A baby was tested for HIV after she was twice given breast milk from strangers at a south-east London hospital. Zene Yates, born eight weeks early, was in the neonatal ward in Lewisham Hospital when she was fed the wrong milk through a tube. When Zene was discharged, a bottle of milk from a stranger was handed to the f
Health workers have warned that Cambodia s success in reducing its rate of HIV and Aids may be at risk. The US-based Results for Development Institute says that prevention and treatment programmes are too reliant on overseas donors. If that money stopped coming through, infections and deaths might rise. Cambodia used t
A report that examines migrant health in Northern Ireland is to be launched later to mark Human Rights day. It is part of a European Commission project aimed at addressing poverty and health inequalities among migrants. The report identifies issues from the language barrier to racism which impact on their experience.
Seventy-year-old Andrew Armstrong knows he is one of the fortunate ones. Diagnosed as HIV-positive during the height of the Aids scare more than 20 years ago, unlike many of his friends Mr Armstrong is a long-term survivor. And now, to ensure those who have lost their lives to the disease in Dorset are never forgotten,
Routine tests for the HIV virus should be carried out in casualty wards and GP surgeries, according to experts who say too many cases are going undiagnosed. Eight pilot projects were carried out across England in areas that have a high rate of HIV infections and found some cases were being missed. The study also asked
French first lady Carla Bruni has publicly thanked Pope Benedict for saying the use of condoms to prevent HIV/Aids may be justified. She said in an interview to mark World Aids Day that she was astonished, surprised and grateful for the Pope s remarks, publicised last month. I think this is quite an enormous step towar
A test for HIV that promises to give the result in just 20 minutes is being offered in Liverpool. The free, while-you-wait service, which uses a blood sample from the finger tip, is being offered until Thursday to coincide with World Aids Day. More than 1,000 people took the test last year, which is being offered by Li
Some politicians have called for Botswana to consider legalising prostitution to fight against HIV. Botlogile Tshireletso, a deputy minister, told the BBC it was time for the government to discuss the issue. Botswana, which has a high prevalence of HIV, has earned a reputation for being proactive in the Aids battle.
Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and Usher are among stars signing off social media including Facebook and Twitter in aid of singer Alicia Keys charity. The campaign Digital Life Sacrifice will raise money on Wednesday - World Aids Day - for Keep a Child Alive, which supports families affected by HIV/Aids in Africa and
A quarter of people with HIV in the UK, over 22,000, are unaware they have the virus, experts from the Health Protection Agency have suggested. The 2009 estimate is based on anonymous blood samples supplied for other reasons but tested and found to be HIV positive. It is at the same level as 2008 s estimate. The Terr
The number of people receiving treatment for HIV in the north east of England is continuing to rise. Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) revealed that 1,195 people were being treated in 2009, compared to 1,086 in 2008. This represents a 10% increase - the previous year it was 8%. However the region s
Burma says it ordered the eviction of HIV/Aids patients from a centre in Rangoon on the grounds of hygiene . The state-run Myanmar Ahlin newspaper quoted health officials saying they had found it unhygienic and over-crowded after inspections in July and August. The order for the centre to close came shortly after
The final pieces of a memorial wall in honour of over 400 people who have died of Aids across Dorset have been laid. The colourful tiles, each one designed by students, cover an underpass at Pier Approach, Bournemouth. The project was created by Dorset Aids Memorial Schools Educational Trust and will be officially unve
Truvada , which is made California-based Gilead Sciences , combines two antiretroviral drugs Truvada, which is made by California-based Gilead Sciences, combines two antiretroviral drugs A drug used to treat HIV-positive patients may offer gay and bisexual men some protection against contracting the virus, the author
The Vatican has clarified Pope Benedict XVI s comments on condoms, saying their use by men and women to prevent HIV could be an act of responsibility . The clarification follows comments suggesting the Pope accepted their use only in exceptional circumstances. But the Vatican s senior spokesman said the key point was t
The number of new HIV infections and deaths from Aids are falling globally, according to new statistics from the UN s programme on HIV/Aids. There are now signs the epidemic is declining, it says, however, stigma and discrimination continue to cause problems for the estimated 33m people living with HIV. Last year there
In the waiting room at the HIV and Aids clinic in La Paz, Bolivia s main city, a morning soap opera plays on TV. This is the only place in La Paz to get tested for the virus and where people living with HIV can see a doctor and receive medication. By law, people who are HIV-positive are entitled to free antiretroviral
