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FESTIVAL NEWS
Developments in HIV/AIDS
If you've watched I Promise Africa and iThemba then you are keenly aware of the severity of the AIDS epidemic in Africa and the need for solutions. If you are trying to make sense of how we have reached the current global AIDS crisis, you may find this resource helpful: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic: A Timeline of Key Milestones. Produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation the interactive timeline provides a succinct overview of important events and developments. Part of the problem in meeting the needs of HIV positive inidividuals in Africa is limited access to antiretroviral drugs. Another issue is that some drugs that are made available may have adverse affects on patients. In the news this week is the drug nevirapine, which is used to help prevent the mother to-child transmission of HIV. The problem is that this drug may have severe health implications for the mother a few years down the line, including kidney failure. As an article on allAfrica.com explains, "The African National Congress accused the AIDS lobby group Treatment Action Campaign of fronting for drug companies and of being indifferent to the lives of Ugandans who were involved in a study of nevirapine." Now is a key time to take action for drug access and reform: Send a letter to the President demanding that funds be sent to Africa through Keep a Child Alive. Get the facts through Artists Against AIDS Worldwide. Join the DATA (Debt AIDS Trade Africa) action network. Endorse equal access to HIV/AIDS medication through Health GAP. Lend your voice to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. Show your support for the AIDSVote platform.Published on December 20, 2004
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