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Monday, February 2, 2004

GLOBAL CHALLENGES
========================================
1. Global Fund Suspends Funding to HIV/AIDS Programs in Ukraine,
Citing Poor Management, Other Concerns

2. Nearly Half of Patients in South African Public Hospitals
HIV-Positive, 'Secret' Report Says

3. South African Archbishop Lobbies U.S. Officials for Help
Combating HIV/AIDS

ACROSS THE NATION
========================================
4. Cirque du Soleil Offers To Rehire HIV-Positive Gymnast Fired
Because of Perceived Threat to Others

5. AIDS Advocates Stage Protest Following Death of HIV-Positive
Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Biting Prison Guard

PUBLIC HEALTH & EDUCATION
========================================
6. Viacom, Kaiser Family Foundation Launch Second Year of KNOW
HIV/AIDS Campaign With Super Bowl Ad

OPINION
========================================
7. Washington Post Editorial Gave President Bush's Emergency
AIDS Plan Unmerited Credit, Letter to Editor Says

****************************************

GLOBAL CHALLENGES

1. Global Fund Suspends Funding to HIV/AIDS Programs in Ukraine,
Citing Poor Management, Other Concerns

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1765.Cby.D.D.Lv5wWw

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on
Friday announced that it has suspended approximately $6.7
million in payments on grants to three Ukrainian HIV/AIDS
organizations because of concerns that they are poorly managed
and behind schedule in meeting their goals, the Washington Post
reports. The Global Fund has approved a total of $25 million in
two-year grants for Ukrainian programs. The three primary
recipients -- for which grants were suspended -- include a
Ukraine health ministry program to increase the number of people
on antiretroviral therapy from fewer than 60 people to about
4,000 people over two years; a public education program on AIDS
prevention organized by the Ukrainian Fund to Fight HIV
Infection and AIDS; and prevention programs for injection drug
users, prostitutes, soldiers and other high-risk groups run by
several small organizations under the management of the United
Nations Development Programme. So far, the Global Fund has
disbursed $7.5 million, but the programs have spent only about
$740,000, according to Global Fund spokesperson Jon Liden
(Brown, Washington Post, 1/31).

Analysis Shows Problems

Over the past three weeks, the Global Fund's secretariat has
carried out a comprehensive analysis of the programs' operations
and determined that "Ukraine is significantly behind in its
objectives on containing AIDS and providing medical assistance
for people who live with the virus," according to a Global Fund
statement (Interfax-Ukraine, 1/31). "We do not believe the
programs can be successful if we stay with the current
structure," Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem said,
adding, "Yet we do not wish to stop Global Fund funds from
flowing. ... The issue, therefore, is to secure operations in
the short term to ensure that in the medium term, we are able to
get the program back on track" (Global Fund release, 1/30). The
Global Fund plans to ask a "reliable organization" to assume
control over the AIDS programs for "several months," the
Ukranian News reports (Ukrainian News, 1/31). In addition, the
fund plans to bring in outside experts to reorganize local
management of the programs, according to the Post (Washington
Post, 1/31). The programs are expected to be turned over to the
Global Fund within the next few months while the Ukrainian
government works on improving the implementation process,
management and supervision. The Global Fund said that it would
take "decisive measures" to ensure that the programs' goals are
achieved within two years, Interfax-Ukraine reports
(Interfax-Ukraine, 1/31). The Global Fund -- which finances 225
disease prevention and treatment programs in 121 countries --
has never before stopped financing to one of its programs, the
Post reports (Washington Post, 1/31).

