mother-to-child transmission of HIV

It is the first indication that mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be at least decreased, if not prevented. And it will provide a real impetus for identifying more HIV-infected women during pregnancies so that they could consider the benefit of AZT treatment for themselves and their children.”The New York Times -⁵²

In early August 1994, the Tenth International Conference on AIDS was held in Yokohama, Japan. It was the first of the International Conferences to be held in Asia. No major breakthroughs emerged, and it was announced that in future the international conference would be held every two years.⁵³

Pedro Zamora

Meanwhile in the Russian Federation, deputies in the Russian Parliament, the Duma, voted at the end of October to adopt a law making HIV tests compulsory for all foreign residents, tourists, businessmen and even members of official delegations.⁵⁴

India by this time had around 1.6 million people living with HIV, up by 60% since 1993. Local and state governments were accused of underusing and misusing HIV prevention funds.⁵⁵

On 11th November AIDS killed the 22-year old Pedro Zamora. He had become famous when he appeared on MTV's 'Real World' documentary about the real lives of a group of young room mates.⁵⁶

In December, President Clinton asked Joycelyn Elders to resign from the post of US Surgeon General, following her suggestion during a World AIDS Day conference that school children should, amongst other things, be taught about masturbation. Gay activists defended the Surgeon General and criticised the president's record on AIDS. Fears were expressed that the president's action would discourage other government leaders from speaking frankly about AIDS.⁵⁷