News, press releases, statements 2006
13 December 2006 -
Statement on Kenyan and Ugandan trial findings regarding male circumcision and HIV
Statement developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank and the UNAIDS Secretariat
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1 December 2006 -
"Towards Universal Access by 2010: African Experiences"
Five photo stories released on our website.
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1 December 2006 - World AIDS Day message by Dr Anders Nordström, Acting Director-General
The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to grow. Some 40 million people, their families, and their communities, are now living with HIV. Effectively tackling this epidemic remains one of the world's most pressing public health challenges.
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30 November 2006 - Summary statement on WHO recommendations on ARV medicines for treating and preventing HIV infections in younger children
WHO is issuing new recommendations on which ARV formulations are needed for safe and effective treatment of HIV infection in infants and young children.
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21 November 2006 - Global AIDS epidemic continues to grow
New data also show HIV prevention programmes getting better results if focused on reaching people most at risk and adapted to changing national epidemics
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1 November 2006 - International health conference opens with XDR-TB funding call
US $95 million needed to combat XDR-TB in 2007
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17 October 2006 - Global Task Force outlines measures to combat XDR-TB
Health experts have confirmed that the emergence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) poses a serious threat to public health, particularly when associated with HIV.
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2 October 2006 - The Bulletin talks with Dr Kevin De Cock, Director of HIV/AIDS, WHO
The WHO Bulletin, an international journal of public health publishes an interview with Dr De Cock "D for diagnosis and E for everything else", in its October issue.
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19 September 2006 - WHO welcomes launch of UNITAID
The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the official launch of UNITAID, the International Drug Purchase Facility being established by Brazil, France, Chile, Norway and the United Kingdom. UNITAID is being established as an innovative funding mechanism to accelerate access to high-quality drugs and diagnostics for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in countries with a high burden of disease.
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18 August 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference closing remarks by WHO Acting Director-General
Medicines, money and motivated health workers are key to universal access by 2010, says WHO Acting Director-General Anders Nordström, at the closing of the Toronto 2006.
Read more ¦ Full speech
17 August 2006 - Male circumcision update: ongoing clinical trials are key to validating the link between male circumcision and protection and against HIV infection
As trials continue, UN agencies work to ensure that current male circumcision practices are safe
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16 August 2006 - HIV treatment access reaches over 1 million in sub-Saharan Africa, WHO reports
In low- and middle-income countries, just over 1.6 million persons were receiving antiretroviral therapy at the end of June 2006. In his plenary remarks today, WHO HIV/AIDS Director Dr Kevin De Cock outlines progress and obstacles to achieving universal access to AIDS treatment.
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16 August 2006- WHO: intensified action needed to halt a quarter of a million TB/HIV deaths a year of people living with AIDS
Joint TB And HIV interventions can save lives and must be accelerated" says International AIDS Society President
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15 August 2006: WHO launches new plan to confront HIV-related health worker shortages
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization and the International Organization for Migration, today announced the launch of a coordinated global plan to address a major and often overlooked barrier to preventing and treating HIV/AIDS: the severe shortage of health workers, particularly in developing nations.
Read more ¦ "Taking stock: health worker shortage and the response to AIDS" (in English) ¦ "Taking stock: health worker shortage and the response to AIDS" (in French)
14 August 2006 - WHO HIV/AIDS Director Kevin De Cock featured in "Newsmaker Interviews" at the Toronto Conference
Dr De Cock talks about the global efforts to stem the spread of HIV and improve access to antiretroviral therapy in an online interview with Kaiser Network's Jackie Judd.
Watch webcast
14 August 2006 - WHO and UNAIDS Secretariat statement on HIV testing and counseling
HIV testing and counselling serve as a key entry point for HIV treatment, prevention, care and support services. However, access to these services is currently being hindered by low uptake of HIV testing. WHO and UNAIDS Secretariat release a renewed statement on the issue at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada.
