Audio slideshow: Living with HIV in Kenya’s Kibera slum

Charles Sako is HIV-positive but thanks to the latest drugs is able to lead an active life in the Kenyan slum of Kibera where he lives. Six years ago, he was given a disposable camera for a week to document his life on HIV treatment.

As the United Nations meets in New York to discuss the global response to the pandemic over the next decade and to mark the 30th anniversary of the discovery of Aids, Charles gives us an update on how his own life has moved on.

The latest scientific research shows that treating people with HIV/Aids not only saves lives but can also prevent the virus from spreading. In Kenya, some 450,000 people – like Charles – are getting the drugs they need but another 250,000 are still waiting.

LIVING WITH AIDS

Photography by Sven Torfinn for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

PREMIER NATIONAL HIV TESTING & COUNSELING DAY

HELD IN EAST AFRICA

BY ROTARY DISTRICT

9200 & RFFA

Rotarians from 102 Rotary Clubs in the countries of Kenya and Uganda got together on April 30th, the Rotary-declared Rotarians At Work Day and did something that has never been done before in the history of Rotary – they held a nationwide HIV Testing & Counseling Day at 125 sites throughout the two countries that included wraparound health services! They called it the Rotary Family Health Day!

This one to three day event was the vision of District Governor Stephen Mwanje, District 9200 in East Africa. He engaged the support and partnership of RFFA (Rotarians For Fighting AIDS), the Rotarian Action Group led by CEO Marion Bunch. DG Stephen asked RFFA to help him obtain partners and resources to bring this event to life. He asked each Rotary Club to have ten representatives working at this event – or over 1,000 Rotary volunteers.

RFFA gained the pro bono services of its global partner, FHI (Family Health International) to help plan the overall project and to be the Primary Technical Partner in Kenya. AIDS Information Center was engaged as the Primary Technical Partner in Uganda. The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (a six year partner of RFFA) provided $100,000 in mobilization costs for this event. Rotary Clubs held fundraisers to support the event. Thirty or more other technical partners in each country provided pro bono technical/medical support for this mission. RFFA leaders and the key partners worked with the Ministry of Health in each country in planning this event.

RFFA HIV Testing Day Report

Message From Annie Lennox – World AIDS Day 2010

Today is a special day – It is World AIDS Day and the 3rd Anniversary of The SING Campaign.
I’m happy to tell you that we have come a long way in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

The new Global Report from UNAIDS shows that fewer people are becoming infected with HIV and that we have broken the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic.
We have reached the first part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of halting and reversing the spread of HIV.

In less than five years, we have crossed the half way mark towards providing medicines to HIV positive pregnant women, in order to prevent transmission of the virus to their babies securing better health for mothers and children.

We are strengthening the platform for women and girls, to lead a movement against AIDS in support of Women’s rights. But the struggle continues.

The fight is far from over. We still have a long way to go. We need to continue to strengthen our focus on the needs and rights of young women, who are particularly vulnerable to HIV.

We need to ensure that global commitments are translated into increased support for women at the community level.

Men and boys must be our partners in transforming behaviors that endanger the health of society at large.
Raise your voice today – be an activist – fight for:

* Zero new infections – Protect yourself and your loved ones from infection. Know your status – get tested

* Zero discrimination – don’t tolerate STIGMA and DISCRIMINATION towards people living with HIV – Speak up – Take a stand – defend Human Rights

* Zero AIDS related deaths – convince people in power to ensure that money is available for treating, caring and supporting those who need it!

December 1st 2010 World AIDS Day.

What are you doing for World AIDS Day?  How about joining Rotary and then becoming a member of Rotarians For Fighting AIDS.  Only $100 life time mebership go to the RFFA web site for details on what Rotary is doing for the World AIDS pandemic.

Rotarians For Fighting AIDS.

Watch Bono and Austraian Prime Minister Julia Gillard turn Sydney Red

Above Peter Kyle receives The Rotary Foundation Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award at the third plenary session in Montreal on 22 June from RI President John Kenny and Foundation Trustee Chair Glenn E. Estess Sr.

