Hope Mafaranga

Baby Rivona, the National Coordinator of Ikatan Perempuan Positif Indonesia (IPPI) - a network that works with women living with HIV in Indonesia – said at the Women Deliver conference this week that most women who are drug users, sex workers or transgender and HIV positive do not have enough information on where to get services. http://www.keycorrespondents.org/2013/05/30/sex-workers-drug-users-and-transgender-communities-demand-their-human-rights/

At the age of 14, Stella* is already a mother of two and is expecting her third child. Like 220 million other women and girls in developing countries, Stella lacks access to the contraceptives, information and services she needs to prevent unintended pregnancies. For Stella, from Kamuli district, Uganda, the lack of access to contraceptives is just one of many challenges she’s already faced in her young life. http://www.keycorrespondents.org/2013/12/03/young-pregnant-living-with-hiv-and-denied-access-to-health-services/  

The Ugandan Ministry of Health has passed a resolution to phase out traditional birth attendants by 2015 in a bid to meet zero new HIV infections among newborn babies. Sarah Opendi, the minister in charge of primary health, said the government will not tolerate traditional birth attendants, who are not medically qualified, as they do not have the skills to deliver expectant mothers who are HIV positive, and therefore risk exposing the babies to HIV infection. http://www.keycorrespondents.org/2013/12/19/traditional-birth-attendants-blamed-for-hiv-among-newborn-babies/

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria enthusiastically praised the nomination of Deborah Birx to be the next Global AIDS Coordinator for the United States, leading the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and managing the U.S. Government’s relationship with the Global Fund. Dr. Birx, a distinguished public health expert, has served as Director of the Division of Global HIV/AIDS at the Center for Disease Control since 2005. Trained as a clinician in immunology, she has dedicated her life to changing the course of HIV/AIDS, with nearly two decades of international experience in Africa and Asia. "Dr. Birx is a true leader in global health, and her rich experience makes her an exceptional choice,” said Dr. Nafsiah Mboi, Chair of the Board of the Global Fund. “We are very excited to work together with her in our common mission to defeat AIDS, TB and malaria.” Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund, added: “Debbi is absolutely o