AIDS
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Leadership development among all sectors addressing HIV/AIDS has come to be recognized as a critically important endeavor as the HIV pandemic moves into its fourth decade. Globally, there is a tremendous need for well-trained leaders in healthcare, research, policy, programme management, activism and advocacy, especially in countries and settings with high HIV prevalence and limited human resource capacity. This article examines the growing need for HIV/AIDS leadership development, and describes and assesses a number of current initiatives that focus on leadership development in a variety of populations and settings. A series of recommendations are provided to expand the scope and impact of leadership development activities; recommendations are primarily targeted towards foundations and other funders and leadership development programme managers.
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Injecting drug users (IDU) now account for one in 10 new HIV infections world wide. Yet it has been known since the early 1990s that HIV among IDU can be effectively, safely and cost-effectively controlled by the early and vigorous implementation of a comprehensive package of strategies known as 'harm reduction'. This concept means that decreasing drug-related harms is accorded an even higher priority than reduction of drug consumption. ⋯ Excessive reliance on drug law enforcement remains the major barrier to increased adoption of harm reduction. Sometimes zealous drug law enforcement undermines harm reduction. A more balanced approach to drug law enforcement is required with illicit drug use recognized primarily as a health and social problem.