What We’re Reading: 2012 in HIV/AIDS, Brazil Tracking HIV Cases, and Eric Goosby on the End of AIDS
Posted by
Jane Coaston
Washington, D.C.
December 28, 2012
This week, we’re learning more about how 2012 was the year of an “AIDS-free generation,” thinking about the Brazilian government’s decision to begin tracking HIV infections, reading about Jamaica’s efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission, and finding out more about U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Eric Goosby.
Voice of America – “Looking Ahead to AIDS-Free Generation” 2012 marked both the return of the International AIDS Conference to the United States and the launch of the U.S. government’s “Blueprint” for an AIDS-free generation. In this article, reporter Joe DeCapua discusses these and other successes in the battle against HIV/AIDS in 2012, and what the future holds for research into HIV treatment and vaccines and political efforts to end the pandemic.
Boston.com – “Brazil to begin tracking numbers of HIV cases” Brazil offers free treatment to people living with HIV, but until now, the government only kept track of people who had developed full-blown AIDS. This week, health officials in Brasilia announced that doctors will now be required to notify the government of all cases of HIV. The government hopes that this will promote earlier treatment and save lives.
Jamaica Observer – “Jamaica wants to eliminate mother to child HIV transmission by 2015” The Jamaican government has announced the creation of the National Paediatric AIDS Elimination Initiative, which will focus on eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Since 2002, Jamaica has reduced mother-to-child transmission of HIV from 25 percent to less than 5 percent.
Global Post – “Q&A with Eric Goosby, US Global AIDS Coordinator” Eric Goosby has been the coordinator of the U.S. government’s response to HIV/AIDS since June of 2009. In this interview, he talks about where we are in the battle against AIDS, what impact the new PEPFAR Blueprint will have worldwide, what Americans can learn from Africa’s fight against HIV/AIDS, and how close we are to an AIDS-free generation.
Jane Coaston is Media Relations Coordinator for the Foundation, based in Washington, D.C.