Since the early 20th century, when HIV began to circulate among humans, blood exposures during healthcare have contributed to the transmission of the virus.  Despite all the money and attention directed at HIV/AIDS in the past several decades, these risks have remained.  The book asks why, and seeks answers to a number of crucial questions:  How much of the worst HIV epidemics are from blood exposures? Why have these risks persisted? And what is to be done?

Points To Consider  looks to the future and recommends new strategies that people and governments can adopt to ensure that healthcare and cosmetic services do not transmit HIV, and to reliably stop the worst HIV/AIDS epidemics.

_______________________________

David Gisselquist has published more than a dozen articles in medical journals on HIV epidemics in Africa and India, with special attention to risks to transmit HIV through health care. He has traveled and worked in Africa and Asia, and has assisted field research on HIV in India and Kenya. He co-edited a collection of country studies on injection practices (Pilot-Testing the WHO Tools to Assess and Evaluate Injection Practices, published by WHO, 2003), and has spoken at WHO and at international AIDS conferences. Dr Gisselquist holds a PhD in economics, with experience in anthropology and rural development. He is an independent consultant.