PUNE: A matrimonial meet for HIV+ men and women, Melava+, will be held on August 1 and has been organised by Wake Up Pune, a group of non-governmental organisations and people working towards spreading awareness about HIV and AIDS.

Times Of India

HIV prevalence in India and South Asia is growing among sex workers and other high risk groups due to widespread failure to prevent stigmatising of people living with AIDS, according to a new report.

Despite prevention and other efforts to reduce high-risk behaviours such as unprotected sex, buying and selling of sex, and injecting drug use, HIV vulnerability and risk remain high, says the report by a team from the International Centre for Research on Women and the World Bank.

Times Of India

A vaginal gel has significantly cut the rate of women contracting HIV from infected partners in an experiment in South Africa, researchers said.

They said the gel, containing Aids drug tenofovir, cut infection rates among 889 women by 50% after one year of use, and by 39% after two and a half years.

BBC NEWS

An estimated 20,000 participants from over 185 countries are taking part in the 18th International AIDS Conference that began in Vienna Sunday. The conference is a platform for those working in the field of HIV/AIDS as well as policy makers and persons living with HIV to exchange their views on the current situation of HIV prevention and treatment, new research in the field and recent scientific developments.

The Hindu

New UNAIDS report shows that young people are leading the prevention revolution, with 15 of the most severely affected countries reporting a 25% drop in HIV prevalence among this key population. New global opinion poll shows that AIDS continues to be of major importance for the public around the world.

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

After years of disappointment, researchers have finally found a potential basis for an HIV vaccine.  Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases  say they have discovered three human antibodies that neutralize more than 90 percent of the current circulating HIV-1 strains.

CNN

Highlights

Issue 4 of the Wake Up Pune newsletter 'Postive Connections' is now available.
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Network of Maharashtra People with HIV (NMP+) lanches new website - nmpplus.net. NMP+ is an organisation formed by people with HIV to improve conditions for positive people in Maharashtra.

Wake Up Pune in the news! National coverage in Indian Express...
News Story

Get a condom ringtone on your mobile phone! This has to be heard to be believed - spread awareness with this fantastic musical ringtone.
condomcondom.org

Read Wake Up Pune volunteer Karen McReady's reports from the International AIDS Conference, Mexico.
Reports

'HIV POSITIVE' T-shirt Campaign - new initiative from Wake Up Pune
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HIV Bootcamps - free interactive HIV training sessions for young Puneites
Details

Wake Up Pune given award by UNAIDS
News Story

'HIV Knowledge & Awareness Quiz' conducted on World AIDS Day
Report