in this issue...

At a time when HIV is still spreading steadily across the globe, we are also witnessing progress in controlling this deadly disease. Responses to the AIDS epidemic have grown and improved considerably over the last few years. The objective of this E-bulletin is to circulate AIDS-related news, publications, literature and research to affiliated unions and others working in this field. It is a part of our new Global HIV/AIDS project, which is targeting ITF affiliates all over the globe. Get involved! For further information and queries please contact Dr. Syed Asif Altaf, Global HIV/AIDS Project Coordinator, Altaf_Asif@itf.org.uk or the Regional Education Coordinator in your ITF region, ITF Education Department: education@itf.org.uk .

This issue of the E-bulletin will look at a report from Brazil where ITF affiliate FETTRESP-CNTTT organised HIV/AIDS campaign during the ITF road transport action week; a report on HIV situation in Russia. The issue will also focus on a report from India on installation of condom vending machines in railway stations.

FETTRESP-CNTTT in Brazil integrate HIV/AIDS activities during the ITF road transport action week

Responding successfully to the HIV epidemic requires action from the widest possible range of participants. The workplace – and the workplace partners, employers and trade unions – is a key entry point for prevention, care and support, as well as the protection of rights. Brazil is home to the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in South America, estimated at 620,000 people. More than half of all the cases are concentrated in Sao Paulo state. HIV rates among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics have remained below 1%, with little variation over the past five years. This is partly a testament to the prevention programmes mounted in Brazil since the 1990s. In fact Brazil's HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention strategies have been so effective that they have become a model for developing countries dealing with the epidemic.

During this year’s ITF road transport action week (October 15-21, 2007), the Federation of Road Transport workers’ of the State of Sao Paulo (FETTRESP-CNTTT) organised a series of HIV/AIDS related activities. They organized meetings with groups of workers on a mobile stage at different bus and truck terminals. The unionists and volunteers also went to some of São Paulo´s roads like Dutra and Fernão Dias in order to talk with truck drivers and assistants, bus drivers and collector about union organization, fatigue and HIV/AIDS prevention. Condoms and T-shirts with HIV/AIDS related slogans were given out to attract the attention of drivers on these important issues.

They also organised a special discussion session on "Leadership and HIV/AIDS" to observe international road transport Women action day. Around 200 women leaders and workers participated in the discussion session.

Global Business Coalition (GBC) president says Russia is losing battle against HIV/AIDS because of government inaction, and lack of awareness

The HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia continues to grow and is affecting ever-larger parts of societies in this region. Russia accounts for around two-thirds of the cases in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region with an estimated 1 million people living with HIV. The majority of HIV infections in the Russian Federation are registered among injecting drug users. Between 1.5 and 3 million Russians are believed to inject drugs (1% to 2% of the entire population), and an estimated 30% to 40% of injecting drug users use non-sterile needles or syringes, which massively boosts the chances of HIV transmission. There is, however, clear evidence of a significant rise in heterosexual transmission.

According to Richard Holbrooke, president of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Russia is losing the battle against HIV/AIDS because of government inaction and a lack of public awareness about the disease. According to GBC, about 80% of the country's HIV cases occur among people ages 15 to 30 -- meaning that the disease poses a threat to Russia's economic development. About 90% of people living with HIV in Russia and Ukraine do not know their status and will not know until they have progressed to AIDS.

Russia is in "terrible, terrible danger," Holbrooke said, adding, "Over the next few years, HIV-positive people who are unaware of their status will be spreading it unintentionally."

Installation of condom vending machines at railway stations in India

Indian National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in collaboration with Hindustan Latex Ltd will install mechanically operated condom vending machines at “Pay and Use toilets” at different railway stations in India. This will be a part of NACO’s condom promotion activities which plans to increase condom distribution outlets from 600,000 to three million and to increase the number of distributed condoms from 1.6 billion to 3.5 billion over the next three years. Indian Railways is one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, transporting around sixteen million passengers and more than one million tonnes of freight daily. Indian railways is also is the world's largest commercial or utility employer with more than 1.6 million employees.