July 7, 2008

Red Cross Declares HIV a Global Disaster

HIV should be considered a “global disaster,” says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in its World Disasters Report 2008. An editorial published in the July 5 edition of U.K.-based medical journal The Lancet responds to this assessment—as reported by AIDSmap.com—urging an increased humanitarian effort (aidsmap.com, 7/4).

The IFRC report highlights three central messages. First:  Prevention efforts are being aimed at the wrong groups. Second: Donor money is being misdirected.  And third: people at high risk for HIV—such as men who have sex with men, sex workers and injection drug users—are highly stigmatized across cultures and even criminalized.

“The IFRC is right to raise these points,” says The Lancet. “25 years after the start of the epidemic, governments should focus HIV/AIDS programmes on those most in need, donors should ensure their aid is effective and public-policy decisions should be based on evidence rather than moral judgments.”

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Previous Comments:

Andrew, Silver Spring MD, 2008-07-10 11:47:29
More than world leaders and country heads making decisions based on morals which today is so far off anyway they need to pay attention to this disater and address the issues and offer medical attention to those in affected by HIV/AIDS in their jurisdictions. Greedy Money Mongers. "F_ck the sick and poor people with that AIDS disease" God Damd them that dont do their part to better this situation.

Chris, Toronto, 2008-07-10 05:39:36
Doctorjonny - your comment reminds me yet again how glad I am to be Canadian. It is beyond me how my American cousins can't get a universal health act together, in spite of having billions to spend as a society in other areas... Perhaps you could become an advocate for Health Care Reform with your wealth and spare time.

Michael, New York City, 2008-07-09 08:45:51
Jay you bring up a good point -- but the dis allowance of gay men to donate blood is actually set by FDA, not The Red Cross. And to Michael in Hanslett -- I think you read the article wrong. I would agree that the donor money is definitely not going down the correct avenues and education is lacking for all groups. As a gay male living in NYC I can't tell you how many of my friends are completely in the dark about HIV/AIDS.

doctorjonny, NY, 2008-07-08 13:09:27
regarding healthcare, I'm a 51 year old (HIV+) gym rat, millionaire, in otherwise perfect health. On my own, I'm uninsurable at any price. I would retire and devote my life to volunteer work if I could only procure an individual health insurance policy.

Michael, Haslett, 2008-07-08 12:11:00
It is a shame that anyone would put this out. Heterosexuals can get HIV also if they are not careful. Sure maybe the gay community seems to get it more then hetros do, but there are millions of hetros living with HIV/AIDS in this world. We must remember that sex is not the only way this diease is transferred from one person to another.

Jay Dwyer, San Francisco, CA, 2008-07-08 09:40:56
"...people at high risk for HIV—such as men who have sex with men...are highly stigmatized across cultures and even criminalized." Interesting - and isn't it the Red Cross who has consistently stigmatized men who have sex with men for over two decades by denying them access to donate much needed blood? So, is the Red Cross an advocate or a perpetrator?

Sylvia, Zuidbroek, Holland, 2008-07-07 19:36:48
Is not a Surprise!!! Take a look at the million dollar industry created in The Nethertlands to get funds the rarely make it to the HIV+ people, no to mention a corrupted elite of high paid Directors, they cannot longer keep their life style without this pandemic....Time to call for a deep look in to where the funds are really going.