Catholic reformers and groups working to combat HIV have welcomed remarks by Pope Benedict that the use of condoms might not always be wrong. The Pope said their use might be justified on a case by case basis to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids. The remarks, due to be published in a book next week, mark a softening of hi
Pope Benedict XVI has said the use of condoms is acceptable in exceptional circumstances, according to a new book. He said condoms could reduce the risk of HIV infection, such as for a male prostitute, in a series of interviews given to a German journalist. But he said a more humane attitude to sexuality, and not condo
Residents and staff at an HIV/Aids centre in Rangoon have been told that they will have to leave, two days after a high-profile visit by Aung San Suu Kyi. The Burmese pro-democracy leader drew large crowds when she met residents at the clinic on Wednesday. Late on Thursday, local officials told people at the clinic tha
A Chinese court has ruled against a man who says he was denied a teaching job because he is HIV positive, his lawyer says. The plaintiff, identified only by his alias Xiao Wu, filed the claim against the education department of Anqing in eastern Anhui province. He said that he had passed the academic tests and intervie
Tiny changes to an alarm protein which responds to infections may explain why some with HIV can control their condition without drugs. Around one in 300 people with HIV are controllers , and scientists want to replicate how their bodies behave. Writing in Science, US researchers say differences in five amino acids in a
Today I will start with a three-part sermon on: Jesus was HIV-positive, South African Pastor Xola Skosana recently said in a Sunday church service. The words initially stunned his congregation in Cape Town s Khayelitsha township into silence, and then set tongues wagging in churches across the country. Some Christians
The authorities in South Africa s KwaZulu-Natal province say they have been overwhelmed by the number of prisoners wanting to be circumcised to help combat the spread of HIV. Some studies suggest being circumcised can help men halve their chances of contracting the Aids virus. KwaZulu-Natal has one of the highest HIV i
A businessman who was persecuted by animal rights activists because of his link to Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) has said he has spent seven years living under siege and fearing for his family s safety. He removed his name from the electoral register, installed security devices at his home, took a different route to a
The pornography industry in Los Angeles is on edge after an actor tested positive for HIV. Although the incident led to renewed calls for the use of condoms in porn films, this remains a rarity. But as Ian Brimacombe reports, one adult film producer in South Africa has decided to make his actors wear condoms to promote
Thirty-five young farmers from north Powys are flying to Africa to help children with HIV. The members of Montgomeryshire Young Farmers Club (YFC) will spend 12 days in the village of Plateau, western Kenya , working on two schemes. The projects will see the young farmers building chicken pens, while they will also wor
A year-and-a-half ago, Gao Yaojie, a celebrated doctor, would have been greeting a steady stream of desperate HIV patients at her old home in central China . Now she passes her days holed up in a flat in the New York melting pot neighbourhood of West Harlem, writing about China s blood-selling epidemic in three books t
California s multi-billion dollar adult film industry is in disarray after one of its performers tested positive for HIV. Several production companies have halted filming while doctors try to establish who the actor in question performed with, as the BBC s David Willis reports. Nothing about the drab stucco-fronted bui
A landmark trial is being heard in China of a recent graduate who says he was denied a teaching job because he is HIV positive, state media say. The plaintiff, identified only by his alias Xiao Wu, filed the lawsuit against the education department of Anqing in eastern Anhui province. The China Daily says it is the nat
An actor s positive HIV test has caused two of the US adult film industry s largest studios to postpone filming. Wicked Pictures and Vivid Entertainment told The Los Angeles Times that production had stopped as a precaution. The unnamed actor was a member of the Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation. Clinic spo
Scientists have created an image of an important molecule linked to HIV infection and cancer which may help treat the diseases. Researchers from California used an X-ray technique to find out the structure of the CXCR4 molecule and how it works. The findings could open up new areas for drug discovery, says the study pu
A new report says only a third of people worldwide who need life-saving HIV drugs are actually getting treated. World leaders had pledged to achieve universal access to HIV medication by the end of this year - but that target won t be met. The joint report is by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN s AIDS progra
