Dec 1, Dec 2: International AIDS Day, news and events

UNAIDS Global report 2010 | AIDS SCORECARDS
You can read Regional Reports here - note that South Africa has achieved almost 90% reduction in Mother/Child transmission - but stats are rising in Eastern Europe and East Asia.

AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1. It was first observed in 1988 after a summit of health ministers from around the world called for a spirit of social tolerance and a greater exchange of information on HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day serves to strengthen the global effort to face the challenges of the AIDS pandemic.

Buddies in Bad Times launched a campaign last night, AidsActionNow,org
You can watch their campaign video calling for the end of the Harper government's denial of the right to health for people living with and affected by HIV and Hepatitis C.

* In Vancouverʼs downtown eastside, the prevalence of Hepatitis C is 70%. HIV prevalence is 30%
* In Toronto, 23% of gay and bisexual men are HIV-positive.
* Aboriginal people make up 3.8% of the overall population, but 12.5% of new HIV infections.
* In Canadian prisons, Hepatitis C rates are 45 times greater than the general population, and HIV rates are 22 times greater.

Despite these alarming facts, the Harper government continues to oppose harm reduction programs that are proven to reduce HIV and Hepatitis C infections. Instead, funding has been increased for military and security costs which cost Canadian taxpayers 632 times the annual national AIDS plan.

CAMPUS EVENT:
Thursday, December 2 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location OISE, room 2212
252 Bloor St. West Toronto, ON
Oxfam University of Toronto

Industrialized countries have the ability to produce generic drugs to address the severity of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the developing world. Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) was designed for this exact task however it is seriously flawed and recent reform efforts have been unsuccessful in parliament. We have the ability to produce the necessary medicine, so why aren't we delivering? Join us for a compelling discussion combining perspectives from policy, government and NGO backgrounds.

- Richard Elliott: the Executive Director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
- Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik: Founder of the Bracelet of Hope campaign
- Aria Ahmad: President of the U of T chapter of UAEM (Universities Allied for Essential Medicines)
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Doctors without Borders
HIV/AIDS treatment in developing countries is being dealt a double blow that will mean treatment recommendations cannot be implemented and the promise of new science remain unfulfilled.