HIV/AIDS history around the world.

HIV/AIDS - main events.

HIV/AIDS history around the world.

1978

Several people were reported with symptoms of the disease that would be called AIDS in a few years in USA and Sweden (men - homosexuals), also in Tanzania and Haiti (men and women - heterosexuals).

1981

Considerable number of a rare skin cancer (Sarcoma Kaposi) was registered among young gays by the Center on Disease Control (CDC). In the beginning this disease was called "gay cancer" and then GRID - "gay-related immune deficiency". Not less than 128 people had died from this disease in USA in 1981.

1982

Specialists of the Center on Disease Control, USA (CDC) assume that newly discovered disease related to blood. For first time the term AIDS - "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" is used. The cause of the disease and ways of transmission are not defined yet.

1983

Luke Montanye from Paster's Institute has discovered virus, which is, considered the cause of AIDS - HIV - "human immune deficiency virus". During twelve months there died not less than thousand and half people from AIDS in USA.

1984

The American scientist Robert Gallo announces about the discovery of the AIDS virus though it was one year later after the French discovery.

1985

It was determined HIV can be transmitted through body liquids: blood, sperm, vagina secretions and milk. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approved the first test on HIV. In USA and Japan testing of donor's blood and blood products on HIV has commenced. Atlanta city (USA) - the first International Conference on AIDS has taken place. The premiere of the play "Normal heart" (Larry Cramer - dramatist). This is a first theatre staggering dedicated to AIDS. During the year 6.972 people were registered in USA. A famous actor, America's idol Rock Hadson is among people that died.

1986

US Surgeon General Averette Koop has published a first official report on AIDS problem. A call to sexual education aiming HIV prophylaxis was mentioned in the report. Donor's blood testing on HIV has set about in the most European countries. Anti-AIDS Public Organisation - ACT UP with the motto "Silence means death" has established.

1987

Global programme on AIDS of the World Health Organisation was set up. The World Health Assembly has adopted a global fight strategy against AIDS. AIDS became a first disease that was discussed on the session of the UN General Assembly. In a number of countries first drug against AIDS - AZT (zidovudine, retrovir) made by the Glaxo Wellcome Company was approved. Spreading of HIV-infected blood products is prohibited in Canada. Arrival of HIV-infected immigrants and tourists to USA is forbidden. On the sixth year of the epidemic the USA president Ronald Raygan for the first time publicly announced the word "AIDS". The construction of the AIDS memorial - "QUILT" has started in San Francisco. A book of Randy Shielts "The orchestra continued playing" has published.

1988

The meeting of the Health Ministers on the AIDS problem is organised and held jointly by the World Health Organisation and the government of the Great Britain. December,1 is announced World Fight Day against AIDS. The law prohibiting discrimination of HIV-infected federal workers has promulgated

1989

Spreading of HIV-infected blood products is forbidden on Haiti. Under the pressure of ACT UP activists Glaxo Wellcome company decrease the price for AZT on 20%. During the year 27.666 died from AIDS, TV star Amanda Blake is one of them. More than 200 children are infected to HIV in USSR, in hospitals of Elista, Volgograd and Nijny Novgorod. Official interpretation of transmission is negligence of the medical staff

1990

Ronald Raygan apologised for carelessness to the AIDS problem he showed during his presidential governance. A net of specialised medical institutions (AIDS centers) are set up for HIV/AIDS prophylaxis and treatment in USSR. The Republican AIDS Center for prophylaxis and prevention started its activity in Azerbaijan.

1991

A new antiviral medication named D-D-I (didianozine, videx) is approved in the United States. According to WHO data, 10 million people all over the world live with HIV infection, one million of them live in USA. The professional basketball player Magic Johnson tells that he is HIV-infected.

1992

A new medication D-D-C (zalcitabine, hivide) is approved in USA, clinical testing with the combination of drugs is conducted, speeded up approval of new drugs for AIDS treatment was introduced. More than 40 thousand deaths were registered in USA during this year and actor Robert Rid is one of them.

1993

A woman condom is approved for use. Four directors of the Blood Bank in France are put under arrest for getting HIV-infected blood products into the Blood Bank. A tennis player Arthur Ash, legend of the ballet Rudolf Nuriyev has died from AIDS.

1994

High level meeting on AIDS was held in Paris where Declaration was adopted. USA and West Europe adopt the medication called D4T (zerit). Among people died from AIDS are Olympic champion on figure skating John Carry and the author of the book "The orchestra continued playing" Randy Shields.

1995

Four people are sentenced to imprisonment for HIV-infected blood sale in Germany. An Olympic champion on diving Greg Luganis announced that he is AIDS-infected.

1996

As a replacement to WHO Global Programme on AIDS, the UN joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) was created in activity of which all six UN agencies (WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP and World Bank) took part. A decree on the application of "The law on the prevention of HIV/AIDS spreading" is signed by the President of the Azerbaijan Republic. Vancouver, Canada - the regular XI International Conference on AIDS is taken place and drugs of new generation - protease inhibitors were announced. "Time" magazine announced David Ho, an American scientist, AIDS problem researcher "the person of the year". It is defined that Sarcoma Kaposi's agent is the virus of Herpes. Magic Johnson returns to abreast. The heavyweight boxer Tommy Morrison announces that he is HIV-infected. The main way of HIV transmission in Russia becomes injecting drugs.