Many thousands of Zimbabwean children have lost their parents to Aids Zimbabwe has released on bail four US health workers suspected of running a clinic and dispensing Aids drugs without a licence. The four, along with two other staff from New Zealand and Zimbabwe, were told by a magistrate to pay $200 (£130) and surre
The number of people aged over 50 suffering from sexually transmitted infections has risen, according to health authorities in Guernsey . The Health and Social Services Department said changing lifestyles has led to an increasing number of older people who are single or dating. Figures show three out of eight newly
Many thousands of Zimbabwean children have lost their parents to Aids Zimbabwe has released on bail four US health workers suspected of running a clinic and dispensing Aids drugs without a licence. The four, along with two other staff from New Zealand and Zimbabwe, were told by a magistrate to pay $200 (130 pounds) and
A 5m British pound research centre in York which will help scientists develop drugs and vaccines for diseases has been officially opened. The Centre for Immunology and Infection (CII) is a joint venture by the Hull York Medical School (HYMS) and the University of York. Its scientists will try to find treatments for dis
The judge chairing the inquiry into contaminated NHS blood products in the 1980s has set out the next stages of his inquiry. Lord Penrose will take oral evidence from doctors, senior NHS managers and people who contracted HIV and hepatitis from infected blood products. The inquiry will look at whether enough was done t
A man who knowingly exposed a woman to the HIV virus has been jailed. Nicholas Andrew Richards, 31, of Saffron Way, Sittingbourne, Kent, admitted GBH at a previous hearing at Maidstone Crown Court. He was jailed for a year on that charge and a further year for another count of GBH after an attack on a man in Medway.
A Chinese man has filed a lawsuit alleging he was denied a job because he has HIV. State media say this is the first time that such a discrimination case has been accepted by a Chinese court. The man said he had passed written tests and interviews for the teaching post in Anhui province. But he was turned down after me
The porn film industry has come under fire from Aids campaigners, who have filed a complaint against adult entertainment mogul Larry Flynt. The Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has submitted an official complaint in California because Flynt s actors are not required to use condoms. AHF president Michael Weinstein said
Irish band U2 s first Russian concert was marred after police arrested activists from rights group Amnesty International before the gig began. A police spokeswoman said they did not have permission to hand out leaflets outside the Moscow event. The head of the human rights group s Moscow office, Sergei Nikitin, said U2
An HIV-positive German pop star accused of infecting a former partner with the virus has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence. Nadja Benaissa, 28, was found guilty on one count of causing grievous bodily harm and two of attempted bodily harm. The No Angels singer had admitted having unprotected sex and keepi
Two doctors have set off on a year-long cycle ride across Africa to raise awareness of health needs in Kenya . Dr Reza Noori, from Brighton s Royal Sussex County Hospital, and Dr Hannah Welstead, from St Peter s Hospital, Chertsey, set off on Saturday. The pair will visit remote areas and raise funds for Kenya s health
Aids activists in Swaziland have criticised a top adviser to King Mswati III for saying the country s HIV epidemic is being exaggerated for the benefit of pharmaceutical firms. Prince Mangaliso said public awareness campaigns against HIV amounted to little more than scare tactics. He added that male circumcision wa
International researchers say they have made a significant step towards a predictive blood test for tuberculosis. A DNA fingerprint in the blood shows promise in identifying which carriers of TB will go on to get symptoms and spread the infection. Such a test would allow earlier diagnosis and treatment of the lung dise
Nadja Benaissa appears in court in Germany A singer from German girl band No Angels has admitted to having unprotected sex with several partners without warning them she was HIV-positive. Nadja Benaissa, 28, was speaking at the opening of her trial in the German city of Darmstadt. I am so sorry, Ms Benaissa told
Dr Paola Borri has won a £1.1m award for her research using optical nanoscopy on cells A researcher at Cardiff University has scooped £1.1m to study living cells in minute detail. The money will go to Dr Paola Borri, who works in the school of biosciences. The grant will fund the development of technology to allows cel
Jason Warriner, clinical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust explained some of the reasons for the rise There has been a big increase in the number of people aged 50 and over catching HIV, latest figures show. The over-50s infection rate in England, Wales and Northern Irela
HIV has been transformed from a death sentence to a chronic condition in the decades since it was first diagnosed. While living long after you expected to die is a cause for celebration, it does bring its own problems, as Julian Hows explains. I was in my thirties when I was diagnosed, back in 1990. Then there was no t
