what is peculiar about this new drug. Actually, this new drug, called Maraviroc is the result of a long research that got on the track in 1996, when scientists solved a mystery, which was surrounding certain gay men who were immune to AIDS. Interestingly, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Schering-Plough Corp. has also stared working on the same issue by chasing their own CCR5-blockers during 1996 but unfortunately, that drug turned out to be toxic as a result Glaxo had to halt its project. During the course of several clinical trials it has been well established that this drug called, maraviroc, when combined with other medicines, is more effective than existing therapies in treating AIDS patients. The following conclusion based on the data provided by Pfizer brings out drug’s (Maraviroc) efficacy quite precisely: Maraviroc, when used in combination with other drugs, more effectively suppressed blood levels of the virus than the standard three-drug HIV therapy is current use. According to experts, this new drug may gain regulatory approval this year and generate more than $300 million in sales by 2011 for New York-based Pfizer Inc. we must hope that this new drug would emerge as a potent weapon against HIV/AIDS. Image credit: Playfuls Via: Bloomberg
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SA moves ahead with ambitious five-year anti-AIDS plan
In South Africa � HIV virus engulfing approximately 1,500 citizens every day. � Up to 40% of women between the ages, 25 to 29 are HIV positive. � More than 1,000 people die of Aids-related illnesses every day. These figures uncover the horrific mien of the situation, prevailing there for years. Moreover, they rectify the notion that put South Africa in the category of the countries, severely bruised by the apparition called, HIV/AIDS. Perhaps this is the reason why the government of this country has come out launching an ambitious five-year plan (that would go up to 2011), aimed at combating HIV/AIDS more successfully than before. Plan’s aim:- � To change the behavior, especially of young people-the section of the society most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. � To dramatically extend its anti-retroviral drug program. � To cut new infections by half by 2011. � To care and support 80% of all people with HIV within five years. Quite a commendable step it is, but seems taken a bit later. However, well said, it is never too late. More interesting is the thing that this move of the government has highly been applauded by AIDS activists, since they had been accusing government for paying not sufficient heed to fight HIV/AIDS. If both government as well as AIDS activities put their energies together then, in my opinion, results could be more prolific than imagined. In addition, if this massive but ambitious plan moves on the fuel of enthusiasm and firm determination then no stint can put spoke in its wheels. In other words, we can say that success of this plan would mainly depend on the firm determination and zeal of the officials that would enable people of south Africa to see a new dawn that would come, piercing the thick haze of HIV/AIDS, which is enfolding this country for years. Image credit: IST Via: BBC
AIDS: Another nail in Afghanistan’s coffin
Earlier, the people of Afghanistan were wriggling under the tyrannical rule of Taliban and Al-Qaeda and then came the American-led ‘war against terror’, which further exacerbated their lives. However, during Taliban regime there was one thing that people of Afghanistan could boast of. This was HIV/AIDS free Afghanistan but now this horrific disease is slowly but steadily encroaching upon the people of Afghanistan, which is quite a deplorable issue. Afghanistan is deeply a religious country where sex except marital partner is illegal but even then, this deadly virus has somehow managed to sprout here. So, the question arises, how? The answer of this question lies mainly in its demographic condition. As we know, Afghanistan is encircled by countries like Russia, China, India and Pakistan, which are known to have higher percentage of patients with HIV/AIDS. Moreover, countries like Pakistan and Iran where there is high levels of drug addiction, increases people’s vulnerability to HIV transmission knowingly or unknowingly, giving the gift of HIV/AIDS to the people of Afghanistan, as diseases, pandemics know no borders. Expressing the similar view, experts say: AIDS can easily cross borders, carried by migrants or refugees who pick up drug habits or have sex with infected people in those countries and return home. Rates of drug addiction are rising in Afghanistan, with its booming opium and heroin trade. Secondly, social stigma associated with HIV/AIDS is another factor, which encourages people to hide the symptoms of this disease. This very social stigma is preventing the people of Afghanistan from talking about the causes and repercussions of this deadly virus. As a result, the billow of awareness has failed to reach the masses, increasing people’s susceptibility to HIV/AIDS. Normally, HIV/AIDS is associated with unsafe or immoral sex practices, which I think is one of the factors behind this much of rise in HIV cases. People should be made aware about the fact that HIV virus may slip into one’s body through other ways too like a person could be infected if he is transfused infected blood or if he uses infected syringe. And as an estimate of World Health Organization (WHO) states that even after five years of international assistance to the health sector, only 30 percent of blood used in transfusions in hospitals is screened for HIV, shows that how incapable health sector of Afghanistan is in preventing people from HIV transmission. In brief, it could be asserted that in order to save the people of Afghanistan from the wrath of HIV/AIDS there needs to be a well-woven strategy, including public awareness campaign so that influx of this deadly virus could be kept at bay from the people of Afghanistan. Via: NY Times
South Africa losing battle against HIV/AIDS
AIDS is one threat that the whole world is fighting with. One of the mot affected areas, South Africa, seems to be losing its battle with HIV and AIDS, in spite of the whole layout of strategies and ongoing treatments. The death rates have been increasing and the supply of treatments seems to have no effect on the statistics. The confirmation comes with the UNICEF’s South Africa representative warning that says that the country may soon lose against HIV/AIDS. The reports also say that the country even lose in meeting the goals accorded by UN’s Millennium Development Goal, especially infant and maternal mortality rates. South Africa is in line to face major health disasters as young mothers are dying from AIDS and their infants can in no case survive. With such conditions increasing, there are chances that by 2015, there will be almost five million orphans in South Africa alone. Today the life expectancy in the nation has dropped to less then 47, which in 1990 were about 69. Statistics show that each year about 400,000 people die mainly due to AIDS/HIV and other related causes alone. Why this is happening in spite of the treatments pouring in is because of the fact that till today people in the nation aren’t educated regarding AIDS, they still are stigmatized against it, lack of education and knowledge on this issue leads them to hide there condition, they fear social isolation. What is needed is work on the root cause explaining that even disease like AIDS can be treated like any other diseases and even prevented. The reports also said that only 380,000 South African Aids patients were receiving anti-retroviral drugs, which simply means that almost 2 million were not receiving the required treatment. What is needed is first of all, educating everyone about the disease and then an absolute effort to outdo the number of deaths and infections with treatments, education and preventions.
