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THE 2003 AIDS TREATMENT WALK Although 8000 people a day get infected with HIV, over 95% of them will not have access to treatment. While hundreds of people are focusing on HIV prevention, few are working to save the lives of over 40 million people already infected with HIV. AIDS drugs work in the bodies of poor people just as well as they work in the bodies of the rich--and UTR considers it a social imperative that the poor have access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment. In cooperation with Doctors Without Borders and the Student Global AIDS Campaign, UTR is launching an AIDS Treatment Walk, to take place in April 2003 at 10 major cities across the United States. A full 100% of the proceeds from the walk will go to providing care and treatment to people infected with HIV. The treatment and care will be administered by volunteer physicians and nurses at Doctors Without Borders' treatment centers in developing countries. To find out more about the 2003 AIDS Treatment Walk, visit the walk website at www.fightglobalaids.org/walk. To be a key organizer in your local walk, or to find out the location of the walk nearest you, contact walk@fightglobalaids.org. ACCESS TO MEDICINES CAMPAIGN Access to lifesaving medicines is key to improving healthcare in developing countries. That's why UTR is participating in two major campaigns to improve access to needed medications. The first campaign concerns the Coca-Cola Corporation, the largest employer in Africa. While claiming to be a leader on HIV/AIDS policy, Coke has offered treatment to only a small minority of its employees, neglecting 100,000 laborers. While mining companies like Anglo Gold have offered treatment coverage to employees in the very same regions in which Coke operates, Coca-Cola remains adamant in providing improper healthcare coverage for its workers. A large international campaign has begun to push the company towards a change in policy. Find out more at the Treat Your Workers website. In parallel with our corporate responsibility campaign, UTR is focusing on improving global trade policy. A declaration was made at the November 2001 WTO Ministerial Conference verifying the importance of public health in trade negotiations. The declaration affirmed the rights of governments to make full use of public health safeguards in legislation known as the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. These safeguards include allowing countries with severe public health crises to produce generic versions of patented medicines or to import patented medicines from other countries. The WTO also agreed to find an “expeditous solution” to the problem faced by countries that are too poor to import patented medicines but also lack the pharmaceutical capacity to produce generic drugs.
It has become clear (especially after the March 2002 TRIPS Council Meeting) that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will attempt to back out of the November 2001 agreement at the next WTO conference and will force the repeal or severely limit the public health safeguards affirmed at the November meeting. The U.S. has already proposed a moratorium on WTO disputes over the issue in an attempt to prevent the public health safeguards from being used, and is pushing a treaty that will virtually negate these safeguards. Find out how you can help protect public health safeguards at the WTO. E-mail sanjayb@alum.mit.edu for information on how to join the campaign. EQUIPMENT RECYCLING As you read this message,
hundreds of pieces of viable medical equipment and supplies are being thrown into a
landfill. That’s because, in the United States, hospitals often pre-order supplies and have left-over sutures, bandages and other items at the end of each month. Pharmacies are often left with surplus drugs when they pre-prescribe
pills for patients, and many clinics are left with perfectly-good
pieces of equipment that are discarded because they aren't "top of the line." All of these supplies and equipment are usable, and UTR works to send them to needy clinics abroad. In collaboration with Northwestern University's Globemed program, UTR ships extra supplies and equipment to clinics in Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Mexico and elsewhere. UTR picks up extra
supplies from hospitals and clinics and ships them abroad at no cost to donors. Want to find out more? Download the packet below (zip file) for complete information:
Equipment Recycling: Informational Packet Questions? Contact utr@mit.edu for more information.
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