And it’s also World AIDS Day.

You probably didn’t know that. I didn’t.

There’s one important factor in the AIDS epidemic that doesn’t get much attention. Tuberculosis has become an epidemic in many parts of the developing world where HIV infection rates are high.

It’s happening in concert with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, says UNAIDS, a United Nations program on combatting HIV/AIDS, which considers them to be co-epidemics.

With the global economy sinking into an ecomomic recession, advocay groups are fearing the worst. A cut in funding from the Canadian government would affect the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Here are some more figures from ACTION, an advocay group dedicated to eradicating TB worldwide:

50% of people with HIV/AIDS die from tuberculosis in developing countries

80% of people infected with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis live in Africa

This may lead one to think that one epidemic is fuelling the other. According to ACTION, people are living with AIDS and dying of TB. The head-way that’s been made in managing AIDS/HIV has been undercut by the resurgence of TB, say ACTION.

Results Canada, a memember of ACTION, will release a report in January on the fight against the HIV/TB co-epidemic. They are lobbying the government to increase aid for HIV/AIDS, saying that funding has been cut in half between 2005 and 2007.

Sitting all day in conference presentations and talks was rewarded with a delicious four-course dinner. Wine was flowing, talks were escalating only indicating that schmoozing wasn’t finished.

Sid Katz, a UBC science educator and journalist was the master of ceremonies for the night. He filled in the dinner crowd with his busy schedule and psyched everyone up for the first annual science journalism awards.

“We wanted a set of awards that spoke to journalism and categories that didn’t cover in other awards,” said Professor Stephen Ward. These awards were meant to recognize the best science coverage in Canada and luckily to sponsors, the UBC School of Journalism was able to present four awards.

But, before the award ceremony, dinner was served. This meant more mingling and networking. First came the lentil, I mean squash soup. It was rather delicious (or not to others). This was followed by a puff pastry stuffed with brie and drizzled with raspberry coulis. It was finger-licking good. The main course was either salmon in a champagne butter reduction or a beet risotto, which looked like pink porridge. The pink infused risotto didn’t go down as nicely as the fish. The poached pear dessert was infused with maple syrup and got so-so reviews. “The marscapone doesn’t go well with the pear,” said one taster.

Now, over coffee and tea the awards begin.

This post is for anyone who signed up for the TRIUMF tour. You should have also received an email with this information.

The tour is on Friday, November 9 at 2:00 p.m.

Information about the facility is available at www.triumf.info. Please read the TRIUMF safety handout.

SPECIAL NOTE: Vehicle access to TRIUMF is from the south (SW Marine Dr. and Wesbrook Mall); access from the north (16th Ave and Wesbrook Mall) is blocked by road construction.

You can check out another map at: http://www.triumf.info/public/contact/location.php.

Parking is available at TRIUMF.

Despite the construction, it is still possible to walk through this intersection. If you are planning to get to TRIUMF by foot, note that it is quite a distance from main campus. Please allow ample time to get there (at least 30 min from the main bus loop).

Cheers,

Eric