Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia Undertakes Research in Zeway
Expert Says African Orphans Overlooked by World
Ethiopian State Minister Underscores Need for Integrated HIV/AIDS Interventions
Upcoming Charity Ball in Addis Ababa to Raise Money for HIV/AIDS Victims
UN Secretary-General Says Creative Arts Can Help Development in Africa
UN Population Division Lowers Population Projections, In Part Due to AIDS
Ethiopian Media Urged to Occupy Forefront in Fight Against HIV/AIDS
WHO and FAO Release New Guide on HIV/AIDS Nutrition
Webcast Dialogue on AIDS Concerning Ethiopians in Diaspora
Population-Based Survey Provides Accurate Data For Prevention Interventions Among Kenyan Youth
ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopian News Agency), Mar. 3 – The Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE) reports that it has undertaken a new study in Zeway and surrounding areas to measure HIV/AIDS prevalence in the area. The project involves intensive promotion of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT); though participants’ status will be kept confidential, the results of these tests will be used to determine HIV prevalence. Zeway was selected as the study site because it lies along the transport corridor to southern Ethiopia; such routes with high traffic of mobile populations have been indicated as areas with high HIV exposure and prevalence. 982 individuals who were previously involved in a reproductive health project in the area have volunteered to undergo VCT to kick-start the research.
Full story: Addis Zemen, Monday, March 3, 2003.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Agence France Presse), Mar. 1 – World Food Organization head James Morris accused the world Wednesday of not doing enough to help the 11 million children in Africa who have been orphaned by AIDS. Loss of farming skills, ordinarily passed from parents to children, are exacerbating the agricultural crisis, especially in southern Africa where HIV prevalence is highest. In Malawi, 65% of families are headed either by children or grandparents because parents have died. In Zambia, 2,000 teachers have died due to AIDS and half the number of children have dropped out of school. Morris emphasized that “the world has a special responsibility to these children.”
Full story: Ethiopian Herald, Saturday, March 1, 2003, page 6.
ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopian News Agency), Feb. 28 – The State Minister for the Women’s Affairs Sub-Section of the Office of the Prime Minister, Wro. Gifti Abasiya, has stressed the need for HIV/AIDS activists to undertake integrated interventions to address the root cause of the epidemic. Speaking at the opening of a workshop to enhance integrated activities involving sex workers in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, Wro. Gifti said that government organizations, as well as civic associations, should maximize their efforts beyond awareness-raising activities. She noted that women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS due to their low status in society, adding that HIV/AIDS intervention activities should focus on improving the status of women. The State Minister said governmental and non-governmental organizations working on women’s affairs should strive for the socio-economic empowerment of women, which she said, is instrumental in protecting them from HIV/AIDS. Some 105 commercial sex workers and representatives of the non-governmental and governmental organizations working on women’s affairs attended the workshop, which was jointly organized by the office and the Integrated Services for AIDS Prevention and Support Organization (ISAPSO).
Full story: Ethiopian Herald, Friday, 28 February 2003.
ADDIS ABABA (Addis Tribune), Feb. 28 – On Saturday, the 8th of March, one of Ethiopia’s largest charity balls will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, and proceeds will be donated to the Holy Rosary Sisters, a local charity helping people living with HIV/AIDS. The ball is being held for St. Patrick’s Day, to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland, and is being sponsored by the Irish Embassy. The ball is an annual event to raise money for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Major prizes will be awarded, and the only draught Guinness in the country – flown in specially from Ireland – will be on tap. Tickets, which cost 350 birr and include food, wine, Irish coffees, whisky and other spirits, can be purchased at the Sheraton or through Diarmuid Hallinan at the Irish Embassy on (01) 665050. Tickets can also be bought by contacting Catherine on 09 219635 or Michelle on 09 242373.
Full story: Addis Tribune, Friday, 28 February 2003.
NEW YORK (IRIN News), Feb. 28 – UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan addressed Africa’s premier film festival in Burkina Faso today, saying that creative artists can play a tremendous role in helping achieve development goals set by world leaders at the Millennium Summit in 2000. At a panel organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO), Annan emphasized the role of artists to inform and educate their audiences, inspiring them to rally resources and energy for development. Annan drew attention in particular to the power of film and television to further understanding of contemporary Africa: “not only its problems, but the positive changes that are happening everywhere and are a real cause for hope.”