HIV-related deaths could be reduced by 20% over the next five years if treatment begins earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says in fresh guidance. There were over 5m people receiving treatment for the virus at the end of 2009, up more than a million from 2008 - the largest ever increase in a year. The guideli
A vaginal gel has significantly cut the rate of women contracting HIV from infected partners in an experiment in South Africa , researchers said. They said the gel, containing Aids drug tenofovir, cut infection rates among 889 women by 50% after one year of use, and by 39% after two and a half years. If the results
Doctors are advising football fans who went to the World Cup in South Africa to check their HIV status if they had unprotected sex on their trip. Up to 25,000 England fans recently returned from South Africa, where about six million people have HIV. More than two-thirds of heterosexual men and a quarter of women with H
The prevalence of HIV among young people in countries worst-affected by Aids, mainly in Africa, has fallen, new figures from the UN show. In a report, UNAids says the incidence of HIV has decreased by up to 25% as young people between the ages of 15 and 24 change their sexual behaviour. The report says it is in respons
Nearly 20% of those with HIV in the US are not aware they are infected President Barack Obama has unveiled a nationwide strategy to combat HIV-Aids. The plan aims to reduce new infections by 25% by 2015 and will target high risk communities, including African-Americans, gay and bisexual men, Latinos and drug users.
A man jailed for 10 years after his pregnant girlfriend found out he had infected her with HIV has had his sentence cut. Mark Devereaux, 42, who also had unprotected sex with other women, had known he had the virus for nine years. His partner, who was pregnant with twins, chose to have them aborted after discovering sh
Hundreds of hospital patients asked to have HIV tests after it emerged a healthcare worker had the virus have been told there is an incredibly low risk of infection. Three hospital trusts in North and East Yorkshire have written to 519 patients offering precautionary testing . The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said th
A Scottish healthcare specialist is using the World Cup to offer hope to more than 1,000 South African children affected by HIV and Aids. Samuel Mayer has helped hundreds of the country s poorest children to attend World Cup matches for free through the Grassroot Soccer project. Mr Mayer, from Edinburgh, wears his trad
Prince Harry rode into an African village on horseback before introducing brother William to young HIV/Aids sufferers helped by his charity. The prince, dressed in a tribal blanket, arrived at the Lesotho village to highlight the plight of teenagers affected by the illness. Prince William, joining him later, said he w
A 3m pound. centre has opened in Cornwall to treat patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The unit, at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, will also offer contraception advice. Rates of chlamydia, syphilis and HIV in the county are increasing, with a growing incidence in people over the age of 45.
Every afternoon in Beijing s Dongdan park, just east of Tiananmen Square, volunteers gather to hand out free condoms. They work for the Beijing Aizhixing Institute, an independent organisation that aims to prevent the spread of HIV/Aids. Along with other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Aizhixing says it has rece
Three women in Namibia are suing the state for allegedly being sterilised without their informed consent after being diagnosed as HIV positive. The women say the doctors and nurses should have informed them properly about what was happening. The rights group representing them, the Legal Assistance Centre, says it has d
Two ex-officers in Zambia s air force have been awarded damages following claims they were tested and treated for HIV without their knowledge. The men had claimed they were fired for being HIV-positive, but the court decided not to reinstate them. Mandatory HIV screening is not legal in the military, and the government
A landmark court case in Zambia is sure to reignite a debate about the pros and cons of mandatory testing for HIV. Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers Stanley Kingaipe and Charles Chookole say they were tested and treated for the virus without their knowledge. ZAF has now been ordered to pay them compensation for mental an
Two prominent HIV scientists from Canada have called for an end to the blanket ban on blood donations from men who have had sex with men. They believe it is out of step with science and is reducing the number of healthy donors whose blood could be saving lives. The issue is one the UK is currently examining, amid growi
Men have double the risk of catching HIV if their partner is pregnant, say researchers. A study of more than 3,000 couples in Africa also backed previous research showing women are more susceptible to HIV infection when they are pregnant. The researchers speculate that changes in a pregnant woman s immune system may co
