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The 14th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) to be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 4-9 December 2005 under the theme, 'HIV/AIDS and the Family', has a new website.

To find out more about the conference, visit: www.icasa2005.com NOT www.icasa2005.org

The Black AIDS Institute recently released a national report on the state of HIV/AIDS in black America, titled 'The Time is Now!'. The report explains the policies and politics that have helped shape the HIV/AIDS epidemic in black America and the country's response to it. It articulates the challenges faced by black Americans in reshaping and ultimately stopping the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The report targets both AIDS experts and members of the community who may have just become aware of the problem and now need information on how and where to get involved.

To access the report: http://blackaids.org/

'HIV And Infant Feeding: A Compilation of Programmatic Evidence' is a report published by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Quality Assurance Project in July 2004.

The report summarises and analyses programmes conducted since 1998, when UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS issued guidelines on infant feeding and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS. The overwhelming source of HIV in young children is MTCT, with an estimated 5-10 percent risk during pregnancy, 10-20 percent risk during labour and delivery, and a 5-20 percent risk during breast-feeding. Comparing data from available studies, breast-feeding may be responsible for as much as one-third or half of all HIV infections in infants and young children in Africa.

The UNICEF, WHO and UNAIDS guidelines recommend: For mothers who are HIV-negative or who do not know their HIV status, there should be exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months and continued breast-feeding for the next two years, with the addition of complementary food. "However, for women who are HIV-positive - if replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe - avoidance of all breast-feeding is recommended."

www.qaproject.org

The purpose of the HIV/AIDS Guide for Nutritional Care and Support, published by the Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project (FANTA) at the Academy for Educational Development (AED), is to assist programme managers and health workers to make recommendations on nutritional issues and food management for households with members who are HIV-positive.

The guide can be translated and adapted to meet local needs, and serve as a resource in developing educational materials that are shared with communities and households. Topics covered in the guide include: basic facts on nutrition and HIV/AIDS; nutrition interventions to manage HIV disease; nutrition and care recommendations for infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls; and, a food-based approach to support HIV/AIDS-affected households and communities.

The guide contains new information on:

• Revised nutritional requirements of PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS)
• Nutrition and antiretrovirals (ARVs)
• Guidelines for breast-feeding infants safely in settings of high HIV prevalence
• Multivitamin supplementation and HIV
• Safe practices for complementary and replacement feeding of infants and young children born to HIV+ women
• Uses of food aid to support HIV-affected communities

To access this resource: www.fantaproject.org