The Rotary Foundation Trustees are very pleased to announce the selection of Rotarian Peter Kyle as the recipient of the 2009-10 Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award. Peter is an international attorney in Washington, DC. He recently retired as lead counsel for the World Bank and is currently still consulting for the bank. He worked on more than 100 international development projects in a wide variety of countries during his career with the bank, advising them on their legal infrastructure to foster a stronger economy. As the district alumni subcommittee chair for District 7620, he made exceptional efforts in connecting Foundation alumni in the area. He also served at the RI representative to the World Bank and has been very active with Outward Bound.

Peter Kyle is originally from New Zealand and below he states why he joined RFFA:

“RFFA is a highly successful Rotarian Action Group and I was delighted to have been invited to serve on their Board. It will give me an opportunity to contribute towards helping the children affected by the scourge of HIV/AIDS while working alongside an extremely competent, committed and collegial group of Rotarians.”

Peter Kyle, spoke recently to the Bethesda Chase Rotary Club about the World Bank and its role in health, water and education. “WB now has 184 member companies and its primary goal is to reduce poverty by promoting sustainable economic development. The goal is to cut poverty in half by 2015. In Africa poverty is rising, getting worse with the energy crisis affecting food supplies. At thirty percent of its budget, a major effort is financing infrastructure projects; roads, bridges, telecommunications. 7% of its budget is involved in health efforts. HIV/AIDS is top priority, as well as fighting malaria, avian flu and developing vaccines. 8% of the WB budget goes to education, where they are especially active in literacy and education of women. About 9% goes towards financing water, sanitation & flood prevention projects. WB always finances programs through governments, but they need more hands-on effort, to see that programs reach those who really need the help. Rotary can be a great partner in this with Rotary clubs and their local-level resources.”

Peter is a member of the Rotary Club of Capitol Hill (Washington, D.C.)

From 400,000 treated to 5 million in 6 years, now is the time to keep up the fight.

Voices from Zimbabwe at AIDS 2010

Posted 23 July 2010, 11:08 A, by Conference Secretariat

By Tears Wenzira and Patience Kunaka

As the XVIII International AIDS Conference draws to a close in Vienna, 28-year-old Tears Wenzira ties a bright red ribbon in the last head of hair she will braid on her first trip outside of her native Zimbabwe. Back home in the Harare suburb of Chitungwiza, a typical day in the salon brings Tears approximately 25 clients; in the past four days, she estimates that she’s placed a symbolic braid with a red ribbon in more than 300 women’s hair.

She’s part of a group of more than 2,000 hair dressers in Zimbabwe who work closely with PSI, as part of a programme, co-funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.K. Department for International Development, to prevent HIV transmission by promoting the use of female condoms to their clients. In 2009 alone, PSI sold more than 2 million female condoms, and more than 50 percent of them were distributed through a network of 1,700 hair salons across the country.  Today, Tears sells 100 female condoms per month, rendering a profit of US $4.00 – enough to buy basic groceries like bread and milk for her husband and three children, three nieces and nephews, three siblings and grandmother she cares for.

Laura Guay, MD, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation vice president of research, talks about the new momentum for eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV and how her foundation’s work benefits maternal and child health.

Official Press Release Day 3 Vienna

Human Rights March Vienna 2010

VIENNA, AUSTRIA (July 20, 2010) — Researchers have achieved an important scientific breakthrough in the fight against HIV and genital herpes with a vaginal gel that significantly reduces a woman’s risk of being infected with these viruses.  The results of the ground-breaking safety and effectiveness study of an antiretroviral microbicide gel study were reported today by the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.

Family Health International (FHI) President of Research Ward Cates Chairs this press conference.  The first 20 minutes are well worth watching.  Some of the questions following give serious food for thought.

RFFA and FHI recently announced our partnership at Montreal.

On 18th July 2010 Annie Lennox attended and spoke at AIDS2010 conference in Vienna. You can now watch Annie’s presentation online, click here to watch now, (starts at 3.23.40 on the player). You can watch the whole sesson if you have 4 hours to spend.  Cheaper than going to Vienna!  However the Annie Lennox segment is very worth while.  Annie has a great message!

Bill Gates – Building on Success: A Roadmap for HIV Prevention

NEWS SUMMARIES CAN BE FOUND HERE INCLUDING VIDEOS

You can follow the proceedings here daily.

day1_aids2010_opening_press_release_18_july_2010

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AIDS 2010 CONFERENCE VIENNA BLOG