2. Nearly Half of Patients in South African Public Hospitals
HIV-Positive, 'Secret' Report Says

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1765.Cby.F.D.Lt05Vp

Nearly 50% of all patients in South African public hospitals
were HIV-positive in 2002, according to a "secret" report
completed for the Department of Health, the Saturday
Star/Independent Online reports. The 175-page report, titled
"The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Health Sector," was based on a
2002 study led by Dr. Olive Shisana, executive director of the
Human Sciences Research Council's program on the social aspects
of HIV/AIDS. Researchers found that AIDS patients have begun to
"crow[d] out" other South African patients from hospitals, as
46% of the patients in public hospitals have HIV infection.
Researchers also found that people living with HIV/AIDS tended
to have longer hospital stays, with an average of 13.7 days,
compared with an average of 8.2 days for HIV-negative patients.
The report says, "The finding that almost half of the patients
admitted to hospital are HIV-infected demonstrates the massive
increase in the burden placed on health care facilities"
(Terreblanche, Saturday Star/Independent Online, 1/30). The
report called for the government to train more nurses because up
to 16% of health care workers are expected to die from
AIDS-related complications between 2002 and 2007, the
SAPA/News24.com reports. The report also said that because of
the HIV/AIDS epidemic, "almost half the usual number of beds
were no longer available to other patients." The report, which
has been "kept under wraps," was leaked to the Saturday Star,
according to the SAPA/News24.com (SAPA/News24.com, 1/31).

Democratic Alliance, TAC Respond

The Democratic Alliance political party called for the
government to make public the contents of the report, the South
African Press Association reports. DA spokesperson Mike Waters
said in a statement on Sunday, "It is time Health Minister Manto
Tshabalala-Msimang realized concealing the findings of the
[report] will not make the problem go away." He added that the
impact of the epidemic on the South African health care system
is directly linked to the health minister's "inability to manage
the crisis properly," saying, "The economic and human costs of
the ruling party's slipshod handling of the pandemic are
immeasurable" (South African Press Association, 2/1). The South
African AIDS advocacy group Treatment Action Campaign on Sunday
after the report was leaked called again on the government to
implement its plan to provide antiretroviral drugs to people
living with HIV/AIDS in the country, Reuters/AlertNet reports
(Reuters/AlertNet, 2/1). The program, which was approved in
November 2003, aims to treat 1.2 million people -- or about 25%
of the country's HIV-positive population -- by 2008. About 25%
of South Africa's economically active individuals are
HIV-positive, with about five million total HIV cases in the
country (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/28). TAC National
Director Nathan Geffen said that although the group has not seen
the report, the figures leaked are "not ... surprising." He
added, "What this means is that there is no excuse for the
government to continue delaying the rollout of the
antiretroviral treatment program. That program is essential to
stem the growth of the burden on the public health system"
(Reuters AlertNet, 2/1).

Washington Times Editorial

"Many observers, especially from large multilateral
organizations, believe that there is a direct relationship
between success and spending when it comes to AIDS," a
Washington Times editorial says. However, some countries,
including Uganda, have "achieved great success" in fighting
AIDS, proving that "much can be done with little," the editorial
says. Although wealthy nations should "do their part to combat
AIDS" and President Bush should "start using political capital"
to get the five-year, $15 billion global AIDS initiative "on
track," African countries "must also be taken to task,"
according to the Times. TAC -- "[o]ne of the world's most
influential advocacy groups for combating HIV/AIDS" -- "deserves
credit for doing so" in South Africa, the editorial says,
concluding, "The governments of AIDS-afflicted countries should
be rewarded for progress and held to account for failures"
(Washington Times, 2/2).

3. South African Archbishop Lobbies U.S. Officials for Help
Combating HIV/AIDS

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1765.Cby.G.D.Lq8Qbx

South African Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane last week met
with U.S. government and corporate officials in Washington,
D.C., to lobby for assistance in fighting HIV/AIDS in South
Africa, the Washington Post reports. Ndungane met with HHS
Secretary Tommy Thompson, National Security Adviser Condoleezza
Rice and other officials to advocate for debt relief and "full
funding" of President Bush's five-year, $15 billion global AIDS
initiative, according to the Post. Responding to criticism by
some AIDS advocates that Bush's upcoming budget would cut by
two-thirds U.S. contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria, Ndungane said, "It is up to the
American public to challenge whatever discrepancies are there."
He added that South Africa is "appreciative of any help given to
alleviate the global pandemic before us." According to the Post,
Ndungane is the only leader in the African Episcopal Church who
has publicly supported the U.S. Episcopal Church after it voted
in August 2003 to ordain an openly gay bishop and to recognize
same-sex couples. Eight other African Anglican provinces have
cut ties with the U.S. chapter. Ndungane has said that
differences of opinion over homosexuality should not take
precedent over the "life and death issues before us" (Cooperman,
Washington Post, 2/1).

