“Wake Up Pune” say HIV, TB patients

PUNE: The co-infection of HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) has increased the burden on DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short course) and people living with HIV are eagerly waiting for the Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB)- the emerging treatment soon to be available at government hospitals.

This information was shared during an interactive session by ‘Wake Up Pune’ on occasion of ‘World TB Day’ observed on Tuesday. The patients also shared their experiences in their personal fight against the dreaded diseases. “ HIV patients are always at higher risk of getting infected by TB. There is lot of negligence during their treatment like continuing ART, nutrition, caring for self and for the family members. The worst part is that such patients are often discriminated by the health care workers,” said Yuvraj Shinde, Treatment Educator Officer of Network of Maharashtra people with HIV. Emphasising on the lack of awareness at grassroots level, he said public in general always forget that TB is a contagious disease.

From Sakaal Times

Pradipkumar – An icon of inspiration – HIV positive bodybuilder

Khundrakpam Pradipkumar is not an ordinary bodybuilder who won the title of Mr. Manipur but also he is an icon of inspiration. You must have seen and heard about many amazing things that happen daily around the globe. But I haven't come across any such great zeal and achivement. Khundrakpam Pradipkumar who has been declared as HIV positive in 2000, is titled as Mr. Manipur for the 60 Kg Category. Now he is going to compete for the Mr India which is going to be held on March 20 at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He just started bodybuilding as a passion and now he has changed his passion into a great achievement. Khundrakpam Pradipkumar is living in Sagolband Khamnam Leirak, Imphal-West, Manipur, India. There are many reasons why he is important and becomes the icon of inspiration. First of all, it is not an easy task to maintain the homeostatic if someone is HIV positive and also he is doing heavy exercise which need more energy.
khamnam.com

‘Piranha bite’ antibody action discovered in HIV patients

PEOPLE resistant to HIV have antibodies that act together like a shoal of piranhas, each taking a small "bite" to knock the virus down, new research has shown.

The discovery could mark a turning point in the development of vaccines against the Aids virus, which have so far proved ineffective.

Jon Von Radowitz for the Scotsman

The pope in Africa: Sex and Sensibility

Doing harm in places where Catholicism should have a bright future

AFRICANS always give a visiting pope a hearty welcome. Thousands of finely dressed Cameroonians danced and sang at the roadside this week as Pope Benedict XVI arrived on an inaugural African tour that will also take in Angola. The Vatican is keen on the continent, home to around 135m Catholics. Pope Benedict delivered a compassionate message, recognising that Africa suffers disproportionately from food shortages, poverty, financial turmoil and a changing climate. Yet for all the mutual appreciation, he got one matter painfully wrong.

The Economist

AIESEC – a Wake Up Pune supporter

AIESEC volunteers have supported the Wake Up Pune campaign since the early days, providing volunteers for various events including the awareness days at Mariplex and INOX during Global AIDS Week of Action 2008 (pictures below).

Wake Up Pune would like to thank AISEC for their continued support and look forward to their further participation in the weeks and months to follow.

AIDS drives a family to commit suicide in Gujarat

A family of four committed suicide here today. Husband and wife are said to be suffering from AIDS. The couple made two daughters consume poison and it itself also used poison for the mass suicide. The family has been identified as Deepak Hasmukh Panchal (38), Pannaben Panchal (34) and their daughters Divya (13) and Vaishnavi (4).

Police said that it appeared that the couple which was diagnosed as patients of HIV positive was tired of long treatment and in frustration.

2009-03-18 20:03:03/ Gujarat Global News Network, Vadodara

The hidden costs of treatment

Free anti-retroviral therapy at government-run centres has improved things for people living with HIV/AIDS. But there are hidden costs, very few centres, and poor quality of service, which state governments must take note of, says Ranjita Biswas

In 2008, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) announced its decision to provide second-line treatment of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to people with HIV for whom the standard first-line drugs had failed.

InfoChange News & Features, March 2009

PGI turns away HIV positive couple

CHANDIGARH: A day after Vadodara in Gujarat reported the tragic end of an HIV positive family of four that entered into a suicide pact, the shocking news of a couple from Sangrur in Punjab being reportedly denied treatment for the same disease in regions premier health institute emerged on Thursday.

Left speechless at the utter insensitivity of PGI authorities, Sukhpal Singh, 38, and wife Jaspal Kaur, three years younger, have now filed a written complaint with the drop-in centre for people living with HIV and AIDS at State AIDS Control Society in Sector 15, Chandigarh, and medical superintendent of PGI.

Shimona Kanwar, for Times of India.

Firestorm continues over pope’s condom remarks in Africa

Controversy over the pope's comments about condom use continued to swell across Europe and the US. The pontiff said using condoms could aggravate the problem of AIDS in Africa.

The Vatican on Wednesday, March 18, defended Pope Benedict XVI's comments regarding the use of condoms as a means to prevent the spread of AIDS. The move came in the face of a storm of angry criticism from AIDS activists, doctors and politicians.

From Deutsche Welle