Peter Piot, who has been at the helm of UNAIDS since its creation in 1995, told an international conference Thursday to stop looking for a magic bullet to fight the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
"There is a normal human tendency to look for the magic bullet, but my friends, it doesn't exist," Piot said in one of his last speeches before he steps down as the head of UNAIDS.
About AIDS
"AIDS is an epidemic disease, a potentially preventable, deadly infection for which there is no cure, no vaccine, and it is not under control." - National Commission on AIDS, 1993.
"AIDS is an epidemic disease, a potentially preventable, deadly infection for which there is no cure, no vaccine, and it is not under control." - National Commission on AIDS, 1993.
"Even the day we have a vaccine - and I hope we will have it - we will still need many things," he added.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to two-thirds of the global total of 32.9 million people with the HIV virus. Piot called it "a perfect storm of small differences" that made Africa the continent where AIDS is the number one cause of death, according to the World Health Organisation.
Michel Sidibe of Mali Is The New Head of UNAIDS
On the occasion of World AIDS Day on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Michel Sidibe of Mali to head the world body's AIDS-fighting agency, UNAIDS, a spokeswoman said.
On the occasion of World AIDS Day on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Michel Sidibe of Mali to head the world body's AIDS-fighting agency, UNAIDS, a spokeswoman said.
He acknowledged the difficulties in getting funding with the current financial crisis but insisted more funding was needed to fight AIDS in Africa.
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Patient Confidentiality Must Be Ensured-UNAIDS
In order to protect the almost 40 million men, women and children living with HIV from potential stigma and discrimination, the United Nations agency dealing with AIDS today released new guidelines
In order to protect the almost 40 million men, women and children living with HIV from potential stigma and discrimination, the United Nations agency dealing with AIDS today released new guidelines
The 15th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) runs until Sunday.
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More then Four Million New HIV Infections in 2006: UNAIDS
The global AIDS epidemic continues to spiral with 4.3 million new infections reported in 2006, with sub-Saharan Africa alone accounting for 65 percent of the cases.
The global AIDS epidemic continues to spiral with 4.3 million new infections reported in 2006, with sub-Saharan Africa alone accounting for 65 percent of the cases.
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