1997

A global business-council on HIV/AIDS - a first international organ which co-ordinates the participation of commercial structures in the fight against epidemic - is created. The UN Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) has started the first stage of the project called "initiative for access to medicines" on availability of medicines for developing countries. Cabinet of Ministries of the Azerbaijan Republic approved a National Programme on AIDS Prevention. Due to new treatment methods the reduction of the mortality rate from AIDS comparing with the last year is recorded by the Center for Disease Control. Totally, 6.400.000 have died in the world from AIDS. The approximate figure of HIV-infected in the world is 22.000.000. It is more than the total population of Australia. Round the clock anonymous consultation service, testing on AIDS and "trust phone" are functional in the Azerbaijan National AIDS Center.

1998

The regular XII International Conference on AIDS is taken place in Geneva (Switzerland) where was admitted that not depending on the progress of the science, millions of people die from AIDS because of expensiveness and inaccessibility of medicines. The outstanding scientist, the former director of the WHO Programme on AIDS doctor Jonathan Mann and his wife doctor Marry- Loo Clemence-Mann has died in air crash on Swissair.

1999

A first case of HIV transmission was revealed in Lenkoran city of the Republic and the way of transmission was unchecked donor's blood transfusion. Guilty medical workers were instituted criminal proceedings on article 114-2 Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.

2000

Year 2000 World AIDS Campaign launched in New Delhi in March aims to involve men more fully in the effort against AIDS. Through this campaign UNAIDS and its partners worldwide will work with both women and men, with NGOs, governments, the United Nations system and the media to bring about a new, and much-needed, focus on men.

Women are at special risk of HIV: they often have less control over when, where and whether sex takes place. But cultural beliefs and expectations about "manhood" also encourage risky sexual and drug-taking behaviour in men. This puts them -- and their partners -- at heightened risk.

Many men may not engage in risk behaviour, but without men, the virus would have little opportunity to spread. Over 70% of HIV infections worldwide occur through sex between men and women, and a further 10% through sex between men. Another 5% or so take place among people who inject drugs, four-fifths of whom are men. Engaging men as partners in fighting AIDS is thus the surest way to change the course of the epidemic.

HIV/AIDS - main events.

The AIDS epidemic exists about 20 years: it is considered that first mass case of HIV transmission happened in the end of seventies. AIDS is one of the fifth main diseases-killers that take away the biggest amount of lives on our planet.     The truism that says, "it is easier to avert the disease than to treat" is related to AIDS more than to any other disease. The most reliable way to keep from AIDS - is to avoid the transmission of human immune deficiency virus (HIV). Fortunately, this virus can be transmitted neither in everyday activity nor in respiratory way. Insects don't spread this disease. All means of HIV transmission are well studied.     Many dangerous viruses are averted with the help of vaccines, however there is only a dream about vaccination that could protect every person from HIV-infection, though the search of vaccine is ongoing. Only, particularly is possible to protect yourself from HIV.     2,5 million people had died from AIDS in 1998. The epidemic is increasing

covering new regions.     During twenty years striking changes - awareness about HIV/AIDS and the attitude of the society to this problem - has taken place. From ignorance and "blind" fear of the unknown disease the mankind came to the partial victory of the science over virus, and consciousness over hysteria and aidsphobia.     The General Assembly of UNO announced that the AIDS spreading scaled as a global pandemic in 1988. In order to attract the attention of people over the world to this problem, December 1 was officially declared by UN Resolution The World Fight Day against AIDS. This day the world society expresses solidarity to people touched by epidemic and supports fight efforts against AIDS all over the world.     Each year the World Fight Day against AIDS is dedicated to the definite subject that reflects one of the aspects of epidemic.

1988 - A World United Against AIDS             1989 - Youth and AIDS             1990 - Women and AIDS             1991 - Sharing the Challenge             1992 - AIDS: A Community Commitment             1993 - Time to Act             1994 - AIDS and the Family             1995 - Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities             1996 - One World, One Hope.

The first annual World Fight Campaign against AIDS organised by the joint UN programme on AIDS - UNAIDS and by its seven sponsors - WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDCP and World Bank, jointly with several international partner organisations was started in June, 1997. And now, to the definite aspect of AIDS problem dedicated not only December 1, and the whole year. During the whole year measures dedicated to the chosen subject are taken. It helps to use present resources more efficient and to gain more noticeable in practice results.

"Children Living in a World with AIDS" Campaign of 1997 was dedicated to the youngest and the most unprotected cell of the society - children. Having organised this Campaign the UN programme on AIDS and its partners aspired to attract attention to the impact of the AIDS epidemic on children lives all over the world and to mobilise the international community for related problems solving.

The World Campaign's attention "Force for Change" was centered on the youth from 10 to 24 years old in 1998. One of the campaign's tasks was the real involvement of the youth into the fight against AIDS. Besides, the campaign was called to strengthen the international support to the youth that suffered from epidemic. Also, in the framework of this campaign was underlined the connection between HIV/AIDS and other factors, such as Human Rights, which had great importance for health and youth development.     The subject of the World Fight Campaign against AIDS in 1999 is "Listen, Learn, Live!". Its tasks are:

To Listen to children and to the youth, lend an ear to the opinion of young people, to understand their worries and needs in life.             To Learn to respect each other, to participate to a common business, to support and means of warning HIV transmission.             To Live in the world, where rights of children and the youth are protected, where people living with HIV/AIDS get the needed help and don't suffer because of discrimination.