[e-drug] BMJ seeking authors for AIDS theme issue

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E-drug: BMJ seeking authors for AIDS theme issue
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BMJ 2001;322:1440 ( 16 June )
Editorials
Twenty years of AIDS, and no end in sight
A BMJ theme issue will refocus attention on this catastrophic epidemic
A Martian researcher is sent to earth. His mission is to assess a pandemic 
sweeping the southern hemisphere. On returning to Mars he files his report: 
"Human beings are undergoing one of the greatest catastrophes in recorded 
history. The epidemic rages far beyond their control and is steadily 
gaining momentum. Widespread misery, the devastation of communities, and 
death outpace the inconsequential expenditures of governments in denial. 
Nothing stands in its way."
All this began without fanfare. In 1981 the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly 
Report published a small case series of five gay men in Los Angeles who had 
Pneumocystis carinii - a rare form of pneumonia usually found in people 
with immune dysfunction.1 Since then, the disease has left 23 million dead; 
it will have killed 55 million by 2010. Africa suffers most of the disease 
burden. India is next in line.
Why did the Martian's report fail to mention the United Nations Secretary 
General's call for a $10bn (�7bn) global health and AIDS fund?2 Because the 
international response has been feeble. President Bush has pledged only 
$200m, when a donation of $2.5bn would have been consistent with his 
country's wealth.3 Worse, as the southern pandemic spirals out of control, 
northern development assistance has fallen to its lowest level in 20 
years.4
Drug company discounting of various medications is largely immaterial since 
the most heavily indebted countries still cannot afford them. And 
heterosexual transmission rates, and thus incidence, will probably remain 
high in many southern regions with or without medications.
The HIV tragedy in the south must be foremost on every country's agenda. 
The BMJ wants to help by publishing a theme issue in January 2002 on 
"Global voices on the HIV catastrophe." By focusing on the south, we aim to 
boost international and cross-cultural understanding and cooperation. We 
want to stimulate inquiry, attract high quality research, and collect 
outstanding educational materials to improve clinical practice among all 
people infected or affected by HIV.
Among other topics, the issue will include the long term care of AIDS 
orphans, influencing the social status of women, reducing mother-to-child 
transmission, the opportunities and pitfalls of an HIV vaccine, and 
prospects for an effective response by the global health community. We 
welcome your manuscripts for any section of the journal, but particularly 
research papers on the HIV epidemic in the developing world. The closing 
date for submissions is 1 August 2001; please email them to papers@bmj.com. 
Gavin Yamey, deputy editor.
wjm, Western Journal of Medicine, 221 Main St, San Francisco, CA 
94120-7690, USA (gyamey@bmj.com)
William Rankin, president.
Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance, PO Box 29110, San Franscisco, CA 
94129-0110, USA
Richard Feachem, director.
Institute for Global Health, University of California San Francisco, 74 New 
Montgomery, Suite 508, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

1.   Pneumocystis pneumonia - Los Angeles. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1981 
Jun 5; 30(21): 250-252. 	
2. 	Brown P. Kofi Annan describes new health fund for developing countries. 
BMJ 2001; 322: 1265. 	
3. 	Morin SA. AIDS and George W Bush. San Francisco Chronicle 2001 May 28. 
	
4. 	United Nations Conference on Trade Development. Less developed 
countries report. Geneva: Unctad, 2001. 	

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