'Getting to Zero - Zero AIDS-Related Deaths' ... 2011 World AIDS Day theme announced

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- Backed by the United Nations the "Getting to Zero" campaign runs until 2015 and builds on last year's successful World AIDS Day "Light for Rights" initiative encompassing a range of vital issues identified by key affected populations.

"The potential for creative, connected and meaningful campaigning is really exciting,” says in a statement by World AIDS Campaign Africa Director, Linda Mafu. "Our organization will focus on Zero AIDS Related Deaths, but the choice is there for others to pick a different zero or all three."

The World AIDS Campaign focus on "Zero AIDS Related Deaths" signifies a push towards greater access to treatment for all; a call for governments to act now. A demand they honour promises like the Abuja declaration and that African Governments at very least hit agreed targets for domestic spending on health and HIV in support of the human rightto the best attainable level of health care for all.

It’s a global campaign that spotlights how our fundamental right to health is intrinsically and inextricably linked to other basic rights – The right to food, to shelter, to freedom, to clean water and safety. Crucial too is access to affordable life saving quality medicines free from the crippling effects of excessive profit taking.

In the coming months the World AIDS Campaign will be spotlighting a range of Getting to Zero initiatives to help see an end to AIDS related deaths.

“It’s going to be amazing decision makers need to understand that people living with HIV , the marginalized, the dispossessed - all of us - want our rights.” Linda Mafu adds. “I can see all sort of events on World AIDS Day - For example, marches that end in Light for Rights type actions outside Finance Ministries where beams of torchlight shine on buildings where under spending on HIV and health cost thousands of lives.

It's time to use our imaginations and let everyone know Getting to Zero is a must."

The global HIV response is at a pivotal moment, where huge strides forward are at serious risk and current approaches are reaching their limits. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV in need of life long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the upward trend in resources suffered a serious downturn this year.

"Zero New HIV Infections" and "Zero Discrimination" are equally as likely to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the universally recognised shape of zeros and the power of light to get life and death issues the attention they deserve.

For December 1st 2011 right up until 2015 it's envisioned that different regions and groups will each year chose one or all of the Zeros that best addresses their situation.

The decision to go with the millennium development related goal of "Getting to Zero" comes after extensive discussions among people living with HIV, health activists, broader civil society and many others - more than a hundred organizations in all.

The vision for this year's World AIDS Day and beyond may be aspirational but the journey towards its attainment is laid with concrete milestones.

10 goals for 2015, Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young people,men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work; vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal deaths reduced by half; all new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs.

Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment; TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half.

All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support.

Countries with punitive laws and practices around HIV transmission, sex work, drug use or homosexuality that block effective responses reduced by half ; HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in half of the countries that have such restrictions; HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half of all national HIV responses; Zero tolerance for gender-based violence. (MAL/MDR, LGU Albay)

NSO Catanduanes gathers data on energy use of households

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) provincial office here will conduct the 2011 Household Energy Consumption Survey (2011 HECS) this month

NSO Catanduanes stated that the 2011 HECS is a special survey that gathers information on households’ utilization of fuels, supply systems and the pattern of energy use and other variables that may be useful to assess the current energy profiles of different households and communities in the country.

The data collected from this survey, according to the office, shall provide the Department of Energy (DOE) with updated and reliable bases for an effective household energy strategy for the Philippines.

The primary goal of the 2011 HECS is to generate comprehensive and reliable data/information on household energy consumption, and analyze end-use energy consumption and preferences in the residential sector. The survey results will be used for formulating and implementing policies and programs that aim to improve the quality of life of the Filipinos.

Like all censuses and surveys undertaken by NSO, the conduct of these two surveys is authorized by various legislative acts and presidential directives including Commonwealth Act No. 591, Presidential Decree No. 418, Executive Order No. 121, Executive Order No. 352, Executive Order No. 5.

Furthermore, the survey aims to provide detailed information about the changing energy consumption patterns in Filipino households, as well as socio-economic conditions affecting energy use; establish the fuel/energy mix of the residential sector based on tis energy consumption; determine the most energy consuming appliances, devices and equipment for household activities;

assess the current energy efficiency and conservation techniques in the residential sector vis-à-vis government programs for implementation of energy consumption regulation for household appliances and equipment; measure and analyze the incidence of inter-fuel substitution in the households and; determine awareness and/or perception of the household on major energy issues (i.e. nuclear energy) and developments (energy labeling program, renewable energy, natural gas) in the energy sector.

The reporting unit is the household. Pursuant to the provision of Section 4 of Act 591, information obtained from the respondents shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be divulged to any person except authorized NSO personnel acting in the performance of their duties and Section 3 of the same law provides the penalty clause for non-compliance of the survey.

In the province, five (5) sample barangays, will be ivisited in the municipalities of Baras- 2 barangays, Caramoran- 1 barangay, Pandan-1 barangay and San Andres-2 barangays. (MAL/EAB/NSO Catanduanes)


3 towns in Camarines Norte identified for expansion of KALAHI-CIDSS next year

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, September 14 (PIA) -- Three towns of this province were identified for the expansion of the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) next year.

Arwin O. Razo, Regional Project Coordinator, during the meeting of the Provincial Inter-Agency Committee (PIAC) of the KALAHI-CIDSS yesterday, said that of the 20 identified towns in Bicol region, the towns of Basud, Labo and San Vicente were included.

The other 17 towns include 10 towns in Camarines Sur, 3 in Sorsogon, 2 each in Catanduanes and Masbate.

He said the program will be part of the Millenium Challenge wherein the funds will be given as grant to the country by the United States government for the program and projects of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for road and the DSWD-KALAHI-CIDSS.

Each municipality under the KALAHI-CIDSS will be allocated a grant of P450,000 x the number of barangays. The barangay will then identify programs and projects for social services or infrastructure to be implemented within 3 years.

Razo clarified that the amount to receive by a barangay will depend on their identified programs and projects and the funds will go directly to the project.

This year, the town of Sta. Elena has received an incentive of a one year project of P8.5 million for the KALAHI-CIDSS while the town of Capalonga needs to enroll for extension this year.

Meanwhile, Paracale and Sta. Elena will end the project this year under the Poder Y Prosperidad dela Comunidad (PYPC), with same concept as KALAHI-CIDSS funded by Agencia Espanola Cooperacion International para el Desarollo (AECID) being a supply side of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) implemented by the DSWD. (MAL/RBM/PIA Camarines Norte)