Male circumcision quite effective against AIDS: WHO
After going through a phase that was filled with dissents, finally circumcision has managed to get approval from the World Health Organization too. Actually, World Health Organization (WHO) has taken an official stance in favor of male circumcision by touting it as a prolific method that lowers the risk of HIV transmission. Researchers from the U.S. were the first to dub it (circumcision) as an effective tool to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS, which was later much criticized by some people. Here it is important to note that several studies, aimed at knowing the effectiveness of circumcision against HIV/AIDS, have shown that circumcision helps curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. And this very factor has prompted WHO to come for its support. WHO firmly believes that male circumcision should be part of a comprehensive HIV prevention package that includes: � The provision of HIV testing and counseling services. � Treatment for sexually transmitted infections. � The promotion of safer sex practices. � The provision of male and female condoms and promotion of their correct and consistent use. WHO believes that more study is essential to know the way circumcision protects from HIV transmission. Moreover, it (WHO) thinks that circumcision should be adopted as a prolific tool against HIV/AIDS. In addition, it has also emphasized that other methods, including safe sex, condom use, etc. should also be given due importance as circumcision provides just partial protection and considering it a full shield against HIV/AIDS would be a great mistake. Image Via: Daily News Central
Fighting HIV gets easier with green tea
Green tea could go a long way in offering protection against HIV. A compound existing in the tea could prevent virus getting binded to the immune system cells and it could even slow the spreading of infection and even bring down the risk of getting HIV. All you guys who are getting tempted after reading this piece of information should take into consideration that neither it is a cure nor it offers protection against catching infection but green tea along with conventional medicines could surely improve the life quality of infected patients. The compound called called epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG has been found to block the path used by HIV for attacking the white blood cells of the immune system. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used for viewing binding of EGCG to the surface of T-cells which were donated by human patients. These findings have appeared in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology but people should not forget that protected sex is the best way to enjoy your life. Via channel4
Asia in the throes of HIV infection
Looking at the present scenario it could be said that entire Asia is quite susceptible to HIV infection as more and more people are being engulfed by the spate of HIV/AIDS.This confirms the Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia, according to which the number of HIV infected people in Asia, is likely to double over the next five years, especially if fight against HIV/AIDS is not fueled further with more prolific strategies. According to this commission: � There are about 8.6 million people in Asia alone with this deadly virus. � This number is likely to reach about 20 million in the next five years. � Averagely 500,000 people die of HIV/AIDS in the Asian region alone. � Asian region bears losses of approximately $10 billion annually. � This financial loss is likely to touch $29 billion mark per year, in case Asia fails to hamshackle the mammoth of HIV/AIDS. Deploring on the present situation prevailing in Asia, the commissioned feared that about 8.6 million people are infected in Asia with HIV. At the current level of inadequate response, it is expected this number will rise to about 20 million in the next five years. In other words, if we say that not a particular part but the whole Asia is in the throes of HIV/AIDS then perhaps it won’t be wrong. Until the late 1980s, Asia was proud to be the continent without a major AIDS epidemic. However, by the time 1990s came to its closing, Asia came to known as a continent, infested with HIV infected patients. It is quite pitiable that countries like India, China, Pakistan, and even small countries like Indonesia are also sinking into the slough of HIV/AIDS. According to an estimate, most populated countries on the planet, namely India and China do have at least 5 million people with this deadly infection. This clearly shows that how worst situation is bound to be in the upcoming days. The situation looks grimmer when countries like Afghanistan are also seen sharing the same menace. Actually, many factors are constantly fueling the holocaust HIV/AIDS in Asia, in which factors are drug abuse, paid sex, unsafe sex, etc. could be counted easily. An overview of Asian countries shows that ignorance is the main culprit behind this inundation of HIV infection. Therefore, in order to curb the spread of HIV infection main focus should be on kindling awareness among the masses. And for that huge investment is required, which currently this campaign (anti-HIV/AIDS) is running short of, since the commission itself reveals that investments in HIV control in the region remain extremely low at 10% of the required $5 billion per year. Image Via: USA Today
Is AIDS a global problem or someone else’s problem?