A campaign is being launched to try to enlist public support to ensure no more children are born with HIV by 2015. It is the work of the Global Fund, which uses donations from governments to fight HIV, TB and malaria. The Born HIV Free campaign comes at a critical time, with the fund seeking donations of up to $20bn ov
More must be done to ensure people with HIV are not discriminated against when accessing healthcare, says a report by a cross-party group of AMs. The report recommends better training for healthcare professionals who treat people with HIV. It also recommends a public awareness campaign to dispel the myths associated wi
The worldwide eradication of smallpox may, inadvertently, have helped spread HIV infection, scientists believe. Experts say the vaccine used to wipe out smallpox offered some protection against the Aids virus and, now it is no longer used, HIV has flourished. The US investigators said trials indicated the smallpox jab
Some 90% of gay men in the Asia-Pacific region are denied access to HIV/Aids help because of discriminatory laws in many states, a UN-backed report says. Almost half the region s countries criminalise gay male sex and the report says this is worsening a situation in which infection rates are climbing. Repressive laws
African grandmothers have gathered in Swaziland to discuss the impact of HIV/Aids on their lives. Many have become the primary carers of their grandchildren after losing their own adult children to the disease. Organisers say they hope to create a solidarity movement of African grandmothers to attract targeted aid.
US researchers say they are a step closer to understanding why some people have natural protection against HIV. They believe rare individuals who progress very slowly to AIDs when infected make white blood cells that are better at fighting the virus. The findings, published in Nature, may help international efforts to
Bright spent two years in Zambia s Lusaka Central Prison for selling cannabis but fears he now faces a life sentence. I did it because of hunger, says Bright softly. There s not much food in prison. Sex has become the way of payment. Conditions were bad, he remembers. We had nshima [maize meal] and beans two times a da
China has lifted travel restrictions for foreigners who suffer from HIV and AIDS. The newly amended law, published on the government website, comes ahead of the opening of the Shanghai World Expo on Saturday, which expects 100m visitors. WHO welcomed the decision, calling it a significant step in the right direction
Same sex couples on the Isle of Man could soon have the same rights as married couples if a civil partnership bill is approved by Tynwald. The bill has been tabled by economic development minister, Allan Bell, who believes the it is the last move towards equal rights for gay people .
Drug addicts should be prescribed heroin on the NHS, a nursing leader says. Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said the move would drive down crime rates while helping people off the drug. But the views of other nurses at the RCN s annual conference in Bournemouth were mixed. Mr
South Africa s President Jacob Zuma has revealed that he is HIV-negative. Launching a government programme of counselling and testing, he said he had decided to reveal his status so as to promote openness about Aids. Mr Zuma has been open in the past about being tested for Aids, but has never before revealed the result
A composer who contracted HIV and hepatitis C through an NHS blood transfusion has won a High Court challenge over compensation levels. Andrew March, 36, had criticised the government s refusal to match higher payouts in the Republic of Ireland . Mr Justice Holman ruled that the way the UK government had rea
In Egypt , the very existence of homosexuality is rarely openly acknowledged. Laws on public morality are used to crack down on gay people and mean they live under continual threat of harassment and imprisonment. Tito is a good-looking man in his late twenties with a successful career and an infectious laugh. Yet he te
A Malawian official has defended in a BBC interview plans to make it a crime for a person who knows they are HIV positive to infect someone else. Plans for the new bill were announced in March and provoked a heated debate about whether or not the criminal law should be applied to HIV transmission. Supporters claim the
Leading medical experts have warned that scrapping methadone as a treatment for heroin addiction could lead to a rise in crime, HIV and drug deaths. A group of 40 specialists from around the world have outlined their concerns in a letter to The Scotsman newspaper. The experts expressed dismay about the continuing misre
Scores of fans have snapped up designer outfits Sir Elton John donated to a charity shop in Sussex. Dozens of clothes and shoes, including items by Alexander McQueen, Versace and Chanel went on sale at Sussex Beacon shop in George Street, Hove, on Friday. The legendary musician and his partner David Furnish donated the
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster has said he understands why contraception is seen as attractive in tackling Third World poverty. But Archbishop Vincent Nichols told BBC WM it was not the Church s role to add to calls for condom distribution. The Church opposes contraception, because it believes it interfer
