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- West Bank/Gaza, 06/05: Kafa Kids Get a New School
[pdf, English
/ Arabic]
- Egypt, 05/05: First Lady Laura Bush Meets Egypt's
Alam Simsim Muppets [html]
- West Bank/Gaza, 05/05: USAID Invests $6 Million
in Job Creation [pdf, English
/ Arabic]
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December 1, 2003: World AIDS Day
USAID Fights the Spread of HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Near
East
Five people worldwide die of AIDS every minute of every day.
In Asia and the Near East, 7.1 million people are HIV positive.
Four hundred and fifty-seven thousand people in the region
die annually from HIV/AIDS-related illnesses, accounting for
about one-sixth of deaths worldwide.
While the numbers of those infected may seem low compared
to Africa, they have the potential to explode. The huge populations
in Asia hide the fact that epidemics are expanding rapidly
in Burma, China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Together these
countries have almost 80 percent of the HIV infections in
Asia and the Near East. By 2010, Asia could lead the world
with up to 40 million HIV-infected people.
December 1st is World AIDS Day. This year's focus is on
"Live and Let Live" to eliminate discrimination
and stigma, which are major obstacles to prevention and care.
Discrimination and stigmatization have led to fear and ignorance
about HIV/AIDS and a reluctance to address the rising rate
of infections.
In Asia and the Near East, USAID is working in eight countries
to fight HIV/AIDS. In addition, USAID's regional program in
Asia targets the Mekong border countries, including Thailand,
Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and to a lesser extent, Burma and
China.
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USAID Targets At-Risk Populations
in Bangladesh
While Bangladesh has a low rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence,
it is on the brink of an epidemic. Without major changes
in behavior and an increase in knowledge about HIV/AIDS,
the illness could spread rapidly among at-risk populations,
and soon affect the general population. [read
more] |
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USAID Combats Discrimination
in Nepal
In 1988, the first case of HIV was reported in Nepal.
In less than 15 years, nearly 60,000 people have become
infected. If current trends continue, there will be an
epidemic among the general public. [read
more] |
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USAID Targets At-Risk Populations
in India
India has the second largest number of people living with
HIV/AIDS in Asia (over four million people). While it
still mostly affects people with occupations or lifestyles
that put them at risk, like commercial sex workers, injecting
drug users and truck drivers, in some areas, the infection
is moving into the general population. [read
more] |
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AIDS Hotline Reaches Youth in Jordan
In Jordan, social pressures, stigma and discrimination
make fighting HIV/AIDS difficult. While the total number
of reported cases is low, that number may be deceiving.
[read more]
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USAID
HIV/AIDS Strategy: Stepping Up the War on HIV/AIDS