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Why HIV/AIDS Spreads - Annan From Julcit Onigbogi with agency reports United Nations (UN) Secre-tary General Kofi Annan has said the spread of the dreaded HIV/AIDS continues because much efforts are not put in place to check its growth. Speaking before a 17,000 capacity audience who included researchers, doctors and activists in the Thailand capital, Bangkok at the opening ceremony of the world 15th International AIDS Conference, Annan regretted that too few doctors were treating AIDS worldwide. He also criticised the continued victimisation of women carriers of the disease by men, as well as lack of leadership from top government officials down to individual fathers who ought to raise their sons to respect their wives and girlfriends. According to Annan, these practices have led to the breaking of the promises made in 2001 during the U.N. General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS by member states declaring their commitment to stop the disease. "Over the past few years, we have seen a terrifying pattern emerge, all over the world. Women are increasingly bearing the brunt of the epidemic. Women now account for nearly half of all adult infections, among people younger than 24, girls and young women make up nearly two-thirds of those living with HIV. Yet, one third of all countries still have no policies to ensure that women have access to prevention and care, knowing what we do today about the path of the epidemic, how can we allow that to be the case?" Annan querried. He urged stronger leadership from the grass-roots level to the heads of government to reverse the global AIDS epidemic. Hours before Annan spoke, hundreds of activists peacefully marched outside, past the arena in a protest organised by the Thai Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS and the U.S. groups Health Gap and ACT-UP. They chanted, "Access for all," and carried signs that read, "you talk, we die" and "Stop the war on HIV protection." They protesters criticised affluent nations that have failed to live up to their promises to donate to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. They also protested U.S. trade policies, which they said threaten attempts by Thailand and other countries to provide cheaper generic drugs. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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