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 back at a report from Argentina where the ITF affiliate signed an important agreement with the national nautical school to incorporate HIV/AIDS in their health and safety course curriculum; a report from Papua New Guinea where business coalition have started education programme at workplace. The issue will also focus on a proposed legislation in one of the state in India to introduce mandatory HIV testing before marriage.

Argentina national nautical school “Manuel Belgrano” to incorporate HIV/AIDS in their curriculum  

In Argentina, even though HIV prevalence rate remains less than 1% with the total number of HIV positive people estimated around 130,000, the epidemic is concentrated among populations at particular risk, such as sex workers, drug users, and men who have sex with men. The main mode of HIV transmission is sexual intercourse; HIV transmission has increased in young people. Young women are particularly at risk to HIV infection due to their low level of education, unequal access to formal employment, unequal income and social status, and limits on their ability to negotiate the use of condoms or safer sex. Although sexual education has been identified as a priority issue, which should be addressed in HIV prevention activities at regional level, there are very few HIV prevention programmes focused on sexual education.

Centro de Jefes y Oficiales Maquinistas Navales, the ITF affiliate in Argentina recently signed an agreement with the Argentinean national nautical school “Manuel Belgrano”, regional branch of the World Maritime University and one of the few nautical schools in the world that is certified with ISO 9000. According to the agreement the school will include HIV/AIDS in their curriculum of health, safety and first aid courses which will ensure that the seafarers passing through this institute will have a basic understanding of HIV/AIDS and will be able to provide education to their peers on ships. 

Papua New Guinea business coalition to implement programmes in businesses nationwide to fight HIV/AIDS: ITF affiliates can be a good partner

Papua New Guinea has the highest incidence of HIV in the Pacific region. It is estimated that 2% of the adult population that is approximately 64,000 people, are now HIV positive. A recent report commissioned by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid) has revealed that Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces a potential HIV/AIDS disaster on a similar scale to sub-Saharan Africa. As in Africa, the country’s working-age population will be most affected, leaving behind many children and the elderly. According to the UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot, Papua New Guinea is "clearly ... the new frontline of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region," and the "rapid" increase in HIV cases in the country is "shocking”.  
 
HIV is spreading throughout the country because of low condom use, multiple sex partners and high rates of sexually transmitted infections. In addition, underdevelopment of transportation and infrastructure, internal economic migration, the low status of women and violence against women also are fuelling the spread of HIV in the country. Significant HIV prevalence rates are found both in large urban areas, such as Port Moresby, and in rural pockets, typically around high risk settings including transport routes, mining and logging sites. This growing HIV/AIDS epidemic will impact on the future of Papua New Guinea including reduced life expectancy, workforce depletion, increased health expenditure and reduced economic growth. According to an Aus Aid-commissioned report, unless interventions to address the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea by 2025; the impact will be:

• Over 500,000 people will be living with HIV/AIDS
• 117,000 children will have lost their mothers to AIDS  
• The workforce will have declined by 12.5%  
• GDP will be 1.3% less than predicted  
• 70% of all hospital beds will be needed for AIDS patients
  

The Papua New Guinea business coalition against HIV/AIDS plans to work with businesses in the country to implement the coalition's policy on HIV/AIDS in the workplace. According to Rod Mitchell, CEO of the coalition, the coalition plans to train business leaders to educate workers on policies and principles regarding HIV/AIDS. The coalition also helps businesses develop and coordinate the involvement of other stakeholders in implementing HIV education in the workplace. But to make the education programme successful, it is very important to involve trade unions. The ITF affiliates: Papua New Guinea Maritime Workers Industrial Union and National Airline Employees' Association have been implementing a number of activities and helping their members in their fight against HIV/AIDS so they can be very good partners in business coalition. 

Indian state Maharashtra proposes mandatory HIV tests before marriage

According to the new UNAIDS estimate, around 2.5 million Indians are currently living with HIV. Concentrated in seven states with over 1% antenatal prevalence in four of the industrialized western and southern states of India (specifically Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) and in the northeastern states of Manipur and Nagaland, the epidemic is highly heterogeneous. Although data gathered by National AIDS Control Organization of India (NACO) in 2007 has revealed that HIV prevalence has stabilised in at least Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, it is increasing in at-risk populations in other states. As a result, overall HIV prevalence has continued to rise. A significant proportion of new infections is occurring in women who are married and who have been infected by husbands who either currently or in the past frequented sex workers.

 
A committee of lawmakers in India's Maharashtra state recently proposed that the state should pass a law requiring HIV tests before marriage. If approved, the law would be the first of its kind in the country. Although it is said that the proposal will not be enforced until extensive discussions with the public have taken place, if the proposal become a law it will clearly be a violation of a person’s right to choose. National AIDS Control Organization of India(NACO), which advocates against mandatory HIV tests, is opposed to the proposal and said that HIV tests before marriage should be administered only if both partners have agreed to undergo the tests.