South Africa and EU look to strengthen links to beat HIV and AIDS
South Africa and the European Union have reconfirmed their commitment to strengthen existing collaboration in combating HIV and AIDS. The pledge to encourage further contact and exchange of results and ideas between researchers follows the success of the 13th International AIDS conference, held in Durban, South Africa, in July. Scientists from the EU and South Africa have the opportunity to join forces in the fight against HIV and AIDS through the EU's Fifth RTD Framework programme. A number of studies have already been approved with, for example, EU partners collaborating with researchers from the University of Cape Town's Department of medical microbiology who are studying the behaviour, immunology and virology of the disease leading to HIV superinfections. 'An important focus for recent collaboration has been the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine,' says a South African official in Brussels. The EU's HIV and AIDS programme for developing countries also supports a programme on human rights and community mobilisation to develop a vaccine for HIV and AIDS and clinical trials. It is coordinated by South Africa's Medical Research Council. 'The programme, known as HIVAC, examines critical ethical questions pertaining to, and fosters informed decision-making on, HIV and AIDS vaccine development and trials. The overall objective is to accelerate the development of a vaccine and to ensure its accessibility as soon as available,' the official adds. In addition, the European programme for reconstruction and development in South Africa, an EU development cooperation instrument, supports a number of HIV and AIDS-related initiatives. This includes 'Soul City' a multimedia project aimed at making health information popular and accessible through drama and entertainment initiatives. The EU also supports regional collaboration on HIV and AIDS in South Africa, both through the South African Development Community and with the EU's agreement for cooperation with the African, Caribbean ad Pacific (ACP) Group of States under the Lome and Cotonou Conventions.