OF NOTE THIS WEEK
The World Bank issued a press release on Monday announcing the launch of a new regional report on HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), produced in collaboration with UNAIDS and WHO. The report is the first to take a complete look at the evidence on the spread of HIV in a region where knowledge on the epidemic has been very limited and subject to much controversy. "We are no longer in the dark in terms of HIV spread in MENA", Dr. Abu-Reddad, lead author of the report, said. He continued, "After nearly seven years of research, we have at last a comprehensive view of the status of the epidemic in this region and of the populations and countries most affected by this disease". The report identifies Djibouti, Somalia and Southern Sudan as the "sub-region with considerable prevalence", whereas prevalence in the rest of the MENA countries was considered "very limited", IRIN reports. The full report is available here.
NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DONORS
- PEPFAR partners with medical technology company, BD, to improve blood-drawing practices in clinics and hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa
- The World Bank releases a new regional report on HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa
- UNDP and UNAIDS launched the Global Commission on HIV and the Law
OTHER NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
- The Long Emergency (Foreign Policy)
- UGANDA: Finally ready for male circumcision (PlusNews)
- Mozambique: HIV Voluntary Testing in Military Units (All Africa)
- Knowledge of HIV Low in Zambia (TopNews)
- World Bank Approves US$100 Million Credit for Kenya's Health Sector (ReliefWeb)
- Federal AIDS Drug Program is strained by Weak Economy (The New York Times)
- UGANDA: Challenging culture in HIV campaigns (PlusNews)
RECENT CGD HEALTH POLICY BLOGS
- Mixed Reactions to Senate Hearing on Neglected Diseases By Steve Rosenzweig
- G-8 and G-20 (Non) Pledges for Global Health: New Money, Old Ideas? By Nandini Oomman
HIV/AIDS MONITOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICY IMPACT
- The HIV/AIDS Monitor has been tracking the policy changes among PEPFAR, the Global Fund and the World Bank MAP related to the recommendations that have come out of our research. Explore these changes using our interactive flash tool.