Prepare for winter, charity urges

British Red Cross urges people to prepare for an emergency this winter 'Ready for winter' campaign opens A whistle, a penknife and a three-day supply of bottled water are on the list of items people should have to hand in case of a winter emergency, according to the British Red Cross.

It recommends having a bag of emergency kit at home and in the car in case of being trapped by snow.

However, a survey by the charity suggested that only one in five people were making preparations.

It also suggested that a kit bag could make a Christmas gift.

Sir Nick Young, chief executive of the British Red Cross, said "many people were caught on the hop by the extreme weather" last winter.

In Scotland, some people were stuck in their cars overnight on the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuotePeople just don't think it's going to happen to them, but there's no doubt that some of these things can actually save lives.”

End QuoteSimon LewisBritish Red Cross Sir Nick added: "None of us can predict what the conditions will be like this year, but what we can all do is take a set of small, practical steps to ensure that we are prepared."

The charity's recommended emergency kit bag contains:

A list of emergency contact numbers Battery-operated torch and spare batteries (or a wind-up torch) Any essential medication, some toiletries and a first aid kit Three days' supply of bottled water and ready-to-eat foods that keep Copies of important documents like insurance policies and birth certificates Pencil, paper, a penknife and a whistle

Simon Lewis, head of emergency planning and response at the British Red Cross, explained the thinking behind some of the items.

"It's only in times of emergency that you find these things useful. A penknife, well who knows? Cutting yourself free from a seat belt comes to mind," he said.

"People just don't think it's going to happen to them, but there's no doubt that some of these things can actually save lives. It's just a sensible approach really."

In the charity's survey, a fifth of people had prepared for being caught out on the road and two in five people were ready for being trapped at home by bad weather.

Mr Lewis suggested this could even provide inspiration for Christmas presents: "Why not give two presents? Why not give the present that someone will really love and the other one they will thank you for when the emergency happens."

UN urges more funds for HIV drugs

In India, the rate of new HIV infections fell by more than 50%, according to UNAids

The head of the agency, Michael Sidibe, said a new study showed it could reduce the risk of HIV transmission by 96%.

He said the challenge was to expand access to drugs, and deal with social factors which stigmatise the disease.

On Thursday, a UN report said there had been a nearly 25% decline in new HIV infections and a reduction in Aids-related deaths during the past decade.

It was published ahead of the 30th anniversary on Sunday of the first official report on Aids by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The General Assembly is to meet at UN headquarters to discuss the epidemic next week, with 20 world leaders and more than 100 ministers expected to attend.

An estimated 34 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2010 and nearly 30 million have died from Aids-related causes since 1981, the report said.

'Shunned disease'

In the report published ahead of the anniversary, UNAids said the global rate of new HIV infections had declined by nearly 25% between 2001 and 2009.

Continue reading the main story30 years of HIV 5 June 1981: Center for Disease Control mentions a new virus in its weekly mortality report 1982: The term Aids (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) first used 1984: Virus identified and named HIV 1985: Rock Hudson dies of Aids, teenage haemophiliac Ryan White expelled from school because infected through treatment 1987: First showing of Aids Memorial Quilt on National Mall in Washington DC 1991: Jeremy Irons wears red ribbon and basketball's Magic Johnson has the virus 1993: Philadelphia film wins two Oscars 2000: Infection rate in US among African Americans overtakes that in gay men 2011: Global death toll 22m, infections 60m How a red ribbon conquered the world'More money needed' for HIV cure In India, the rate of new HIV infections fell by more than 50% and in South Africa by more than 35%; both countries have the largest number of people living with HIV on their continents.

The report found that in the third decade of the epidemic, people were starting to adopt safer sexual behaviour, reflecting the impact of HIV prevention and awareness efforts. But there were still important gaps, it warned, with young men more likely to be informed about HIV prevention than young women.

There has also been significant progress in preventing new HIV infections among children as increasing numbers of mothers living with HIV have gained access to antiretroviral prophylaxis during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.

About 6.6 million people in low- and middle-income countries were receiving antiretroviral drugs at the end of 2010, a nearly 22-fold increase since 2001.

"Thirty years ago this mystery disease was called a gay plague - it was a shunned disease, people were scared about each other," Mr Sidibe said. "Now it's a completely different world - we've been breaking the conspiracy of silence."

However, the report found that at the end of last year nearly nine million people who needed treatment were not getting it, and that treatment access for children was lower than for adults.

And while the rate of new HIV infections has declined globally, the total number of HIV infections remains high, at about 7,000 per day.

The report also noted that there had been an increase in the rate of new HIV infections in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East and North Africa, and that HIV was the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age.

'Game-changer'

UNAids also said that while funding for HIV treatments in low- and middle-income countries had risen 10-fold between 2001 and 2009, international resources had declined in 2010. Many states remain dependant on external financing.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteAccess to treatment will transform the Aids response in the next decade”

End QuoteMichael SidibeExecutive Director, UNAIDS "I am worried that international investments are falling at a time when the Aids response is delivering results for people," Mr Sidibe said. "If we do not invest now, we will have to pay several times more in the future."

He stressed the importance of a recent trial, which found that if a person living with HIV adhered to an effective antiretroviral regimen, the risk of transmitting the virus to their uninfected sexual partner could be reduced by 96%.

"Access to treatment will transform the Aids response in the next decade. We must invest in accelerating access and finding new treatment options.

"Antiretroviral therapy is a bigger game-changer than ever before - it not only stops people from dying, but also prevents transmission of HIV to women, men and children," he added.

Mr Sidibe said the challenge was to expand access to drugs, and deal with social factors that in some countries continue to stigmatise the disease and make women particularly vulnerable.

To do this, UNAids believes an investment of at least $22bn is needed by 2015, $6bn more than is available today. It estimates such funds would stop 12m new HIV infections and 7.4m Aids-related deaths by 2020.