Information and prevention measures still lacking in the region CAIRO: The first of December marks the ninth annual World Aids Day, organized by the World Aids Campaign (WAC) and observed by thousands of organizations worldwide. Established by UNAids in 1997, World Aids Day is meant to raise awareness about HIV/Aids internationally. Over 4.3 million people contracted Aids this year. Worldwide 25 million have already died from Aids since the disease first appeared 25 years ago. The theme for World Aids Day this year is accountability. WAC wants people to look at the promises and commitments that leaders have made and make sure that they are held accountable. It's really important to show that these promises are now being monitored and that they must be kept, said WAC s director Marcel van Soest, in a Nov. 9 article on the organization s website. The international community has many promises to keep. The year 2006 marks the five-year review of the UN s Declaration of Commitment on Aids, which, as part of the Millennium Development Goals, aimed to inspire international efforts at eradicating Aids. It is also the six-year anniversary of the Abuja Summit to Endorse Consensus on Fighting Aids in all of Africa, including Egypt. Yet, there is a long history of promises not kept. According to the WAC, the UN in 2001 promised that by 2005 90 percent of young people would know how to prevent Aids. Now, in 2006, only 20 percent know how to prevent it. Also, by 2005, 80 percent of pregnant HIV-positive women were supposed to be receiving medicine to prevent the transmission of Aids to their children. Today, 9 percent get the treatment, says the WAC s website. According to the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), last year s promise by the UN, known as the 3 by 5 campaign, aimed to increase access to treatment among low and middle-income Aids patients but has born little fruit. The ITPC s report is titled, Missing the Target, and documents the uncoordinated and uneven implementation of the 3 by 5 efforts worldwide. Its stated goal is to bring the world as close as possible to universal access to Aids treatment by 2010, says ITPC s report. The WAC hopes that highlighting accountability this year will prevent such broken promises in the future. In Egypt, 5,300 people are living with Aids, according to UNAids estimates. However, this number may be inaccurate because of limited access to groups at high risk for Aids due to cultural constraints, says UNAids' Web site, without elaborating on what those constraints might be. The UN estimates that 68,000 people contracted Aids throughout the Middle East and North Africa in 2006, and about 460,000 are now living with Aids in the region. About 36,000 people died of Aids in the Middle East during 2006. Aids estimates throughout the region are not much more reliable than estimates for Egypt. The UNAids' annual report on Aids in the region states that monitoring systems for HIV are inadequate throughout the region. Yet, there is a long history of promises not kept. According to the WAC, the UN in 2001 promised that by 2005 90 percent of young people would know how to prevent Aids. Now, in 2006, only 20 percent know how to prevent it. Also, by 2005, 80 percent of pregnant HIV-positive women were supposed to be receiving medicine to prevent the transmission of Aids to their children. Today, 9 percent get the treatment, says the WAC's website. According to the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), last year's promise by the UN, known as the "3 by 5 campaign, aimed to increase access to treatment among low and middle-income Aids patients but has born little fruit. The ITPC's report is titled, "Missing the Target, and documents the uncoordinated and uneven implementation of the "3 by 5 efforts worldwide. Its stated goal is to bring the world "as close as possible to universal access to Aids treatment by 2010, says ITPC's report. The WAC hopes that highlighting accountability this year will prevent such broken promises in the future. In Egypt, 5,300 people are living with Aids, according to UNAids estimates. However, this number may be inaccurate because of limited access to groups at high risk for Aids due to "cultural constraints, says UNAids' Web site, without elaborating on what those constraints might be. The UN estimates that 68,000 people contracted Aids throughout the Middle East and North Africa in 2006, and about 460,000 are now living with Aids in the region. About 36,000 people died of Aids in the Middle East during 2006. Yet, Aids estimates throughout the region are not much more reliable than estimates for Egypt. The UNAids' annual report on Aids in the region states that monitoring systems for HIV are inadequate throughout the region.
