Nation+Beyond

Health officials in Brazil say the country will soon begin producing a generic version of Sustiva to help keep down the costs of providing free antiretroviral treatment to about 200,000 HIVers in the nation, 40% of whom take the drug. -------------------- Nearly 60 million condoms have been distributed in Botswana by government programs and the aid group Population Services International during the past two years as part of the nation's scale-up of its fight against HIV. -------------------- Injection-drug use, including a recent explosion of crystal meth abuse, is fueling HIV's spread in Cambodia, health officials say. A government study has found that more than 35% of drug users in the capital of Phnom Penh are HIV-positive. -------------------- After the election of a new parliament in October in Canada, a coalition of AIDS organizations called for the reinstatement of social support programs and other resources for the nation's HIVers. One agency estimates government spending has been reduced by about $5.5 million since 2005. -------------------- Sexual activity has become the main mode of HIV transmission in China, according to the national health ministry. Previously, injection-drug use accounted for the majority of new infections. -------------------- Government officials and AIDS advocates in Dominica are crafting a five-year plan to fight HIV in the Caribbean nation, including strengthening overall health care systems and integrating prevention awareness into primary health care. -------------------- Rising rates of gonorrhea and syphilis cases in Fiji, particularly among young people between 20 and 29, have health officials worried that unprotected sex is becoming more commonplace and that HIV infection rates also may soon show similar increases. -------------------- Noting that HIV transmissions are rising among inmates in India, the nation's high court has formed a committee to create prevention guidelines for prisons, including addressing infections through sex. -------------------- The total number of reported HIV cases in Iran has reached 18,320, logging a 30% increase since the end of 2007, according to the nation's health ministry. Nearly 94% of the cases are among men, and about 81% occurred through shared needles used to inject drugs. -------------------- 'Condomobiles,' vans used by local health departments to distribute condoms and prevention literature, are now operating in every state in Mexico. The street-level outreach is needed because stigma keeps many Mexicans from seeking prevention services at local health clinics. -------------------- Papua New Guinea has launched a five-year research initiative that aims to boost knowledge about the main modes of HIV transmission in the country, improve understanding of the conditions faced by HIVers, examine the nation's overall response to the disease, and evaluate the economic and social impact of AIDS. -------------------- Noting that HIV infection rates are high among people who engage in unprotected sex while on international vacations, the National AIDS Center in Poland has launched the 'Return Without HIV' campaign, aimed at encouraging travelers to practice safer sex and to take antibody tests after visiting countries with high HIV rates. -------------------- Activists in South Africa have praised the replacement of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang with an official more committed to fighting AIDS. The former health minister was dubbed 'Dr. Garlic' for her claims that antiretroviral drugs were not more effective than nutritional remedies like garlic, beetroot, and lemon juice. -------------------- The Uganda AIDS Commission has launched a five-year, $2 billion program aimed at decreasing the annual number of new HIV diagnoses by 40% by 2012. The program will focus many of its efforts on young people and members of high-risk groups. -------------------- Misconceptions about how HIV is spread remain high in Yemen, particularly among rural residents, according to a survey. Many respondents said they believed HIV could be spread through shaking hands, hugging, or sharing drinking glasses and plates.