Global Tuberculosis Report 2015

 









The World Health Organization has just published the Global Tuberculosis Report 2015. You can read the full report here

Treat all people living with HIV, offer antiretrovirals as additional prevention choice for people at "substantial" risk

New policies could help avert more than 21 million deaths and 28 million new infections by 2030

News release

30 SEPTEMBER 2015 ¦ GENEVA - Anyone infected with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon after diagnosis as possible, WHO announced Wednesday. With its "treat-all" recommendation, WHO removes all limitations on eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV; all populations and age groups are now eligible for treatment.
The expanded use of antiretroviral treatment is supported by recent findings from clinical trials confirming that early use of ART keeps people living with HIV alive, healthier and reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to partners.

WHO/A. Fitrianto

WHO now also recommends that people at "substantial" risk of HIV should be offered preventive antiretroviral treatment. This new recommendation builds on 2014 WHO guidance to offer a combination of antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV acquisition, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), for men who have sex with men. Following further evidence of the effectiveness and acceptability of PrEP, WHO has now broadened this recommendation to support the offer of PrEP to other population groups at significant HIV risk. PrEP should be seen as an additional prevention choice based on a comprehensive package of services, including HIV testing, counselling and support, and access to condoms and safe injection equipment.
New recommendations on early use of ART and expanded offer of PrEP are contained in WHO’s "Guideline on when to start antiretroviral therapy and on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV.” The new guideline stresses that, in order to effectively implement the recommendations, countries will need to ensure that testing and treatment for HIV infection are readily available and that those undergoing treatment are supported to adhere to recommended regimens and are retained in care.
The recommendations were developed as part of a comprehensive update of the "WHO consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for preventing and treating HIV infection". This early release guideline is shared ahead of the full publication, slated for release later this year, because of their potential for public health impact.
Based on the new recommendations, the number of people eligible for antiretroviral treatment increases from 28 million to all 37 million people who currently live with HIV globally. Expanding access to treatment is at the heart of a new set of targets for 2020 with the aim to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. These targets include 90% of people living with HIV being aware of their HIV infection, 90% of those receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 90% of people on ART having no detectable virus in their blood.
According to UNAIDS estimates, expanding ART to all people living with HIV and expanding prevention choices can help avert 21 million AIDS-related deaths and 28 million new infections by 2030. 

Source:WHO Website

Sustainable Development Goals

On the 25 of September, 2015 The 193-Member United Nations General Assembly today formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of bold new Global Goals, which Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed as a universal, integrated and transformative vision for a better world. The Goals are displayed

For more information visit the UN website here

Grant opportunities from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is inviting applications that address specific challenges defined in the grant programs below. For details and application instructions, please visit the new Grand Challenges website

Electrocardiography (ECG) Rhythm Interpretation

Dr. Tuzo Lyuu from Muhimbili National Hospital has been giving a series of lectures on ECG to PASADA Clinicians for the past three months. To get the notes for future reference please click here

Malaria death rates have plunged by 60% since 2000

The World Health Organization (WHO) this month, published a report which shows that since 2000 the Malaria Death Rates have plunged by 60%.

The report summarizes the remarkable progress seen, on a global and regional level, in reversing malaria mortality and incidence since 2000. It introduces malaria and the strategies used to fight the disease, outlines progress according to each of the MDG indicators, and highlights the main challenges that remain in controlling and eliminating this disease.

To learn more click here

Training in laboratory quality management and the WHO LQSI tool

Post-graduate training for medical laboratory professionals

This post-graduate training module was developed by KIT Biomedical Research for the World Health Organization especially for medical laboratory professionals (KIT Biomedical Research is designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening). During this course you’ll gain the theoretical background and the practical expertise required to efficiently implement a quality management system that complies with the requirements of the ISO 15189 international quality standard for medical/public health laboratories.For more information follow this link

Levels and Trends in Childhood Malnutrition

The World Health Organization has just published a Report on Levels and Trends of Childhood Malnutrition of the world. You can read it here

Tanzania National Key Population Comprehensive Guidelines

The National AIDS Control Program has just released the Tanzania National Key Population Comprehensive Guidelines you can get the document by clicking here

JIAS special issue: "HIV and adolescents: focus on young key populations"

Dear colleagues, CIPHER is pleased to announce the publication of the JIAS special issue “HIV and adolescents: focus on young key populations”, co-edited by guest editors Linda-Gail Bekker and Sybil Hosek. This supplement highlights the HIV-specific issues and challenges encountered by young people, particularly those identified as being a part of a key population. While a decrease in new HIV infections and deaths have been observed in other age groups, these continue to increase dramatically in adolescents, making them a group urgently in need of focus in the overall global fight against HIV. Young key populations (YKPs), including young men who have sex with men, transgender youth, young people who sell sex, those who inject drugs, young women as well as various combinations of these, have been identified as bearing a disproportionate burden of HIV. In addition, YKPs encounter high levels of stigma and discrimination, posing additional barriers for getting tested for HIV, accessing services and adhering to treatment. The articles in this supplement aim to identify the current gaps in understanding of the HIV-related issues faced by YKPs while calling for innovative and comprehensive approaches to linking them to the HIV prevention and treatment cascades. This special issue covers topics related to tailoring combination prevention packages to the needs of YKPs, facilitating access to HIV testing and health services, enabling adherence to treatment, addressing and providing support for the specific mental health needs of YKPs while also addressing the legal and policy frameworks that directly impact on their health.   To access the special issue, please click on the following link: http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/issue/view/1472 Please, feel free to distribute this within your network and we hope you enjoy this special issue! Marissa Vicari Marissa Vicari Manager, CIPHER International AIDS Society Avenue de France 23  |  CH-1202 Geneva  |  Switzerland Tel: +41 22 7100 828  |  Fax: +41 22 7100 899 marissa.vicari@iasociety.org | www.iasociety.org | IAS on Facebook | IAS on LinkedIn | Twitter: @iasociety