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 HIV/AIDS awareness and support programme implemented by   Forward Seamen Union of India; a report from Indonesia, where a fishing community  is at high risk of getting HIV infection. The issue will also focus on the launching of Product Red computers by Dell and Microsoft.   

HIV/AIDS awareness and support programme implemented by   Forward Seamen Union of India  

The spread of HIV in India has been diverse, with much of India having a low rate of infection and the epidemic being most extreme in the southern half of the country and in the far northeast. 90% of all nationally reported AIDS cases have been found in 10 of the 38 states and union territories. The greatest numbers were in Maharashtra and Gujarat in the west; Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the south; and Manipur and West Bengal in the northeast. There is an alarming increase in the HIV/AIDS cases in West Bengal state. According to the state AIDS prevention and control society (WBSAP&CS), 0.5% of state population belonging to the age group between 15 years and 49 years are carrying the virus. Forward Seamen Union of India with funding and technical support from the West Bengal state AIDS prevention & Control Society (WBSAP&CS) is implementing a HIV/AIDS prevention and care programme for seafarers and other migrant workers in all 19 districts of West Bengal. The main activities of their programme are: 

• Development and distribution of Behaviour change communication (BCC) materials.
• Awareness programmes for all workers including condom promotion and distribution
• Referral for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)
• Care and support initiative for the already infected workers and their families.
  

Forward Seamen Union of India has also started a medical clinic at the Nabik Griha(Seamen Centre) and FSUI head office in  Kolkata. The clinic provides treatment for other sexually transmitted infections and also provides referral services for HIV positive persons. The clinic is quickly becoming very popular among the seafarers visiting Nabik Griha because of its confidential and non- judgemental services provided by trained medical professionals.  
 

Indonesian fishermen at increased risk of HIV because of social and cultural factors

Fishermen and fishing communities are at risk of HIV infection. It has become evident in recent years that fishing communities in many developing countries are experiencing very high HIV prevalence, with rates five to ten times higher than in the general population. A study conducted by the joint seafarers initiative of UNICEF and UNAIDS estimates that 22 per cent of seafarers in the Mekong region of South East Asia may be infected with HIV.

With over 17,000 islands and 755 ports, Indonesia's maritime and fishing industries are a major source of national income. Indonesia has over 425,000 marine fishermen (estimated by Graham Hugo in 2001), and over five million "fisher folk" involved in all aspects of Indonesia's fishing industry (estimated by Kissling et al. in 2005). While the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia's adult population is estimated to be 0.1 percent, in certain groups the rate is high.  Among female sex workers in Bali, approximately one in 10 are estimated to have HIV (Bali AIDS Commission/KPAD, 2007).

Many Indonesian fishermen also work on larger boats, which dock at international ports where HIV infection rates among sex workers are even higher. Clearly the fishermen are at high risk of infection, and with their regular visits home to wives and girlfriends in Java and elsewhere, they form potential bridge for sexually transmitted infections and HIV to Indonesia's general population, as do other clients of sex workers, such as truck drivers. Yet despite serious high risk factors and the large number of fishermen in Indonesia, few efforts have so far been made to study and devise effective, accessible and acceptable intervention programmes, which take into account social, cultural, and economic contexts.

Balinese researcher Made Setiawan recently concluded a study among fishermen based at Benoa Port in Bali to investigate the social factors and dynamics that put them at risk. His findings are based on extensive observation and conversations with a wide variety of fisher folk at the port and dorms, in addition to in-depth interviews with 29 crewmembers from small fishing boats (which stay at sea for two weeks per trip, and have a crew size of about eight). The study found that fishermen often place themselves in risky situations because they are separated from their wives and families. In addition, many fishermen use alcohol and have sex with commercial sex workers. Commercial sex work is widespread in Indonesia with condom use estimated at less than 10% in commercial sex acts. Although the government and local nongovernmental organizations encourage sex workers to use condoms, most fishermen do not use condoms because of lack of knowledge and misconception.

The ITF affiliates in Indonesia, Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia (KPI), which is organising fishermen in the country, have planned to initiate HIV/AIDS awareness programmes for members. 

Product Red: Dell, Microsoft to launch Product Red computer and Product Red art auction raises $42.6M for global fund programmes in Africa  

Dell and Microsoft have recently launched Product RED computer to benefit the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Dell has already started selling two Product RED laptops and one desktop computer that run Microsoft Windows Vista. The companies will provide the Global Fund with $50 for each laptop sold and $80 for each desktop. The computers were designed in part by Irish musician and Product RED co-founder Bono. Microsoft said that it expects "several hundred thousand" of the Dell computers to be sold in 2008.

Product RED has also raised about $42.6 million at the Product RED art auction in New York City to benefit HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programmes in Africa. The proceeds will go to the United Nations Foundation to support Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria programmes. The auction organised by the Sotheby's, New York has risen significantly more than the upper pre-sale estimate of $29 million. Artists who contributed their work included Georg Baselitz, Howard Hodgkin, Jasper Johns, Anish Kapoor and Jeff Koons. The auction brought the total amount raised by Product Red to more than $100 million since it was launched.