Beyond World AIDS Day 2009

World AIDS Day 2009 has come and gone but millions of men, women and children continue to contract, live with or die from AIDS throughout the year. 33.4 million people live with HIV around the world, including 2 million children under the age of fifteen. According to the World AIDS Day 2009 web site, in 2008 two million people died from HIV-related causes and almost 3 million contracted HIV in that year. Because this pandemic requires political, health, socioeconomic and cultural approaches and there are ongoing debates within the international community on funding and approaches, RH Reality Check covers the issue with a multitude of voices and perspectives. From an original short documentary produced for RH Reality Check, about three African-American men living with HIV in South Carolina, a state which ranks 8th in the U.S. for AIDS rates, to the inextricable link between access to reproductive health care in developing nations and HIV prevention, RH Reality Check covers global AIDS in-depth, from voices on-the-ground.

Highlights:

"US Global AIDS Policy: Emergency Course Correction Required", Asia Russell - From a report co-produced by a group of organizations including HealthGap and the Global AIDS Alliance, "President Obama gets a "D+" for his first year as president", for his work on HIV/AIDS prevention globally. President Obamas first budget request to Congress, for fiscal year (FY) 2010, essentially froze spending for global AIDS at FY2009 levels. Without continued funding increases in the near term the positive public health gains beginning to emerge will likely evaporate.

"A Dangerous Precedent: Using Anti-Terrorism Laws to Prosecute HIV Transmission" by The Positive Womens Network - In Michigan last month, Daniel Allen, 44, had a dispute with his neighbor Winfred Fernandis Jr. that led to a fight in which Allen bit Fernandis. In addition to the traditional assault charges already being brought, Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith has decided to charge Allen with bio-terrorism. Why? Allen is HIV positive.

"Love the Glove: Ten Great Reasons to Use Condoms You Might Not Have Heard Yet", Heather Corinna - At the present time, the United States now leads the world when it comes to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). And not in a Whoohoo, go USA! kind of way. So, check out ten great reasons for making sure you use a condom, every time you have sex!

More global HIV/AIDS coverage on RH Reality Check: