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Mexican court: HIV-positive soldiers may serve

3:33 pm By Maegan La Mala · Justice|mexico|society · Comments Off

25 Sep 2007

In a landmark decision, the Mexican Supreme Court has ruled that the forced expulsion of soldiers from military bodies because they are HIV-positive is unconstitutional:

“Being HIV-positive does not in itself imply an inability to serve in the armed forces,” the judges wrote in the ruling issued Monday. “Therefore it will be up to the military to determine, case by case, if the degree of effect on the soldier’s health makes it impossible to remain in active service.”

The ruling was made by the Supreme Court after hearing five consecutive cases with the same charge: that soldiers had been discharged from the armed forces because of their HIV status. Back in February, the Court ordered the Mexican Army and Marines to readmit four soldiers who were discharged because they were HIV-positive.

Via / Univision

The Pope discourages condom use

1:04 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Brazil|Religion|sex · 1 Comment

11 May 2007

Earlier this week Maegan told us about Pope Benedict‘s trip to Brazil, where he declared that leftist Mexico City legislators supporting abortion rights would be excommunicated from the church. Perhaps more controversial (and in my own opinion much more damaging) is that on his trip to Brazil — a country that is fighting hard to win a battle against the spread of HIV — he spoke against the use of condoms (like his predecessor, John Paul II), and urged the faithful to opt for abstinence instead.

The Pope met with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is pushing for mass condom distribution throughout Brazil, but according to reports the topic of contraception was avoided, as was the other hot button issue: the legalization of abortion in Brazil, which Lula is advocating for. Then what did they talk about?

Incidentally, the Pope’s appearance in Brazil at a soccer stadium looked like a rock concert — people jamming out, sparks flying — all very un-Catholic. It reminds me of some videos I would watch in my days as an employee of a Christian bookstore (don’t ask). Click on the link to the original article below for video.

Via / 20 Minutos

AIDS becoming a female issue in Mexico

7:04 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Health|mexico|Women · 1 Comment

10 May 2007

The number of women infected with HIV or suffering from AIDS has skyrocketed, making the epidemic in Mexico a “women’s issue”, according to the United Nations Population Fund which announced, via press conference, a worldwide HIV conference to be held in Mexico next year:

The UN representative stressed that the increase in the number of cases of women [with HIV] is “worrysome”, as the statistic of 35 percent of women making up the number of infected people around the world in 1995 has gone up to 48 percent.

Mauricio Hernández, under secretary of Health, revealed that in Mexico there are 40,000 women infected with the virus, and that the organization is looking to negotiate to procurement of female condoms for less than two dollars each, to be able to distribute 800,000 this year.

According to the UN Joint Programme on AIDS, two thirds of the estimated 1.7 million people living with HIV in Latin America reside in the four largest countries: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina.

Via / La Jornada and UNAIDS

Brazil says no to circumcision

1:02 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Brazil|Health · 5 Comments

3 Apr 2007

A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the practice of circumcision could be effective in preventing the transmission of HIV. Reacting to these findings, the technical advisor for the Brazilian Health Ministry says that her country will not begin practicing circumcisions due to what she considers misleading information:

“I find the recommendations of the WHO and U.N. HIV/AIDS program a little surprising and even frightening,” Simao told Agencia Brasil.

…This proposal gives a message of “false protection” because men might think that being circumcized means that they can have sex without condoms without any risk, which “is untrue”, she said.

Nelly Furtado and stars: Get tested

12:48 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Celebrities|Health · 2 Comments

27 Jun 2006

It’s HIV Testing Day and singer Nelly Furtado has a new song called “Promiscuous”, which she hopes will spur talk between parents and kids about sex, and HIV/AIDS:

“When I was a little kid, Salt-N-Pepa’s ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’ came on the radio, and my mom was like, ‘What’s this?’ ” Furtado recalled. “And with my song, ‘Promiscuous,’ certain moms and dads are going to hear it and ask, ‘What’s this?’ And kids are going to ask questions about sex. It can only encourage the conversation.”

Nelly is banding together with other performers to get the word out about the importance of HIV testing. Stars Eve, Avril Lavigne and Pamela Anderson are urging Americans to get tested today by offering their personal take on testing:

“It’s quick and easy and it can make a difference,” said Pamela Anderson. “I have Hepatitis C, and there’s no cure for Hepatitis C or AIDS, so it’s really important to stop the spread of the disease since there is no cure.”

“The reality is that people get sick,” Furtado added. “But Magic Johnson showed that it’s not the end of your life, but the beginning of awareness. When Magic contracted HIV, that was a pivotal point in AIDS awareness. It showed that anybody could get this disease.”

Mexican beauty Salma Hayek is also a spokesperson for getting the test on the CDC’s web site hivtest.org.

Via / VH1 News

Your ID and Condom Please

8:48 am By Maegan La Mala · Colombia|Health · Comments Off

12 Jan 2006

One town in Colombia is taking a unique approach to preventing youth pregnancy and AIDS among its young people. In the western Colombia town of Tuluá, when police stop any male, age 14 and over, not only will he have to show his identification papers, but he will have to show that he his carrying a condom too. Not carrying a condom can carry a fine of up to 408,000 pesos, about 180 dollars. Needless to say this move is creating controversy, leading some religious leaders to say this move and other safe sex strategies being implemented across Colombia including the installation of condom vending machines are akin to “selling weapons on street corners”. According to the United Nations, 19% of women age 19 and younger are mothers or pregnant in Colombia and Colombia has 190,000 reported cases of HIV infection, making it the #2 country in Latin America in terms of HIV infection, behind Brazil.

Via / El Diaro/LA PRENSA

Abre Los Ojos: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, Oct 15

7:33 am By Maegan La Mala · Events|Health · Comments Off

13 Oct 2005

This Saturday is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), but it’s worth it to talk about it now. Events are occurring across the country for the rest of this week. The events include HIV testing and counseling, vigils, exhibits, festivals, and other activities. Find out what’s going on in your area.

Love Yourself. Protect Yourself. Get Tested for HIV.

This year marks the 3rd year that NLAAD is observed, with the purpose of spreading awareness and educating on prevention to the Latino community. The events and the people working at them should all be bilingual, so that the message can reach both English and Spanish speakers.

Via / NLAAD

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