The INFO Project Blog

So I first must apologize for the lack of actual photos in this first blog piece.  You see, there were strict security requirements to enter the opening ceremony.  The opening ceremony was in a separate spot from the convention in order to accommodate the 25,000 delegates.  All of my bags had to be left at the convention center.  All buses returned to the hotels after the opening and thus my bags are still at the convention center with pictures from today’s sessions.  I also didn’t get any pictures of the amazing opening, due to the fact they lead us to believe we weren’t able to carry anything in.

I think I’ll describe the opening since it’s fresh in my mind and then move on to the two integration sessions I attended.  After several entertaining pieces by the Ballet Folklorico, the speakers began.  One of the notable speakers included Peter Piot, Executive Director of of UNAIDS, who told delegates to “get up, stand up, don’t give up your fight.” In line with Mr. Marley, Dr. Piot told delegates to never give up their fight against HIV/AIDS.  Dr. Margaret Chan, Secretary General of the World Health Organization,  Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations and Mexican President Felipe Calderon all stressed the need to combat stigma, homophobia, and discrimination to fight HIV/AIDS  and to ensure that vulnerable populations including sex workers, men who have sex with men and IDUs are targeted in prevention efforts and receive necessary services. President Calderon also announced that he would allow other countries to introduce anti-retroviral medications into Mexico, drastically lowering the price of such drugs.  His commitment received much applause.

The theme ”Universal Action Now/Acción Universal !Ya!” was also echoed by all of the speakers, including Mony Pen, a Cambodian activist, the former President of Botswana Mr. Festus Mogae and the 12 year old Honduran activist who received a standing ovation, Keren-Dunway Gonzalez.  Citizens and civil society must pressure their governments to take greater action to ensure that all people have access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services. Read the rest of this entry »

From guest blogger Vanessa Mitchell, a Program Specialist with the INFO Project, and a Program Officer with CCP/Côte d’Ivoire:

On July 17, 2008 in Abidjan, a mini-film called Porteuses de Vie, premiered in front of groups in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as the media. The 26 minute film on the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) was created by Alexis Don Zigre with support  from the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP).

Through this communication tool, JHU/CCP explores the issue of HIV positive women seeking to have children. The film is targeted primarily towards health centers and NGOs in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and is complemented by a user guide. The user guide covers five main areas that are targeted toward women, their partners, and their families: communication in a relationship, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), the role of service providers, the role of PLWHA support groups, and PMTCT. Read the rest of this entry »

Okay,  so for thos those of that don’t speak Spanish -  Prepárese means get ready! The XVII International AIDS Conference, will take place August 3-8, 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico.  The conference brings together scientists, researchers, clinicians and people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS to discover the latests research and programming and share best practices.  The theme of this years conference is Universal Action Now, and emphasizes the need for all stakeholders to respond to the HIV/epidemic.

I have the privilege of attending the conference on behalf of INFO in order to attend HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health integration related sessions and promote the Resources for HIV/AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Web site.  I will blog about all the sessions that I attend as well as send daily updates through the Family Planning and Integration Community of the IBP Knowledge Gateway  so stay tuned!

The official press release for the conference can be found here: Press release.

Here at the INFO Project, we usually post stories about male circumcision and HIV prevention on the Resources for HIV/AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration site.  Recently, our colleagues at Plus News  submitted a video for inclusion on the site. The video, which can be accessed by clicking on the image below, discusses the new mobile circumcision pilot  program that Marie Stopes International has begun in the Nyanza province of Kenya.

Plus News filmed this short clip while visiting the mobile clinic. Kenya is getting ready to roll out a national male circumcision program following 2006 studies which showed that male circumcision may be one factor that may decrease a man’s risk of HIV infection.

Recently I was introduced to a fabulous new tool designed to combat HIV/AIDS related stigma.  “Pos-or-not” sponsored by MTV Networks is a game of sorts that allows user to decide if a man or woman is HIV+ based solely upon his or her looks and a brief description of their personality.  The site was designed to show individuals that there is no way an someone can tell if an inidividual is HIV positive or not based upon their looks.  The site was based upon the “Hot or Not” site, where users decide if a picture of someone presented is hot or “not” (hot).