[Swprograms] BBCWS Monday+ previews Nov 21 & 28 --- THREE BY FIVE

[Glenn Hauser <wghauser@xxxxxxxxx>]

In 2003 the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva pledged that by the end
of 2005, three million people infected with HIV would be on life saving
treatment - AIDS would no longer kill them. The lack of medicine available to
the world?s poorest people was called a ?global health emergency.?

As 2005 draws to a close it is clear that the target has not been met. Two
million people have not received the medication they need to stay alive. In a
new two-part series, Three by Five, presenter Nigel Wrench travels to Malawi
and South Africa to investigate these failing for himself from Monday 21
November. 

As he arrives in Malawi a national conference is underway to review the
country?s response to AIDS and he speaks to the people who are working hard to
provide the medicine and make sure that the sickest get treatment fast.

Nigel discovers it is not a simple case of flying in boxes of pills and handing
them out on Monday 21 November. Staff need to be trained and people?s health
has to be monitored. In a clinic in the north of Malawi he sees one of the
success stories of ?three by five?. 

Dr Douglas Lungu is in charge at Ekwendeni Hospital in the north of the
country. AIDS has ravaged the population; a million people are dead - a million
people are infected.

At Ekwendeni, Dr Douglas shows Nigel around and introduces him to patients who
are on the pills. "I love these pills,? says one woman, "they?ve saved my
life." The hospital has strong links with the local community, they train
health workers to distribute the medicine and they have worked tirelessly to
break down the stigma of AIDS.

To date, 56 countries have requested help from the WHO to train and mobilise
health workers, but it?s estimated that 100,000 trained people are required to
distribute the pills. On Monday 28 November Nigel discovers the complexities
surrounding the roll out of medicine when he visits clinics in Johannesburg in
South Africa.

Trained staff are leaving for better paid jobs in the UK and USA, which is
seriously hampering the role out. Nigel says "there?s a huge stigma surrounding
AIDS here too. Many men refuse to come forward for testing and treatment, and
the South African Government has been extremely slow to recognise ARV treatment
as an effective policy."

It?s a stance that has angered AIDS activists and clinicians.  Dr Jim Kim,
Director of HIV/AIDS and Head of the WHO?s ?three by five? initiative talks to
Nigel about how he feels about the initiative failing to reach its target.

Presenter/Nigel Wrench, Producer/David Cook, All Out Productions

Three by Five, 2 programmes x 25 minutes, Monday 21 and 28 November, 
[European stream, webcast]: 0906, 1306, 1906, Tue 0106
[American stream, webcast]: 1406, 2006, Tue 0106, 0606  
Listen online http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/index.shtml
(BBC Press Office via Rich Cuff via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)



	
		
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