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7 August 2006 - Media advisory: WHO at the XVI International AIDS Conference, 13-18 August 2006
The media advisory contains information on key events on policy and scientific iffues where WHO top officials will be present.
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17 July 2006 - G8 commitments to infectious disease can improve global health security
Today, the Group of Eight vowed to improve the ways in which the world cooperates on surveillance for infectious diseases, including improving transparency by all countries in sharing information. The G8 also committed to continued support to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and to eradication of polio.
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4 July 2006 - Health leaders welcome infectious disease focus at G8
The WHO, UNAIDS, GFATM and GAVI urge the G8 leaders to continue their commitments to improving the health and lives of people in the world's poorest countries in a joint statement preceding the G8 Summit to take place in 15-17 July, St. Petersburg, Russia.
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6 June 2006 - External Evaluation on "3 by 5"
The main report of the independent formative evaluation team on WHO's contribution to "3 by 5" has been released.
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30 May 2006 - Important progress seen in tackling AIDS, but epidemic continues to outpace response, says new comprehensive global AIDS update
The 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic is being launched today at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS.
Full information ¦
UN High-Level Meeting on AIDS
22 May 2006 - World Health Assembly begins; HIV/AIDS on the agenda
Health decision-makers are convening at the Fifty-Ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva from 22-27 May. There will be several discussions on HIV including on WHO's contribution to the universal access movement, HIV and nutrition, a draft global strategy on STIs, and implementation by WHO of the Global Task Team recommendations to improve HIV coordination in countries.
Webpage for 59th World Health Assembly
16 May 2006 - Call for proposals on surveillance of antiretroviral treatment
The WHO Department for Measurement and Health Information Systems (MHI) is accepting project proposals on surveillance in the era of HIV treatment. The call is open until 30 August 2006. For more information, write to callejaj@who.int.
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11 May 2006 - "Treat, Train, Retrain" consultations focus on "chronic shortage" of human resources for AIDS scale-up
WHO, IOM and ILO hold a joint consultation on AIDS and Human Resources for Health to discuss treatment access for health workers, as well as necessary training and enabling work environment needed to retain the vital health workforce in resource-poor countries.
WHO Director-General's opening remarks
3 May 2006 - WHO calls for "special approach" to address needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria
The burden of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria remains "unacceptably high" in sub-Saharan Africa and a "special approach" is now needed to address the specific needs and challenges of children affected by the three diseases.
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28 April 2006 - Global Fund Board Launches Sixth Grant Round
The Board of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria decided today to call for a new round of grant proposals from countries striving to combat AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Link to Global Fund release
24-25 April 2006 - HIV/AIDS Stakeholders Consultation on WHO‘s Contribution to Scaling Up Towards Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Care
The meeting on WHO‘s Contribution to Scaling Up Towards Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Care was attended by some 31 Member States, 22 civil society organizations, of which 8 represented developing countries, 14 donor governments and some 30 WHO staff. The meeting was intended to gather the department's stakeholders, collect their thoughts and critique for the HIV Department "Universal Access" Plan, which is being currently developed and to provide a forum to listen and establish partnerships.
Agenda of the meeting
21 April 2006 - WHO Director-General's speech at the international drug purchase facility meeting
"This proposed facility is an important step forward in securing predictable and sustainable supplies of drugs and diagnostics. These are critical elements in scaling up HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programmes. The drugs people use must be safe, affordable and available. Medicines are not everything, but without them, little can be done."
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11 April 2006 - Launch of 2006 as “Year of Acceleration of HIV Prevention in the African Region”
Press briefings were held at the African Union and countries for the launch, with the participation of heads of governments and representatives of civil society, national and international organizations.
Media advisory ¦ Fact sheets
29 March 2006
New HIV/AIDS Director of WHO
Full story
28 March 2006
Global Access to HIV Therapy Tripled in Past Two Years, But Significant Challenges Remain
Full story ¦ Report
28 March 2006
Senegal Triples Number of People on HIV Treatment
Full story
25 January 2006
New HIV data show growing AIDS epidemic in China
Full story