After countries like United States, Brunei, China, Iraq, South Korea, Moldavia, Russia and Saudi Arabia, perhaps it is turn of Australia to embrace discriminating policy against HIV immigrants, as Australian Prime Minister John Howard has also called for HIV migrant ban. In his statement, he said that Australia should refuse to allow migrants or refugees with HIV to enter the country. This remark from Australian prime minister, John Howard has come like a bolt from the blue for millions of HIV patients, living all round the world. More worrying is the fact that this proposal as come at such time when AIDS is increasing worldwide. This call from Howard has exasperated AIDS experts all round the world but in this series, exasperation, kicked off by African AIDS experts, seems to be more vehement, as representatives from various organization from across Africa attending on HIV-AIDS workshop in Dar-es-Salaam accused Mr Howard to over-reacting and called on him to reconsider. Actually, this is not for the first time when John Howard has come up with such tough stand on immigration because earlier too he had banned immigration of patients with TB. However, taking similar stand against HIV-infected immigrants doesn’t sound sensible because HIV infection can never be compared with tuberculosis, as tuberculosis is contagious and airborne disease while HIV is not contagious but transmissible. No doubt, rising rate of HIV infected people in Australia, which has rose by 41% between 2000 and 2005 has tempted Howard to come up with such proposal but in doing so, it seems that he has looked upon this problem in quite a constricted manner. And this proposal has come out undraping his ideology to treat HIV/AIDS as ‘some one else’s problem’. Besides, it has goaded out some very radical questions like: 1. Are proclamations to fight AIDS globally, merely hollow slogans? 2. Is the ideology that treats AIDS as ‘some one else’s problem’, not a stint in fight against HIV/AIDS? 3. Is the force, being injected into fight against HIV/AIDS, adequate or not? These are some such questions, which need to be answered earnestly; otherwise, fight against HIV/AIDS may turn direction-less. In addition, efforts being made to crush the hood of HIV/AIDS may also come to naught, if we go on treating HIV/AIDS as ‘someone else’s problem’. Via: Topix
Only 19 pc of the needy in Asia get AIDS drugs: WHO
May be there has been noted a significant growth in access to HIV treatment in the year of 2006. However, most of the Asian countries still have a long way to go before cheering up as a report by World health organization reveals that only 19 per cent of Asians who need AIDS drugs receive them. This revelation really points to a bad portent, especially for the ongoing war against HIV/AIDS because according to an estimate, there are 7.8 million people living with HIV out of the world’s total of nearly 40 million cases, alone in the east, south and southeast Asia. Here it is worth mentioning that India is one of the countries with multi-billion-dollar AIDS prevention program. However, it is quite unfortunate that in spite of this high-profile AIDS prevention drive; hardly three per cent of the HIV-positive pregnant women in India have access to drugs that are used for prevention of viral transmission from mother to child in 2005. Moreover, countries like India, which in the recent years, has emerged on the world-map due to her march towards economic progress is having 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS. This report about Asian countries may blur the goal that aspires for achieving the target of universal access to comprehensive prevention programs by 2010 because achieving this goal by keeping in view the report about Asian countries, seems to be a tough target. As the report states: Universal access by 2010 will require a steep increase in the number of people starting treatment every year. More worrying is the fact that performance shown by Asian countries, in this regard, is surprisingly nastiest than many Caribbean and Latin American countries, as the figures show that that overall treatment coverage in these Caribbean and Latin American countries is 72 per cent. And unfortunately, this difference is there despite the fact that economically these Caribbean and Latin American countries are weaker than many Asian countries. After pondering over the HIV/AIDS situation, prevailing in Asia, it could be said that merely erection of multi-billion-dollar AIDS prevention program doesn’t ensure complete fight against HIV/AIDS, so long as they carry several loopholes. Therefore, such plans need to be revamped; otherwise, they would just prove like mammoth-sized ships having rips. Image Source
States ignore CDC-issued HIV testing guidelines
A latest study shows that the majority of U.S. states prevent the doctors from testing their patients for HIV on a regular basis. It seems like these states are not in a hurry to change things. So, they are clearly violating a Federal health warning for HIV. The new testing guidelines were issued last year by the Center for Disease Control or the CDC. Almost a year later, things are pretty much the same and the states don’t seem to take the CDC warning seriously. Although, about half a dozen states have simplified the laws regarding HIV testing. For other states like California, the legislation is still pending. The U.S. health agency recommends that adults under the age 65 be tested for HIV. Roughly, about 250,000 Americans don’t yet know for sure that they are HIV positive. The latest study published in the PLoS gives the readers an idea of the legal barriers. 33 states require informed consent for HIV testing, and 24 others need disclosure of information and disease. The problem seems to be lying mostly in the U.S. legislation system. Personally, I feel that the clash between the U.S. state and federal legislatures is what has created this mess. Had there been no state laws, things would have been simple. Hopefully, the states will pay more attention to HIV testing and heed to the CDC warning. Image Credit: Friendtofriend