World AIDS Day 2020: selected events
9 December 2020. Related: Other news.
This year many organisations developed projects and events on 1 December to remember friends whose lives are still affected by HIV and to focus on ways to move forwards in overcoming HIV in the future.
A few selected events and publications are included below.
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The London Patient: celebrating optimism for a widely accessible and easier HIV cure
This has been such a difficult year that the UK-CAB and HIV i-Base are highlighting the optimistic case of the London Patient.
To mark World AIDS Day, we are happy to post an interview from a UK-CAB meeting earlier in the year.
This was the first time that the London Patient – Adam Castillejo – had spoken publicly – and we are very proud that he worked with the UK-CAB to share his incredible story.
Now, after more than three years, he feels ever more determined to share his message of hope and resilience.
This has been such a difficult year that the UK-CAB and HIV i-Base are highlighting the optimistic case of the London Patient.
To mark World AIDS Day, we are happy to post an interview from a UK-CAB meeting earlier in the year.
This was the first time that the London Patient – Adam Castillejo – had spoken publicly to an HIV Forum – and we are very proud that he worked with the UK-CAB to share his incredible story.
Now, after more than three years, the London Patient feels ever more determined to share his message of hope and resilience.
“I am a strong believer that we will be able to find an accessible CURE for everyone over the next decade. Now it is even more important to keep the effort and the conversation going during these unsettling times. Never give up on hope; I never did…!” – Adam Castillejo, the London Patient
BHIVA launch Health and HIV news production with ITN
https://www.bhiva.org/World-AIDS-Day-2020
The British HIV Association (BHIVA) partners with ITN Productions in a production for World Aids Day 2020 and beyond, anchored by Alice Beer.
The programme includes community activists Susan Cole, Mercy Shibemba, Jo Josh, Bakita Kasadha and others.
Dr Laura Waters, Chair of the British HIV Association, joins the programme to talk about life expectancy, treatment developments, testing and prevention, and also how COVID-19 has affected people living with HIV.
The programme also discusses the negative impact of HIV stigma, and the need for positive messaging in any future public health campaigns.
Treatment access: New formulation of dolutegravir will make modern ART available for babies and young children at less than $120 a year
Good news in this article from the i-Base HIV Treatment Bulletin.
The much-anticipated 10 mg, dispersible, scored, strawberry-flavoured, paediatric formulation of dolutegravir will soon be available to low- and middle-income countries, through a price agreement from Unitaid and CHAI with generic manufacturers Viatris and Macleods. [1, 2]
As well as providing greatly-improved HIV treatment this will significantly reduce the annual lower cost for paediatric ART from over $480 per child to under $120 per child, with dolutegravir reduced from about $400 to $36 per child.
Talk by Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President International AIDS Society, at WHO virtual event.
“While this focus is necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, it also interrupts access to vital HIV treatment and prevention services.
A recent survey of programmes in 106 countries found that COVID-19 disruptions have affected 85% of HIV programmes.”
Towards an HIV cure: Lancet report
This World AIDS Day, leading HIIV researchers have published a review and viewpoint in The Lancet HIV to advance the HIV cure agenda and plan for the delivery of an HIV cure in high burden countries.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(20)30234-4/fulltext
The HIV Commission final report & recommendations: How England will end new cases of HIV
Launch of report from an extended programme coordinated to coordinate community perspectives on the best approaches to end continued HIV transmission by 2030.
It is also, importantly, to ensure all HIV positive people have access to effective treatment and to end HIV-related stigma.
Guest speakers included in the launch on 1st December included Sir Elton John, Dame Inga Beale, Mercy Shibemba, Ian Green, Deborah Gold, Anne Aslett, Dame Alison Saunders, Dr Rob Berkeley, and others.
Read and download the commission report:
https://www.hivcommission.org.uk/2020/11/30/final-report-and-recommendations-out-now
Watch commission launch event:
https://www.hivcommission.org.uk/2020/12/02/watch-our-report-and-recommendations-launch-event
Blog from UK activist Ant Babajee
A personal journey from being diagnosed in 2007 to working with many important and diverse community projects (including the UK-CAB, Catwalk 4 Power, Positive Voices, The Undetectables video (for GMFA) and NAT (hosting the Blog).
https://www.nat.org.uk/blog/nothing-about-us-without-us
Remembering Timothy Ray Brown
Timothy Ray Brown: The Serendipitous Hero of HIV Cure Research
Four researchers (Thomas Hope, Nichole Klatt, Jonah Sacha, and Paula. Cannon) remember Timothy Ray Brown, the Berlin Patient, who sfter a long fight, lost his battle with cancer earlier this year.
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/aid.2020.0253
The i-Base tribute is also online:
https://i-base.info/htb/39020
National HIV Story Trust virtual candlelight vigil
https://www.nhst.org.uk/world-aids-day-2020
The National HIV Story Trust is marking World AIDS Day 2020 by hosting a virtual candlelight vigil.
Virtual candles in our windows at home will be displayed from 6.00pm on December 1st.
“Whilst we are fighting another pandemic, a virtual candle vigil is the safest way for us all to remember those who died due to the AIDS/HIV pandemic, and to honour all those who helped and are continuing to help in the fight against the virus. This year we particularly want to honour the HIV specialists and all NHS staff who do such a wonderful job in caring and treating those with HIV in what is a particularly difficult year.”
This report was first published on 1 December 2020.