Bridging the Gap: Conference Record [Abstract book, International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1998: Geneva, Switzerland)]

758 Abstracts 34379-34384

12th World AIDS Conference

34379 1Publishing AIDS/STD Mexican Journal on the Internet:
inexpensive, wide, global and cost-effective
Enrique Bravo-Garcia1, C. Magis-Rodriguez2, E. Rodriguez-Nolasco2. Tlalpan
4585 2Do. Piso Col. Toriello Guerra C.RP 14050 Mexico, D.F; 2AIDS National
Council Mexico, D.F, Mexico
Issues: The National Council of AIDS in Mexico (CONASIDA), published quarterly 3,000 copies of the "Revista SIDA/ETS" (AIDS/STD Journal), with financial
support from private medical laboratories. All the issues are sold out, the print
costs are very high and the new readers are growing each day.
Project: As a strategy to find new alternatives for dissemination of AIDS/STD
information in Mexico, we decided to make the electronic version of the "Revista
SIDA/ETS" (AIDS/STD Journal) on the Internet. The objectives were: to get lows
costs, to increase the number of readers and its geography limits, and to put
on-line all scientific materials previously published. For this proposal, we used
the CONASIDA's home page open in 1995 that has overcome 8,000 hits every
month (http://www.ssa.gob.mx/conasida).
Results: The project was developed between July and December 1997. We
analyzed the total cost and use cost of both media (journal vs. Web page),
regarding the potential number of readers. They were registered more access
at Internet (4,800 quarterly), that the number of print copies of journal (3,000).
Therefore, the unit cost per reader in Internet was only 20% of the print paper
edition.

Media Total Cost
(USD)
Print in Paper $ 7,500
Internet $ 2,500

Number of events
(Quarterly)
3,000 copies
4,800 hits

Unit Cost per reader
(USD)
$ 2.50
$ 0.52

Status Geography
limits
Sold Out Mexico
On-line Global

Lessons Learned: The incorporation of the "Revista SIDA/ETS" (AIDS/STD
Journal) to Internet, was an excellent option to cut cost for print, to increase
the number of readers, to introduce a magazine with information in spanish to
other Latin American countries and, most important, to have published articles
always available online. As a result of this experience, during 1998 this journal
will be incorporated to the project "Virtual Network on AIDS", in cooperation with
the University of Saskatchewan (Canada), to become the most important site on
AIDS in Latin America.
34380 Emerging care/treatment issues and trends in resource
allocation in a national HIV care program - The US Ryan
White CARE Act
Steven Young1, Anita Eichler2, Gary Cook3. 1Parklawn Building; Room: 7A-39
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; 2Director, DSS. Hab. DHHS:
HRSA, Rockville, MD. 20857, 3Chief, Western Services Br. DSS Hab. DHHS:
HRSA., Rockville, MD. 20857, USA
Objective: To assess changes/emerging issues in a national HIV care program providing a continuum of quality care within the context of rapidly evolving
epidemiological, clinical and health systems factors.
Design: Exploratory qualitative analysis of documented program accomplishments/challenges, supplemented with quantitative time specific data on resource
allocation across multiple health/support service categories.
Project/Methods: HIV care systems operate in an ever changing arena related
to the epidemic and populations that are increasingly affected, pressure to provide
access and put into practice new and rapidly developing clinical advancements,
and efforts within other public/private financing systems to manage health care
delivery and control costs. To understand the impact of such factors on a national level, an exploratory analysis was conducted to identify emerging care
issues and service utilization trends. Qualitative information was gleaned from
a review of critical analyses of all disproportionately impacted urban areas and
States/territories to identify the frequencies with which major care delivery issues
were cited as challenges or new accomplishments. Quantitative data was collated
and assessed from three time points covering CY 1995-1997 to identify significant trends in service provision, as evidenced by major increases/decreases in
aggregate national-level utilization of CARE Act resources.
Results: Critical emerging care/treatment issues are identified in a number of
areas: development of new primary care capability in under served areas and
for specific populations (substance abusers); increased penetration of perinatal transmission activities; evolution of case management and other supportive
services to affect adherence and compliance with complicated/demanding therapeutic regimens; improvement in planning efforts to more specifically and fully
identify those with HIV not currently in care and unmet service needs for diverse populations; further development of systems to provide medications in the
most cost-effective and accessible manner; and, changes in a number of enabling/supportive services responsive to increased autonomy and life expectancy
of people with HIV. Resource allocation data show significant increases in medical
care and medication assistance; decreases in all other services, with significant
decreases in the several areas of supportive services, home health care and case
management.
Lessons Learned: A national HIV care program is evolving responsively to
a variety of external factors and newly identified care needs. Impact on the
availability and quality of care can be further realized by assessing these current
trends and supporting/strengthening a more comprehensive and standardized
response in local communities and States.

