New Report Says HIV/AIDS Rates Growing

A new report issued by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Thursday said that rates of HIV/AIDS infections among gay men, intravenous drug users and prostitutes are growing. And because these groups often live on the fringes of society or are otherwise seen as outcasts, treatment may be limited or refused.

The Geneva-based humanitarian agency’s report called on governments and humanitarian agencies to give additional consideration to AIDS in response to armed conflicts and natural disasters.

The 248-page World Disasters Report, published annually, did not provide additional data on those who suffer from AIDS, but quoted United Nations figures that 2.1 million people had died from the disease last year.  

The Federation said it focused this year’s report on HIV/AIDS rather than natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes because in many communities the epidemic "is undoubtedly a disaster."  

"Government services are overwhelmed by the need for support and treatment, stigma still prevents access for many, even where services exist, and communities are devastated by its effects," the report said.

"HIV is a long-term and complex disaster on many levels … For marginalized groups across the world — injecting drug users, sex workers and men who have sex with men — rates are on the increase,” the agency wrote in the report.

Gay men, intravenous drug users and prostitutes "often face stigma, criminalization and little, if any, access to prevention and treatment services," it explained.

The agency said the HIV virus was the underlying source of social crisis across much of southern Africa. And recent violence in Zimbabwe could disrupt health care and worsen the situation, Federation officials said during a news conference.

"We must not let what we have achieved be put into reverse," said Mukesh Kapila, a specialist with the Federation.

Ibrahim Osman, the agency’s deputy secretary general, said it would assist the Zimbabwe Red Cross in doubling the number of HIV patients it supports to 260,000.

The Federation said there were 405 natural disasters worldwide last year, a slight decrease from the 423 seen in 2006. Just under 17,000 were killed as a result, the lowest annual figure in a decade, although 201 million were affected, a 40 percent increase.

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