Some of Sir Elton John s designer cast-offs will take pride of place at the opening of a charity shop in Sussex. The legendary musician and his partner David Furnish have donated clothes and shoes to help the Sussex Beacon shop in George Street, Hove. The clobber donated by the couple, including items by Alexander McQu
The opportunity to save tens of thousands of HIV patients with a simple, cheap, drug treatment is being missed, say researchers. Giving some newly-diagnosed patients an antibiotic would significantly reduce the death toll in the early stages of the disease, they say. A major study in The Lancet medical journal found it
UK aid to Zimbabwe is reaching the poor and vulnerable but the plight of children in the country remains a serious concern, MPs have said. The International Development Committee spent four days in the country. Its report says limited progress has been made since the power-sharing government took office in 2009 with sc
A judicial review is to be heard by the High Court over calls for higher compensation to the victims of contaminated blood. An independent inquiry last year called for an overhaul of pay-outs to those who contracted HIV and hepatitis in the 1970s and 1980s through transfusions. But ministers refused, promising only tho
A compound which could form the basis of a new drug to treat tuberculosis (TB) has been discovered by a team led by the University of Strathclyde. Researchers developed the compound from an antibiotic, which they hope could become an effective treatment for TB. The compound will undergo further tests before it can be d
A judge in Malawi says that two gay men arrested in December after getting engaged have a case to answer. A lawyer said the couple would now call defence witnesses. Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, and Steven Monjeza, 26, deny charges of gross indecency. They have now spent almost three months in custody in what is being seen
A man jailed for 10 years after his pregnant girlfriend found out he had infected her with HIV is to appeal against his sentence. Mark Devereaux, who also had unprotected sex with other women, had known he had the virus for nine years. His 28-year-old partner, who was pregnant with twins, chose to have them aborted aft
Alvin s Guide To Good Business, BBC World, Neno, Malawi The weekly HIV clinic is teeming with patients of all ages, from babies to grand-parents. A health care worker is questioning one of them about their social and economic background. He writes down an increasingly grim litany. Education - none, job - none, chil
The explosion of mobile use in developing countries is helping transform health care. Groups such as DataDyne use mobiles to collect and share vital data on health and disease is collected. The organisation produces EpiSurveyor, which health workers use to gather information about vaccination rates and instances of HIV
The UK has donated 1m pound ($1.5m) to South Africa to buy condoms in a bid to combat HIV and Aids, as the nation builds up to the football World Cup. South Africa says it needs one billion condoms this year, anticipating extra demand from foreign football fans. This is more than double the number the government normal
A campaign has been launched to eradicate polio in west and central Africa, targeting 85 million children. Some 400,000 health workers and volunteers will go from door-to-door in 19 countries, giving oral polio vaccine to children under the age of five. Africa has made significant progress in the fight against polio, w
Washington DC will become the first city in the US to make female condoms available for free, the Washington Post has reported. The contraceptives will be handed out in beauty salons, convenience stores and high schools in areas with high rates of HIV/Aids infection. Male condoms have long been handed out but infection
HIV has become the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age worldwide, the UN programme on HIV/Aids says. At the start of a 10-day conference in New York, UNAids launched a five-year action plan addressing the gender issues which put women at risk. One of the key issues, it says, is that up to
As South African President Jacob Zuma begins his first state visit to Britain since his inauguration last May, BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles examines the Zuma presidency. This visit is a high-profile occasion, not least because it comes just less than 100 days before the start of the 2010 football World C
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma has overcome numerous obstacles to become president of South Africa . He was born into poverty, went into exile to fight white minority rule and has had to battle accusations of rape and corruption during a bitter power struggle. But his poor roots, charisma and strength in adversity partly ex
Campaigners opposing Uganda s Anti-Homosexuality Bill have taken an online petition to parliament, signed by some 450,000 people from around the world. The petition is the latest attempt to halt the bill, which carries the death penalty for some homosexual acts. US President Barack Obama has called the proposed legisla
