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Poverty-stricken children in Africa have inspired a young Auckland woman to do all she can to give them a greater chance in life. Mary Duncan, 20, has been working hard to help youngsters in Arusha, Tanzania, after spending time with them as a volunteer two years ago. Miss Duncan, who grew up in Howick, decided Read more
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There’s a term biologists and economists use these days — ecosystem services — which refers to the many ways nature supports the human endeavor. Forests filter the water we drink, for example, and birds and bees pollinate crops, both of which have substantial economic as well as biological value. If we fail to understand and Read more
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The Vatican secretary of state called for free universal access to AIDS drugs and AIDS therapy, and insisted it begin by giving the drugs to HIV-positive pregnant women. “We cannot continue to tolerate the deaths of so many mothers; we cannot but think of thousands of babies as a lost generation,” said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Read more
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Traditional herbal therapy organisations and practitioners in the Pacific have been told to stop misleading people living with HIV (PLHIV). The call was made by the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation in a statement. “PIAF’s call relates to certain traditional herbal therapy organisations and religious organisations in the region that have claimed that their herbal products Read more
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A self assessment of transmission risks in Fiji has revealed that a number of people, including health workers, believe prayer a cure for HIV infection. Of the respondents who voiced opinions on the matter, most expressed belief that most other Fijians believe in the efficacy of religious faith, herbal medicines, laying on of hands, Christian prayer Read more
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The European Parliament, the European Union’s representative body, has passed a resolution urging the use of abortion and contraception to stop the spread of AIDS, while making no mention of abstinence education.
The document, coded “B7-0615/2011,” which was passed December 1, addresses the European Union’s “response to HIV/AIDS in the EU and in neighboring countries,” and lists a number of measures to combat the deadly disease.
According to the document, the European Parliament “calls on the Commission and Council to ensure access to high-quality, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, information and supplies,” which should include “equitable and affordable access to contraceptives, including access to emergency contraception; safe and legal abortion, including post-abortion care.”
The document does not mention abstinence or abstinence education, which medical experts say is the most effective way to prevent HIV transmission.
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To coincide with World AIDS Day, the Vatican has appealed for universal access to HIV/AIDS treatments. The statement from the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers says says World AIDS Day is a privileged moment to relaunch the fight against social prejudice and that World AIDS Day is a new opportunity to promote universal access to therapies for Read more
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Sister Miriam Duggan, from Limerick, a Franciscan Missionary of the Sisters for Africa, was awarded for her dedication to people with AIDS/HIV and commitment in fighting the pandemic in Africa.
Duggan graduated in medicine at the University College in Cork. The missionary specialized in obstetrics and gynecology in Birmingham in 1969, and continued to work for 30 years in Uganda as chief medical officer of St Francis’ Hospital, Nsambya, in Kampala.
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Africa’s future focused Pope Benedict’s attention on his second trip to the continent. In his final homily the Pope told some 50,000 packed into a stadium at Contonou and another 30,000 watching on giant screens from outside that corruption is not acceptable, AIDS is mainly an ethical problem and to seek reconciliation in the face of Read more
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Sister Luzia Wetzel, the coordinator of the Zambia’a youth Alive HIV/Aids prevention programme, said, “Condoms are not the solution to Aids.” Sister Wetzel has had 40 years experience working in Africa and believes that rather than emphasizing the use of condoms, behaviour change is the key to tackling the problem. The Youth Alive programme, which has Read more