ACROSS THE NATION

4. Cirque du Soleil Offers To Rehire HIV-Positive Gymnast Fired
Because of Perceived Threat to Others

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1765.Cby.H.D.LbhRww

Cirque du Soleil on Friday said that it will offer to rehire an
HIV-positive gymnast who was fired in spring 2003 because of
concerns that his HIV-positive status could endanger other
performers, the Los Angeles Times reports (Romney, Los Angeles
Times, 1/31). Matthew Cusick said that he disclosed his
HIV-positive status to Cirque shortly after his July 2002
hiring, underwent several medical evaluations and was found to
be in good health and considered fully able to perform with the
company. However, shortly before he was to begin performing in
the company's Las Vegas show "Mystere," Cirque sent him a letter
terminating his employment and stating that his HIV-positive
status "will likely pose a direct threat of harm to others,
particularly in the case of future injury" (Kaiser Daily
HIV/AIDS Report, 12/19/03). However, Cirque spokesperson
Renee-Claude Menard on Friday said that the company now believes
that Cusick's HIV-positive status would present "minimal" risk
to other performers and audience members and that "there are no
restrictions now for anyone with HIV at Cirque." Cirque's
decision to reinstate Cusick comes in response to the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission's proposal for mediation in
the case, the Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 1/31).

'Too Soon To Say'

In July 2003, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund filed
a federal discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission against Cirque on Cusick's behalf (Kaiser
Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 12/19/03). EEOC on Thursday issued a
proposal for mediation, and Cirque du Soleil plans to offer to
reinstate the gymnast during mediation talks. Menard said, "Any
job opening at the Cirque is now available for [Cusick]"
(Donnelly, Montreal Gazette, 1/31). Cusick said it is "too soon
to say" if he would accept Cirque's offer of reinstatement
because he had heard of the offer only through a news release
and had not been contacted directly, the AP/San Diego
Union-Tribune reports (Leff, AP/San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/31).
Hayley Gorenberg, attorney for Cusick, said she believes Cirque
should also pay Cusick damages (Los Angeles Times, 1/31).

Separate Investigation Into Alleged Job Discrimination

Meanwhile, the San Francisco Human Rights Commission has begun a
separate probe into whether Cirque violated city codes that
prohibit job discrimination based on HIV status, the San
Francisco Chronicle reports. Cirque has leased property owned by
the Port of San Francisco and must comply with the codes
(Marech, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/31). Larry Brinkin, lead
negotiator with the commission's HIV division, said Cirque
officials last month met with commission officials to discuss
the alleged discrimination. Brinkin said Cirque Vice President
Marc Gagnon on Tuesday is expected to return to San Francisco to
begin writing an anti-discrimination policy (Los Angeles Times,
1/31). Brinkin said the commission will not end its
investigation until Cirque has stated "clearly and strongly that
in San Francisco all positions in Cirque du Soleil are open to
anyone qualified regardless of ... HIV status" (San Francisco
Chronicle, 1/31).

5. AIDS Advocates Stage Protest Following Death of HIV-Positive
Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Biting Prison Guard

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1765.Cby.J.D.L4z2WN

AIDS advocates on Thursday chanted and staged a mock funeral at
the home of a retired judge to protest the 1990 sentencing of an
HIV-positive inmate, who died in prison in November 2003, the
Philadelphia Inquirer reports. About 75 people from ACT
UP/Philadelphia placed a black casket and flowers in the yard of
retired Superior Court Judge John Mariano, who in 1990 sentenced
inmate Gregory Smith to 25 years in prison for biting Camden
County Sheriff's Officer Albert Waddington. According to
Waddington's testimony, Smith -- who had been serving a
five-year sentence at the Camden County Jail for robbery -- bit
Waddington three times on the hand, spat on him and shouted,
"Now die, you pig. Die from what I have." Although there is no
evidence that HIV can be transmitted through saliva, an appeals
court upheld Smith's conviction saying that it was Smith's
intent to transmit HIV by biting the guard. Smith, who denied
biting the guard, died Nov. 10, 2003, at the Northern State
Prison in Newark, N.J. Members of ACT UP/Philadelphia said that
Smith had been an "openly homosexual AIDS activist" while
serving at the Camden County Jail and that the biting charges
stemmed from "AIDS hysteria," according to the Inquirer. Dan
Murphy, a spokesperson for ACT UP/Philadelphia, said that the
demonstrators on Thursday were also demanding better medical
care for HIV-positive inmates in the New Jersey prison system
(Gambardello, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/30).