Lovemore bravely looks on at the work of the doctor and nurse as they perform the circumcision. It s numb, man, I can t feel a thing, he says. It reduces the risk of transmitting HIV, so whatever s needed for me to be safe, I ve got to do it. But I intend to remain faithful to my wife. Lovemore is one of about 3,000 me
One of the women who had a relationship with a man who did not reveal he was HIV positive has spoken of his despicable actions. The woman, now 27, was speaking about her former partner Mark Devereaux s conviction. She was with him in 2003. She said: Never in my worst nightmares could I have imagined him keeping somethi
Following the conviction of Mark Devereaux for knowingly infecting a woman with HIV, Catherine Murphy from the HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust, outlines some of the problems surrounding the issue. A brief glance at headlines like Evil HIV Fiend or AIDS Avenger could lead some to assume that HIV pro
A man whose girlfriend found out he had infected her with HIV when she was pregnant has been jailed for 10 years. Mark Devereaux - who also had unprotected sex with other women - had known he had the virus for nine years. The 28-year-old woman, pregnant with twins, chose to have an abortion after discovering she had HI
Since a Ugandan MP proposed the death penalty for some gay people, homophobia has been on the rise in other parts of Africa. Earlier this month, US President Barack Obama s criticism of the Ugandan proposals led to huge anti-gay rallies in neighbouring Kenya . Soon after, rumours of a gay wedding near the Kenyan coasta
Anti-retroviral treatments (ARVs) and universal testing could stop the spread of Aids in South Africa within five years, a top scientist says. Dr Brian Williams says the cost of giving the drugs to almost six million HIV-positive patients in the country would be $2-3bn per year. Only about 30% get the life-saving d
TV presenter Ray Gosling has been arrested on suspicion of murder by Nottinghamshire Police after he admitted killing his lover. The 70-year-old s confession that he had smothered the unnamed man who was dying of Aids was broadcast on the BBC s Inside Out programme on Monday. The Nottingham filmmaker said he had made a
A TV presenter s on-air confession that he killed his ailing lover is to be investigated by Nottinghamshire Police. Ray Gosling, 70, told the BBC s Inside Out programme he had smothered the unnamed man who was dying of Aids. Pressure group Care Not Killing said it was bizarre the BBC had not told police of the admissio
Badly fitted condoms do not just reduce the pleasure of sex for men and women - they raise the risks of infection and pregnancy, researchers say. Men are twice as likely to take the condom off midway through sex due to a poor fit, a poll of 436 men in Sexually Transmitted Infections journal reveals. Ill-fitting condoms
A common treatment for herpes can delay the need for HIV drugs in people with both infections, say US researchers. A study of 3,300 patients in Africa found aciclovir reduced the risk of HIV progression by 16%, The Lancet reports. Although a modest effect, the researchers said the cheap treatment was a simple way of ke
A singer from the German girl band No Angels has been charged with causing bodily harm for failing to inform sexual partners she was HIV positive. Nadja Benaissa, 27, had sex with three people without telling them she was infected, prosecutors in Germany said. One of them has since been confirmed as having contracted t
Alvin s Guide To Good Business, BBC World News, Zambia Africa s health systems are in crisis. Could motorbikes be the answer? Social entrepreneurs Riders for Health think they are. They are striving to transform health delivery in Africa, using business principles and motorbikes. Founded by two motorcycling fans, R
Hundreds of people in China believe they might have a new disease with HIV-like symptoms, but doctors suggest their illness could be the result of a mental rather than a physical condition. The Chinese authorities have been accused of covering up respiratory illnesses like Sars in the past. This time doctors are bl
As Vancouver prepares to host the Winter Olympics, the city continues to struggle with a vicious drugs war. Dozens have been killed in escalating turf battles that have spread far beyond the city limits. But it is a war that has its roots even further away, in Mexico . It rains a lot in Vancouver, but this city s ambit
Pupils in Gloucestershire are to be warned about the dangers of HIV by the Terrence Higgins Trust. The organisation has taken on two new health experts who will travel around schools in the county. Steve Higgins, from the trust, said: They ll be working in schools to raise awareness of sexual health, sexual ill health
Uganda s controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill is likely to be changed, a minister has told the BBC. However, Deputy Foreign Minister Henry Okello Oryem did not give details of how he thought the final bill would be different to the current proposals. Uganda has come under intense international pressure over the bill,
US President Barack Obama has criticised as odious proposed anti-homosexuality legislation in Uganda . The bill calls for long jail terms or the death penalty in some cases of homosexual intercourse. It is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are, he told politicians and religious leaders at a prayer
