HIV/AIDS: A Rogues' Gallery

JOHANNESBURG, 18 April 2012 (PlusNews) - Grantees of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria who allegedly committed fraud or misused funds unwittingly did a lot of damage to the Fund – and, many say, global health - as donors withdrew and the beleaguered organization faced a "crisis of confidence" in recent years. But the Fund has responded and is undergoing an extensive restructuring process. IRIN/PlusNews takes a look at some of the alleged fraudsters and the progress of the investigations. full report

NEPAL: Treatment illiteracy puts HIV benchmarks in peril

KATHMANDU, 17 April 2012 (PlusNews) - Poor understanding of antiretroviral therapy (ART) amongst health officials, clinicians and patients in Nepal could undermine gains in the country’s HIV/AIDS prevention efforts and threaten future progress in lowering the number of new infections. full report

NEPAL: HIV-positive children, orphans neglected

RAKAM, 3 April 2012 (PlusNews) - In the village of Rakam in Dailekh District, about 700km northwest of the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, 12-year-old Ravi* is living with HIV and has no idea if he will finish his education. full report

HIV/AIDS: Book review - AIDS at 30: A History

KAMPALA, 14 March 2012 (PlusNews) - While tracking the progress and pitfalls of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, Victoria Harden shows in her book, AIDS at 30: A History, that understanding how we got here is key to charting the path to overcoming the pandemic. full report

HIV/AIDS: Ten condom commandments

NAIROBI, 29 February 2012 (PlusNews) - Condoms are widely promoted as one of the most effective ways of preventing the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, but a recent study has found that incorrect use of condoms is common and affects their effectiveness. full report

MYANMAR: "Urgent" need for HIV treatment

BANGKOK/YANGON, 24 February 2012 (PlusNews) - Lack of access to anti-retroviral therapy (ARV) to treat HIV has left thousands of patients in Myanmar with deteriorating immunity and increased vulnerability to tuberculosis (TB), say health workers. full report

INDONESIA: Government denies plans for mandatory male circumcision in Papua

JAYAPURA, 20 February 2012 (PlusNews) - Authorities in Indonesia's remote Papua Province say they have no plans to make male circumcision mandatory, despite media reports to the contrary. full report

ASIA: Breaking down legal barriers to HIV information access

BANGKOK, 9 February 2012 (PlusNews) - While a number of Asian and Pacific countries are addressing legal barriers to accessing HIV information and treatment, there is still a gap between policy and implementation, say officials. full report

HIV/AIDS: Global Fund shake-up signals new direction

NAIROBI/JOHANNESBURG, 2 February 2012 (PlusNews) - The appointment of a new general manager, Gabriel Jaramillo, at the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis could be a "turning point" for the troubled organization, which has suffered from a funding crisis and allegations of corruption. full report