Washington Blade - August 29, 2003

SOWETO, South Africa (AP) - The unemployed, HIV-positive South African woman sobbed as she told her story to a U.S. Senate delegation seeking to learn more about the AIDS epidemic ravaging sub-Saharan Africa. "I can't afford medicine, it's too expensive. I know with your help my dream can come true," the 34-year-old woman, identifying herself as Busi, told the six U.S. senators at Soweto's Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital. The delegation, led by Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican as well as a medical doctor, and Sen. John Warner, R-Va., will be instrumental in deciding how to pay out $15 billion pledged by President Bush to combat AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 30 million of the world's 42 million AIDS sufferers, prompting Bush to call the disease "the deadliest enemy Africa has ever faced." An estimated 4.7 million people, or about one in nine, are infected with HIV. As many as 1,000 South Africans die every day from AIDS-related complications. Frist urged African officials to take the AIDS epidemic more seriously. "If the United States government is going to be investing taxpayer money, we need to make sure that money is invested with the full cooperation and support of governments who will be recipients," he said.

Asian AIDS experts agree to promote condom use

VIENTIENE, Laos (AP) - AIDS experts from several Asian countries agreed to expand a program to ensure rigorous condom use among prostitutes as they ended a regional meeting last week organized by the World Health Organization. The four-day meeting, tiled "100 percent Condom Use Program" and aimed at the sex industry, was told that pilot programs begun in several countries in the last few years had effectively boosted condom use and reduced new HIV infections. "There are few success stories in AIDS. This is one of them. The epidemic in Asia is still concentrated in certain areas. If this program is expanded, we have a real chance at containing this epidemic," said Dr. Bernard Fabre-Teste, who heads the HIV and sexually transmitted infections unit at WHO's regional office in Manila.

Potential marijuana patch would help AIDS patients

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A University of Kentucky pharmacy researcher is working to create a prescription patch to deliver marijuana-like chemicals to ease nausea and stimulate appetite in people with AIDS and cancer. The patch would be a breakthrough because it could administer beneficial marijuana chemicals without inhaling the illegal plant. Most states outlaw smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes. Audra Stinchcomb's patch idea received $361,000 in funding three years ago by the American Cancer Society. "This is pioneering work," said David Ringer, scientific program director for the American Cancer Society. "It's a very novel use of cannabinoids." Stinchcomb has applied for a patent related to the technology. Her patch will use synthetic cannabinoids - active marijuana compounds created in a chemist's lab - not materials directly extracted from the illicit plant. Human testing could follow once initial studies are complete. If all goes well, the patch could be commercially available in five years.

Jacksonville nurse returns to work after blowing whistle

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A health department nurse is getting her job back after claiming she was fired for going outside with complaints that people who tested positive for AIDS and HIV were not told or were being notified well after a two-week period set by the agency. Cindy Moore, a nursing supervisor, said health officials ignored her pleas that people with AIDS, HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases were not being notified of their test results or were told well after the two-week period set by the agency. A jury last week found that the department violated the Florida Whistle-Blower Act when it fired Moore in January after she reported her concerns to state officials. Moore told the Florida Times-Union that she is looking forward to returning to work, but isn't happy about the treatment of her allegations. "People who created the problems remain in their positions, so it's not complete vindication," Moore said.

Health research unit formed for Australia's sexual minorities

MELBOURNE, Australia - A health research unit funded by $1 million in taxpayer money is planned for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and intersexuals (GLBTI), the Herald Sun reported this week. The Bracks Government has asked gay and lesbian groups to open the GLBTI health research unit by the end of the year. Australian Department of Human Services documents show the unit will provide research information and training for the group's health and well-being issues for health-care providers, the Sun reported. The unit will also support mental health promotions for "sexual and gender minorities," positive aging programs "for older GLBTI" people; drug and alcohol abuse problems help for gays and lesbians; and suicide prevention for young gays and lesbians.

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