An HIV-positive South African woman allegedly confessed to using fake documents to get work at care homes in NI, the High Court has been told. The woman, who lived for several years in Belfast, is seeking to judicially review the decision to deport her by the UK Border Agency. She was also said to have told her lawyer
President Jacob Zuma should seek professional help for his sex addiction , a South African MP says. This follows reports that Mr Zuma, 67, who has three wives, has a love-child with Sonono Khoza, 39, the daughter of local world cup boss Irvin Khoza. Kenneth Meshoe said Mr Zuma should get help, like Tiger Woods did , an
South Africa s main opposition party has accused the country s president of contradicting the government s message on HIV/Aids prevention. President Jacob Zuma had a child with Sonono Khoza, the daughter of local world cup boss Irvin Khoza last year, claims the Sunday Times newspaper. Mr Zuma has also been criticised f
A vaccine could cut the number of cases of tuberculosis among HIV-positive Africans by almost two-fifths, claim researchers. The lung infection is the most common cause of death among HIV patients in the continent. Research published in the journal AIDS found significantly fewer TB cases in vaccinated patients. An
As Sonia swayed to a popular Bollywood song, striking model-like poses, a small crowd of activists and journalists cheered her on. She was the first of about 20 contestants at auditions held in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) for the Super Queen - India s first transgender beauty contest. Auditions to become India s
An HIV-positive South African woman is challenging being removed from NI by immigration authorities. The asylum seeker, who is believed to have spent years living in Belfast, was taken to a removal centre in England last week under a fast-track process. Her transfer followed reports she used counterfeit documents to ga
Romania has overtaken Russia as the top country of origin of migrant sex workers in the EU, a survey of prostitution across the EU has found. In 2006 the top countries of origin were Russia, Ukraine and Romania - in that order, the Tampep network reports. But in 2008 the top three were Romania, R
A Ugandan MP who proposed introducing the death penalty for some gay people has told a newspaper he is willing to change his draft legislation. In an interview with the Daily Monitor, David Bahati said he had talked to the cabinet about the bill and was willing to amend some clauses . Earlier in the week the cabinet se
HIV groups in Scotland have demanded the highest standards of proof before a prosecution can be brought for reckless transmission of the virus. Their call comes after Mark Devereaux was convicted of having unprotected sex with four different women without telling them about the risks involved. Three of the women did no
A woman who found out she had HIV when she was pregnant with twins was infected by her boyfriend who had known he had the virus for nine years. She was among four women unaware that Mark Devereaux, 41, had the virus when they had unprotected sex with him. The 28-year-old woman chose to have an abortion after discoverin
Some of the most harrowing stories coming out of the devastation in Haiti are those of children, alone, scared and severely injured. Under 18s make up almost half of Haiti s 10-million population and aid agencies are warning they are at great risk from ongoing physical and psychological trauma. Already the country
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has distanced himself from a bill proposing execution for some gay people. He stressed that the MP who proposed the bill, who is a member of the ruling party, did so as an individual and was not following government policy. Mr Museveni, who admitted coming under international pressure,
A Ugandan government minister has said that a proposed law which includes the death penalty for some homosexual acts is not necessary . Aston Kajara, minister of state for investments, added that the government might put pressure on the MP behind the Anti-Homosexuality Bill to withdraw it. The bill submitted last Octob
Petty criminals who break into condom vending machines are causing concern among Aids and HIV-prevention activists in the Indian city of Mumbai. Over 3,000 condom vending machines have been installed in the city as a part of an HIV Aids prevention programme. However, more than 500 of the machines have been damaged by p
A Malawian judge has rejected a bail application by two gay men charged with public indecency after getting engaged. Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa said Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza would be safer in custody while they wait their trial - expected to start next week. The pair, believed to be the first gay couple in Mala
The US has lifted a 22-year immigration ban which has stopped anyone with HIV/Aids from entering the country. President Obama said the ban was not compatible with US plans to be a leader in the fight against the disease. The new rules come into force on Monday and the US plans to host a bi-annual global HIV/Aids summit
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