AIDS: reason for hope but calls do not drop our guard

Written by Sandeep Nehra

If new infections by the AIDS virus worldwide have fallen by a fifth in ten years, politicians and health officials warned on Wednesday, a day of global fight against disease, against a decrease in vigilance.

Representatives of large organizations, gathered at the Hotel Marigny in Paris on the initiative of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy also stressed the “hopes”, particularly in the fight against HIV transmission from mother to child intra-utero, a “major issue”. They presented on this occasion a “pack” treatment to be distributed to pregnant women in four African countries from July.

According to UNICEF, in fact, each day worldwide “1,000 infants contract HIV in utero, during childbirth or during breastfeeding and at least half of these babies die before age two “.

“Contrary to what we hear, the AIDS epidemic continues. There are 7,000 new infections per year (in France), and suggests our compatriots, especially the younger ones, it’s over c is a behavior irresponsible, “warned Nicolas Sarkozy, during a panel discussion on medical Orbec (Calvados).

“The general feeling that AIDS can be treated has led to a form of normalization of the disease, causing relaxation behavior,” said former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, President of the party “Republic of solidarity”, which called to “strengthen our vigilance.”

“It depends on us one day there is zero infected child”, launched the first lady of France.

The organization Act-Up Paris had declined the invitation of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, arguing that this responsibility was within the government and denounced in particular “precarious poz in France”, the “prison health disaster” and “threats undocumented patients, “the” financial promises unkept to ensure universal access to treatment.”

In a video aired Wednesday on the site of his foundation, former President Jacques Chirac said “urgent need for effective prevention initiatives and non-discriminatory” against AIDS.

“If access to treatment remains a priority, we must deliver now, with Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS executive director, a revolution in prevention,” said the former head of state, whose foundation A particular aim was to “fight against counterfeit drugs.”

Marie-George Buffet, MP and former leader of the PCF has estimated that his side “should take a further step against AIDS and called for” the government additional ways to score decisive points against the disease “:” doubly the participation of France to the Global Fund, “” means the systematic screening “,” development of prevention in pregnant prison.

The Left Party has denounced in this context “the law Bachelot, the health card and its pricing to the act that puts the financial viability before the right to health” in access to care. “People living with HIV are the leading victims of cons-reform of the health system implemented by the UMP.

Martine Aubry, the Socialist Party First Secretary and Mayor of Lille, has hailed his side the words of Benedict XVI admitting the use of condoms to reduce the risk of contamination, seeing a “small step” but a “powerful symbol”.

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