AIDS conference roundup
18 August 2006 | AIDS Politics
Thousands of delegates and journalists from across the globe converged in Toronto for the 16th International AIDS Conference this week to once again thrash out solutions to the AIDS pandemic that has the world firmly in its grip.
The news from the conference is exciting in its variety and, as always, the media’s take on it. Barely days after Dr Gabriel Rugulema in a Sapa article had punted good nutrition for HIV-positive people combined with proper antiretroviral treatment, Health Minister Manto “Dr Beetroot” Tshabalala-Msimang unveiled the South African AIDS exhibition stall at the conference. Featuring in the exhibition were two bottles of anti-retroviral treatment, garlic, beetroot, lemon and male and female condoms, according to a Sapa report.
Tshabalala-Msimang did not take kindly to the negative way South African media reported on her stall, Reuters reported:
“People say, ‘Your stall is great.’ I don’t know what they are reporting on at home. We haven’t shocked the world; we have told the truth… nutrition is the theme of the conference … and that is South Africa. We have been persistent in saying we must improve health in our country; it is no good just flooding the country with medicines,” said Tshabalala-Msimang.
Business Day has sent Tamar Khan to report on the conference. For Khan, the new inventive ways to fight the disease through science is topping the HIV/AIDS agenda.
“South African researcher Prof Gita Ramjee said scientists would know by the end of next year whether they had an effective microbicide to add to the world’s armoury. With an effective AIDS vaccine at least a decade away, experts are optimistic that microbicide gels and creams could prove valuable weapons against HIV, especially for women whose male partners refused to wear condoms,” wrote Kahn.
Another interesting aspect of the conference was the light scent of marijuana that wafted through the exhibits. No, this was not some disgruntled HIV/AIDS activists turning to drugs in despair (or perhaps it was). Reuters reported that a group of activists took advantage of Canada’s comparatively pot-friendly policies to make a pitch for the drug as a pain-killer.
“We had some people here from Uganda. One doctor said it’s like crack cocaine, it’s bad, it trouble,” said Sara Lee Irwin, a spokesperson for the center and medical marijuana user, as she cut open a foil 250-gram bag of government-issued cannabis. “The next guy said, ‘It’s not like crack, it’s everywhere; why aren’t we using it?”
The SABC also reported that South Africa has been earmarked as a prime testing ground for HIV. The report said that an American pharmaceutical company has applied to run a trial of its vaccine “which uses the common cold virus to deliver immunity to AIDS”.
It also emerged that HIV/AIDS could threaten the safety and security of the country if the disease is not addressed properly in the police sector. In a Sapa report, Themba Masuku of the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation said “police lifestyle, environment and work-related stress increases risk of HIV infection.”
The media should be commended on its diverse and extensive coverage of the conference. The news might not be all good, but the overall coverage of HIV/AIDS-related issues looks set to become more mainstream. – Akhona Cira.
For more articles on the conference visit:
Aids: World fails its children ‘dismally’'
‘Empower women to fight Aids’What SA’s AIDS data means for the future
Sex workers to be incorporated in Aids programmes
Labour migration contributes to spread of HIV
HIV drugs may help protect women - study