S34381 Russian HIV/AIDS network
Stanislav Erastov. Bulatnikovsraya 4-1-28, Moscow, Russia
Issue: 40 HIV/AIDS NGOs in Russia set up an informal network in order to bulid
a strong partneship amongst themselves and with other sectors to increase communication, encourage the exchange of information and prevent the duplication
of projects.
Project: The project helped to strengthen local organizations, increased their
viasbility and improved the existing programmes of NGOs, including the quality of activities and the accuracy of the information distributed. A set of pilot
project guidelines that is specific to workng with different vulnarable groups have
stimulated and encouraged these orgainizations to implement projects aiming to
change high risk behaviours. 5 pilot projects have been conducted in 5 regions of
Russia. The guidelines were made available to other NGOs through AIDS infoshare's libarary. AIDS infoshare provided technical support through consultations
and encouraged exchange of information through a monthly newsletter.
Lessons learned: Networking is an essential way for HIV/AIDS organizations
to use joint resources, create joint programmes, improve direct services for their
users and communicate with each other on regular basis.
S34382 HIV/AIDS in St. Petersburg, Russia: Current community
status
Timothy Meade1, Aza Rakhmanova2, T.J. Meade3, G.V. Vokova4. 110
Serpukhovskaya St 198013 St. Petersburg; 2Infectious Disease City Health
Committee, St. Petersburg; 3American Medical Centers, St. Petersburg; 4State
Epedimiology Center, Russia
The Department of Infectious Diseases and AIDS for the City of St. Petersburg,
Russia has followed the epidemics of Chlamydia and Syphilis during the 1990's
in St. Petersburg and is now witnessing the explosion of HIV in the community.
Statistics from the testing sites indicates that new infections are up 100 fold over
last year. The WHO estimates that the actual incidence of HIV in Russia may be
10 times that of the Russian official estimates. The majority of Russians in high
risk groups have not been educated about safe sex practices. The availability of
quality condoms is still limited. IV drug use is increasing and the average age
of IV drug users is dropping. There are societal and governmental roadblocks to
education and prevention efforts.
Governmental support for treatment or prevention is essentially non-existent.
We are unaware of effective prevention programs at work in the community. There
is no sign that this increase in the infection rate is slowing and we have every
reason to believe that HIV could reach dramatic and devastating levels in this
community.
The dramatic rise in HIV infections in St. Petersburg, Russia is progressing
without evidence of social intervention. We believe medical and community-based
organizations need to partner with Western organizations to combat the spread
of HIV infection in Russia.
34383 AIDS program experience HIV and development of UNDP
VITH ICASO in fighting against HIV/AIDS/STD
Papa Gallo Sowl, K.W. Cisse2, I. Ndoye3, I. Keita4. 1BP 5856, Dakar Fann;
2UNDP Senegal, Dakar; 3PNLS, Dakar; 4ICASO, Dakar, Senegal
Introduction: HIV and development program devotes itself facing AIDS infection
by using new ways realisations of the UNDP Programs.
Objectives: To strengthen individual capacity, of the group, communities and
nations to understand how epidemic is evolving in connection with the human
development and to intervene in order to face the causes and consequences of
AIDS.
Methods: Workshop with Association/NGO/HIV living people member of
ICASO/Senegal in three Senegaleses Area: Dakar, Diourbel, Tambacounda.
Results: Dynamisation of Icaso Net work - HIV living people net work reinforced - Africaso reinforced - PNLS reinforced - Creation of three ICASO cells
in three areas: Dakar Diourbel, Tambacounda.
Conclusion: This programm has created at atmosphere of exchanges on
the individual and common experiences and has promitted to strengthen the
alliance and the partnership beetwen communitarian actors in fghting against
HIV/AIDS/STD.
S34384 ASASSFA's contribution in the prevention of HIV/AIDS:
An association of support for PLWAS and their families
Ousmane Tounkara. Chude de Fann BP 5035, Senegal
Ojective: Given the rapid growth of HIV/AIDS in Senegal ASASSFA as early as
the very beginning is involved in the prevention of HIV/AIDS which is the only
means to stop the spreading of the pandemic.
Methodology: As a country inhabited by 51% of young people, in Senegal

we have focussed our actions on them through talks and debates followed by
film projections in the secondary schools of the capital city. During the summer
vacations me keep on targetting them in dancings and on beaches.
Results: These rallies are crowded with pupils and students who ask many
relevant questions showing their commitment to and interest in this issue.
Conclusion: These activities have led to an unexpected awareness of these
youths about the scourge of HIV/AIDS since they are conducted in the open.
They finally requested many condoms and brochures.