Full story: http://allafrica.com/stories/200302280786.html
NEW YORK (UN press release), Feb. 26 – The United Nations Population Division lowered its world population projections for 2050 by 400 million, due largely to high death rates due to HIV/AIDS and lower than expected birthrates. The revised projections are presented in the UNPD publication “World Population Prospects: the 2002 Revision.” About half of the decrease is due to increased projected AIDS-related deaths. The world population is still expected to increase by 2.6 billion over the next 47 years. Eight countries, including Ethiopia, are anticipated to account for 50% of the global population increase. The number of HIV/AIDS cases is anticipated to still be “substantial” in 2050, though an overall decline in HIV prevalence after 2010 in the most-affected countries is anticipated. The press release and access to the report are available online at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2003/pop850.doc.htm.
Full story: http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=16270
ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopian News Agency), Feb. 25 – State Minister of Information Netsanet Asfaw has called on the media to play a pivotal role in encouraging preventive behaviors among general public to mitigate the impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Netsanet Asfaw said that journalists shoulder the hefty task of raising the public awareness on HIV/AIDS, a disease which she said has posed a serious threat to the country’s economy. Journalists should contribute their share in addressing harmful traditional practices that fuel the spread of HIV/AIDS, Netsanet said, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to support the media’s endeavors in this regard. Wro. Netsanet made these remarks yesterday at an awards event for media articles on HIV/AIDS that won a competition organized by the Mass Media Training Institute (MMTI) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). MMTI Director Tadesse Zinaye added that the competition would help enhance media practitioners’ skills of reporting issues on HIV/AIDS. Ato Tadesse said 34 journalists from print and electronic media took part in the competition; writers of the nine winning articles were awarded money and certificates.
Full story: Ethiopian Herald, Tuesday, 25 February 2003, front page.
GENEVA/ROME (FAO/WHO press release), Feb. 25 – A new 97-page guide jointly released by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization attempts to offer people living with HIV/AIDS and their families (as well as health workers) practical guidance about nutrition, particularly in poor countries where drugs and health care are often unavailable. Food, the agencies claim, is a tool that strengthens the immune system and provides energy, and can prolong and improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. Protein builds muscle, fruit boosts the immune system, and fluids prevent dehydration. The guide features inexpensive recipes for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially for foods and herbal medicines and therapies that are easy to swallow even when a patient feels ill or unable to eat. The recipes feature nutritious ingredients that are easy to find in the developing world. The FAO and WHO are also jointly running a nutrition training course for health workers. The 97-page guide, “Living Well With HIV/AIDS” (html format), can be downloaded from http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4168E/Y4168E00.HTM.
Full story: http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2003/13560-en.html
ADDIS ABABA (Daily Monitor), Feb. 23 – A US-based website on Ethiopian issues called EthioIndex is sponsoring a live Internet call-in dialogue concerning HIV/AIDS among the Ethiopian Diaspora, to be webcast on 2 March. The discussion will address Ethiopians living in North America, Europe, and Asia, and will draw attention to the fact that Ethiopians often rank highly among African immigrants who test positive for HIV/AIDS. The program will feature Dr. Yewoubdar Beyene, a medical anthropologist and associate professor at the University of California; Dr. Zelalem Temesgen, Assistant Professor at the Mayo Medical School, Consultant in Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of the Mayo HIV Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and Dr. Tedla WoldeGiorgis, clinical psychologist and Director of the Multicultural Services Division of the Department of Mental Health in Washington, DC. EthioIndex will not retain copyright of this program and all media outlets are welcome to freely distribute and use the audio content. For radio stations and print media organizations, EthioIndex will distribute a free CD containing the unedited full audio webcast and transcripts of the show. Interested parties can e-mail webcast@ethioindex.com for information on how to receive the free CD webcast and/or transcript by mail.
Full story: http://allafrica.com/stories/200302240187.html
(Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes), Dec. 15 – Highlighting the limited utility of sentinel serosurveillance for following patterns of HIV infection and behavior change in populations, a new cross-sectional study in an age-stratified sample of households in the suburbs of Mombasa, Kenya, uses baseline data to improve the suitability of prevention interventions. The baseline study unearthed disproportionately high vulnerability of youth, especially young women, to HIV infection, and suggests that low seroprevalence in the 15- to 19-year age group may be best maintained through aggressive prevention interventions. Low condom use, poor quality information about HIV and STDs, and high infection rates with STDs indicate that the adolescent age group needs appropriate, targeted prevention interventions.
Full story: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (12.15.02) Vol. 31; No. 5: pp. 529-535.