Kristin Palitza*

DURBAN, Jun 5 2006 (IPS) – The recent United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) has tested relations between government and civil society in South Africa.
UNGASS saw more than 180 delegations meet at U.N. headquarters in New York, from May 31 to Jun. 2, to report on their countries advances in countering the pandemic since the first special session held in 2001. At this meeting, nations promised to intensify the battle against HIV/AIDS and reverse escalating infection rates.

South Africa received criticism over the progress report it submitted for last week s deliberations; this document is used by the U.N. to evaluate the efficiency of each country s HIV/AIDS programmes. (Figures on the website of the Joint United Nations P…

Alberto Cremonesi

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 17 2006 (IPS) – Negotiations on the first-ever International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities could conclude as early as this August when countries will resume their discussions about the need for a broad treaty to protect disabled people.
We are doing the best, it is a challenge. We are aiming high. I could even go as far as to say we are aiming too high because there are very complicated issues, very technical issues, Jorge Ballestero of the Mission of Costa Rica, one of the leading diplomats negotiating the convention, told IPS.

Of course, we are kind of tired because it has been a very long year, but the good thing is that everyone is in such a very positive mood that everyone wants to have this as soon …

Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Aug 25 2006 (IPS) – When new strains of the deadly bird flu virus were recently detected in poultry in Thailand and Laos, wildlife enthusiasts had reason to feel vindicated. The prevailing hot weather was off season for migratory birds, often blamed for spreading avian influenza.
By the time ducks in Cambodia showed signs of being infected, the theory that wild birds carry the H5N1 strain of the virus across international boarders was further discredited. This view had first gained hold in this region in 2004 when the current outbreak of the lethal virus began and rapidly spread across a broad sweep of countries.

There has never been any conclusive, properly documented evidence that wild birds are carriers of the virus, Richard Thomas, e…

Joyce Mulama* – IPS/IFEJ

NAIROBI, Oct 24 2006 (IPS) – An overflowing pit latrine empties its contents in a thick stream of worm-infested filth at the doorstep of Catherine Kithuku #39s home in Matopeni, a slum on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Less than ten such latrines serve a population of two to three thousand people in this area. Typically, the latrines are housed in dilapidated structures which have cracked stone floors, rusty sheets of iron for walls, and roofs made up of torn plastic and cartons.

Small wonder, then, that many inhabitants of Matopeni still use flying toilets in their moment of need. The topic of much press coverage in recent years, these toilets are plastic bags into which people defecate, then throw away as far as possible. Out …

Natasha Bolognesi

CAPE TOWN, Nov 27 2006 (IPS) – The 11th conference of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISfTeH) kicked off Monday at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, where delegates from around the globe gathered to discuss the benefits and challenges that eHealth (electronic health) offers to both the developed and developing world.
It is the first time the annual ISfTeH gathering has been held in Africa, and in the words of the society s president, Michael Nerlich, The event should allow for increasing recognition of telemedicine and eHealth in developing countries, particularly those in Africa.

Telemedicine is the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as mobile phone text messages, e-ma…