PUBLIC HEALTH & EDUCATION

6. Viacom, Kaiser Family Foundation Launch Second Year of KNOW
HIV/AIDS Campaign With Super Bowl Ad

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1765.Cby.K.D.L6hDY8

The Kaiser Family Foundation and Viacom on Sunday during the
pre-game show of Super Bowl XXXVIII aired an HIV/AIDS public
service announcement to kick off the second year of the "KNOW
HIV/AIDS" awareness campaign, which the groups first launched in
January 2003 (Kaiser Family Foundation/KNOW HIV/AIDS release,
1/27). The campaign is aimed at raising HIV/AIDS awareness
through PSAs, television and radio programming and free print
and online content. The campaign -- which includes media
placements valued at more than $130 million in 2004 -- is
targeted at both the general population and groups hardest hit
by HIV/AIDS, such as people under age 25, minorities, women and
men who have sex with men. In 2003, the initiative created 49
television, radio and outdoor ads. The 2004 campaign will
include 40 targeted ads -- including some of the 49 ads created
for last year's campaign -- that will run across Viacom's
broadcast networks CBS and UPN; cable networks MTV, BET, VH1,
CMT: Country Music Television, TV Land, Nickelodeon, Nick at
Nite, Showtime, Spike TV and Comedy Central; 185 Infinity
Broadcasting radio stations; and billboards, buses and bus
shelter advertising. In addition, MTV, MTV International,
Nickelodeon, BET, VH1, Showtime, Sundance Channel and Infinity
Broadcasting are planning to air special HIV/AIDS-related
programming throughout the year (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report,
1/12).

'Lives Thrown Away'

The ad opens with the image of a dumpster in an alley. A
voiceover says, "Twenty million young lives thrown away. That's
how many could contract HIV in the next few years. But it
doesn't have to be like that." The dumpster opens and young
people climb out as the voiceover adds, "HIV is preventable,"
directing viewers to the KNOW HIV/AIDS Web site,
knowhivaids.org. The PSA ends with "thousands" of young people
climbing out of the dumpster (Kaiser Family Foundation/KNOW
HIV/AIDS release, 1/27). A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found
that 44% of adults in the United States either recognized the
KNOW HIV/AIDS brand or had seen at least one of the campaign's
ads (Viacom/Kaiser Family Foundation release, 1/12).

* The PSA is available online online.

* The Sundance Channel, which is owned by Viacom, on Monday will
air four HIV/AIDS-related documentaries, including "The Gift,"
"It's My Life," "Mother to Child," and "14 Million Dreams" (KNOW
HIV/AIDS Web site, 2/2).

OPINION

7. Washington Post Editorial Gave President Bush's Emergency
AIDS Plan Unmerited Credit, Letter to Editor Says

Access this story and related links online:
http://cme.kff.org/Key=1765.Cby.L.D.LdvG6c

A Jan. 22 Washington Post editorial "correctly noted President
Bush's failure to provide an update" in his State of the Union
address on emergency AIDS funding, but it improperly "credited
the president for the latest spending increase," David Bryden,
communications director for the Global AIDS Alliance, writes in
a Post letter to the editor (Bryden, Washington Post, 2/1). The
Post editorial stated that the Bush administration has been
"ramping up its effort in a serious way," noting that
AIDS-related spending has increased five-fold during Bush's
term. The Post also said the Bush administration's requirement
that one-third of AIDS spending be used to fund abstinence
programs is "pronounced but not outrageous" and that it "makes
sense to give a large slice of the money" to agencies other than
the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Kaiser
Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/22). Bryden responds that Bush "fought
emergency spending" on AIDS and that the total amount spent on
AIDS, TB and malaria in fiscal year 2004 will total $2.4 billion
only "because members of Mr. Bush's own party ignored his
opposition." As a result, one year after Bush announced his
global AIDS initiative, "only a tiny fraction of the two million
people the president promised would receive life-saving
medications" actually have received them. "The question is not
whether the United States is spending more than in previous
years to fight AIDS; it is whether we are providing a fair
contribution to a global effort," Bryden says, concluding that
the United States is "not on track to provide even ... a
'bare-bones' response" to the AIDS pandemic (Washington Post,
2/1).

________________________________________

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