Global AIDS Alliance honors congressmen, South African activist

The Global AIDS Alliance on Sunday presented awards to two U.S. congressmen and a South African AIDS activist for their leadership on HIV/AIDS issues. At a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., awards were presented to representatives Jim Leach (R-Iowa) and John Conyers (D-Mich.) as well as to Zackie Achmat, chairman of the South African AIDS organization Treatment Action Campaign. Leach was honored for his role in helping to create the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Conyers was saluted for his efforts to bring African-American activists to Washington to push for expanded HIV/AIDS services in minority communities. Achmat, who is HIV-positive but refuses to take anti-HIV drugs until they're available to all HIV-positive South Africans, was honored for his work in seeking antiretroviral access in the country, home to nearly 5 million people infected with the virus.