Wednesday, 21 January 2004
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WHO Plans Collaboration Between National TB And HIV/AIDS Programmes

The UN health agency (WHO), has announced a plan to expand collaboration between national tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS programmes to curb the growing pandemic of TB/HIV co-infection. WHO estimates that 30 to 40 per cent of HIV/AIDS cases develop Tuberculosis and die from TB. Director of WHO's Stop TB Department Dr. Mario Raviglione says the plan strongly recommends HIV testing for TB patients and those recognized as being HIV positive should undergo anti-retroviral treatment:

"At the same time if the voluntary counselling and testing that is recommended by the HIV communities were widely available in the African continent and elsewhere newly identified HIV positive people could then be counselled on how to prevent tuberculosis or they could be screened that they do not have TB at the time they test for HIV which we found is a significant phenomena."

Dr. Raviglione says TB is the most important health infection seen among patients living with HIV/AIDS and is a major epidemic in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Annan Urges Free Elections in Iran

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for free elections in Iran. The call came during a news conference after talks with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Those talks centred on problem areas such as Iraq, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and Afghanistan as well as German/ UN relations. UN Spokesman, Stefan Dujarric, says the Secretary-General was asked about political developments in Iran.:

"The Secretary-General expressed his hope that Iranians would find a way to resolve their differences so that they could hold free and fair elections with participation from all the parties."

Asked about UN efforts to find a settlement in Cyprus, the Secretary-General said that his settlement proposal was still on the table and he was waiting to hear from all the parties that they are ready to resume negotiations.

Tens of Millions Die From Lack of Vitamins: UNICEF

Tens of millions of people die or are mentally impaired every year because of a lack of vitamins and minerals in their diet. According the to the UN children's agency, UNICEF, it is a problem that could be solved for just a few cents per person. UNICEF Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, says there is no excuse for not reaching every human being with these simple but lifesaving micronutrients. She says it's no longer a question of seeking out symptoms of severe iron deficiency in individuals and treating them.
Rather, she adds, it is one of reaching out to whole populations to protect them against the devastating consequences of even moderate forms of vitamin and mineral deficiency. A UNICEF study of 80 countries found that more than 80 per cent of children have iron deficiency in Benin, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Sierra Leone.

UN Says Eritrea's Humanitarian Situation a Cause For Concern

The humanitarian situation in Eritrea is cause for concern and more than half of the population could not survive without aid. The warning comes from the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Eritrea Simon Nhongo. He says two-thirds of the entire population are living below poverty levels and about one in six citizens suffer from malnutrition. Nhongo says the continuing drought in the country is one of the main reasons for the crisis. He says the ongoing border row with Ethiopia is also making the supply of humanitarian aid difficult. Eritrea produces only 15 per cent of the cereals it requires and relies on imports and international food aid.

WHO Says Liberia Needs $700 Million For Reconstruction

Liberia needs about $700 million for its reconstruction after 14 years of civil war. That according to the World Health Organization. WHO Director for Health Action in Crises, David Nabarro, says the economy and infrastructure of Liberia was mostly damaged as a result of the long-running conflict. He says urgent services such as schools, hospitals and the water supply needed to be rebuilt. Mr. Nabarro says the full extent of the crisis is not yet obvious as a large part of the country is still inaccessible to international humanitarian and aid officials. He points out that a priority is the disarmament and rehabilitation of thousands of former fighters.

UN, Libya To Expand Cooperation Against Drugs, Crime And Terrorism

Libya is cooperating with the United Nations to fight drugs, crime and terrorism. Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, is headed to Tripoli to discuss expanded cooperation in light of the country's commitment "to fully contribute to international efforts against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism."