The IMF has released an important new compendium of economic analyses, grouped in the publication "The Macroeconomics of HIV/AIDS". The most significant aspect of the book is perhaps not its content, but its source, the IMF. Ministries of Finance worldwide have been late to consider AIDS as an economic concern, leaving AIDS policy to Ministries of Health. This finally is shifting as the cost of AIDS, particularly looking ahead one or two generations, becomes better understood. Congratulations to editor / author Markus Haacker for this work. The book can be ordered online, although full text is downloadable for free in PDF format.

UNAIDS last week released their most recent AIDS Epidemic Update, an excellent resource for for AIDS policy professionals. The document is a 94 page tour de force, cogently presenting the many faces of the AIDS epidemic around the globe.

The stark graphs and figures continue to tell a devastating story: 5 million new infections in 2004, 3 million deaths, and rapid growth in the epidemic in many regions. The report also emphasized two key themes:

• Women are particularly vulnerable: We know that AIDS moves from "at risk" populations (sex workers, drug users, men who have sex with men) to the general population. What is increasingly clear that once in the general population, in most countries AIDS disproportionately targets poor women. There are many societal reasons for this, none easy to reverse. The report offers suggestions for stemming this problem -- such as the empowerment of women through education and legal means -- but the lack of concrete recommendations reflects the intractability of the problem.


• The Epidemic is extremely heterogenous: It is simplistic to refer to the "AIDS Epidemic" in the singular: its dynamic varies widely from region to region. Unfortunately, surveillance capabilities are still far too nascent to adequately track and understand the many "epidemics" which exist. In areas where we do have better data, policies are often poorly refined to respond to local conditions.

Overall the document does an excellent job presenting global statistics, describing the dynamics of AIDS by region, and offering a long list of background resources. While it doesn't take an aggressive "prescriptive" role, it does offer the data and insights necessary for smart policy formulation.

Kudos to author Hein Marais and many UNAIDS colleagues responsible for this document.

Amidst the frustrations of combating global AIDS, it is important to remember other major global health battles that have been fought in the past -- and won. The Center for Global Development has just published "Millions Saved", an excellent compendium of 17 case studies of major global health successes, ranging from the eradication of smallpox to success against onchocerciasis. The compendium includes a review of HIV prevention efforts in Thailand.

The World Bank today announced the launch of the AIDS Media Center, an information resource for media professionals worldwide that cover the AIDS epidemic. The site is a collaborative effort involving the World Bank, UNAIDS, Kaiser Family Foundation, PANOS, and other partners. Journalists play an enormous role in combating AIDS. The AIDS Media Center will make their work easier and more effective.

AIDS policy professionals have many questions that only other AIDS policy professionals can answer. The only resource we've seen linking AIDS professionals through questions and answers is the IAEN, which does a relatively good job in the Member Question Board. Ideally, every major site (UNAIDS, Global Fund, World Bank) would have such a question and answer board. Even more ideally, all of these boards would be linked. One can imagine a community of AIDS professionals posting thousands of questions and comments per month from 100+ countries.

As a step towards this vision, the IAEN is now syndicating the Question Board technology and content to allow any site to join the conversation. As an example, we've now included the syndicated site within AIDS Matters. We're hopeful other groups will follow suit (contact Jim Cashel). Feel free to join the conversation!

Much of this Web log relates to technology, and how it can be better used to combat global AIDS. One imporatant resource for professionals interested in AIDS and technology is the AIDS Information Group (AIG), a consulting practice launched by Forum One. The AIG seeks to work with the most important organizations combatting AIDS to improve their technology and information capabilities. AIDS presents immense communications and coordination challenges -- it is global, fast moving, ever changing, and involving many thousands of organizations. It demands a stronger "information infrastructure" than exists now, something the AIG seeks to enhance.

Partners in Health has released an important new book, "Community-Based Treatment of HIV in Resource-Poor Settings". Reminiscent of the medical classic "Where There Is No Doctor", the book details with sophistication and clarity the treatment, management, data and communications issues for HIV patients in poor environments -- which is to say the overwhelming majority of those with HIV. The book speaks with the authority and pragmatism of the PIH professionals who have successfully confronted the HIV epidemic in Haiti and elsewhere.

On June 30th the World Bank, along with a number of key partners, will be launching an "AIDS Media Center". Based in part on the successful "Online Media Briefing Center" run by the World Bank, the AIDS Media Center will be a "credentialed journalist only" resource providing access to embargoed materials, press contacts, multimedia files, training opportunities, and other resources of interest to journalists covering the AIDS epidemic. It strikes me as a very good idea (although I'm biased since I'm assisting with the effort): journalists get easy access to materials which assist their work, while AIDS organizations get journalist contact information which will assist their outreach efforts. I'm hopeful it will take off.

A principal reason for HIV / AIDS being ranked first in the Copenhagen Consensus surely is the outstanding background paper produced by Anne Mills, a professor of Health Economics and Policy at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The paper draws on an enormous amount of material, synthesizes it clearly and soberly, and pushes the analysis very far (including an impressive cost / benefit compilation on page 46) without overstating its case. I found the document to be a real tour de force.

The International AIDS Economics Network today released results from its annual poll of global AIDS policy professionals of most important information resources. The survey returned 258 completed surveys from 64 countries listing over 2700 information resources. Approximately half of the returned surveys were from developed countries, half from developing countries. The survey had important results:

- Four sites (in addition to the IAEN) lead results: UNAIDS, WHO, World Bank, and Kaiser Family Foundation;
- There are many information resources available, none of which really dominate (with the possible exception of UNAIDS) -- seemingly everyone gets their information from different sources;
- There are few sites focussing on discussion or collaboration.

The full report provides detailed results and commentary. This in my opinion is a key document for global AIDS professionals.