West Africa

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

AFRICA: Snake oil salesmen and dodgy HIV "cures"

NAIROBI/JOHANNESBURG, 19 January 2012 (PlusNews) - Uganda's National Drug Authority recently arrested sales representatives of a company selling a drug that purports to cure HIV; the firm's owners are not licensed to sell medicine and are being sought by the police. full report

HIV/AIDS: A deadly funding crisis

JOHANNESBURG, 1 December 2011 (PlusNews) - This World AIDS Day on 1 Dec should have been a much more joyous event: the global HIV/AIDS response has turned a significant corner, with record numbers of people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and fewer new HIV infections. But the announcement by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, cancelling its next funding round, has cast a shadow over any celebrations and highlighted the precarious nature of HIV/AIDS funding. full report

Analysis: Understanding the drivers of homophobia in Ghana

DAKAR, 1 August 2011 (PlusNews) - Recent condemnation of homosexuality by religious and political leaders in Ghana has led to a climate of fear preventing men who have sex with men (MSM) from accessing vital health services, say local NGOs. full report

COTE D'IVOIRE: Political crisis affects supply of ARVs

ABIDJAN, 4 February 2011 (PlusNews) - As Côte d'Ivoire's political stalemate drags on, NGOs are becoming increasingly concerned about its effect on the supply of life-prolonging antiretroviral medicines. full report

HIV/AIDS: MSM groups hail pill to prevent HIV

NAIROBI, 24 November 2010 (PlusNews) - Gay rights groups have hailed the results of the first study to show that an antiretroviral (ARV) drug can prevent HIV as an important step in the fight against HIV, but say that in countries that criminalize homosexuality, the breakthrough is unlikely to have a significant impact. full report

HIV/AIDS: Global Fund looks to private sector to fill funding gap

JOHANNESBURG, 14 October 2010 (PlusNews) - With its coffers running at least US$1 billion short, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is looking to the private sector to fill the funding gap. full report

HEALTH: New global plan aims to wipe out TB

Johannesburg, 14 October 2010 (PlusNews) - A new roadmap for curbing the global epidemic of tuberculosis aims to save five million lives between 2011 and 2015 and eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2050 but comes with a price tag of US$47 billion, nearly half of which must still be found. full report

TOGO: Manya Andrews, "The condoms had the thickness and sensitivity of a tyre"

Johannesburg, 19 August 2010 (PlusNews) - Manya Andrews is a health communications consultant and former head of the international reproductive health organization, Populations Services International, in Togo. At a recent conference on HIV and couples, she spoke to IRIN/PlusNews about how she and her team had to rethink what they knew about sex to kick-start Togo's male condom distribution campaign. full report

COTE D'IVOIRE: A dollar or less per trick

Abidjan, 21 April 2010 (PlusNews) - A small group of nervous looking girls hang about in the bustling bus station in Adjamé, a working-class neighbourhood of Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire's commercial hub, carefully watched by their 'vieux pères' – their protectors or pimps – who hold machetes or knives. A trick is often negotiated for barely a dollar, and generally without a condom. full report
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