African heads of state meet this week in Abuja, Nigeria, to review progress made in reversing the spread of HIV/Aids, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
Equity and HIV/AIDS
Africa must find new ways to fund Aids fight
East African Standard: Gichinga Ndirangu
Buckling: A challenging new analysis of the impact of AIDS in South Africa
Centre for the Study of AIDS, University of Pretoria: Marais H
An AIDS epidemic as severe as the one plowing through South Africa will change society, with currently predicted scenarios tending to be roughly hewn and formulaic; fixating on the impact on productive and governance capacities. But exactly how and along what lines? Buckling: The impact of AIDS in South Africa, a new publication by South African writer and journalist Hein Marais, tackles the question in distinctive and critical-minded fashion-and arrives at disquieting conclusions.
Contact: csa@up.ac.za
GAO report shows president's Global AIDS strategy undermines effective HIV prevention efforts
Center for Health and Gender Equity
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) have released a long-awaited report analyzing the effects of the abstinence-until-marriage earmark in the US Global Leadership on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, also known as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. In theory, the law supports a comprehensive approach often described as ABC or Abstain, Be Faithful, Use Condoms, and argues that prevention programs should be designed to meet local needs and realities. In practice, the law requires that, as of FY 2006, at least 33 percent of prevention funding be set aside for so-called "abstinence-until-marriage" programs. Key findings in the GAO report are reported to indicate that PEPFAR prevention programs have responded in design more to the agenda of the Bush Administration and Congress than to local prevention needs, epidemiological needs and cultural realities.
Further details: /newsletter/id/31396
Contact: jjacobson@genderhealth.org
Government Accountability Office report on PEPFAR
Genderhealth.org
This report looks at the reasons behind the GAO study, the findings of the study, and relevant recommendations that emerged from the study. It describes the challenges posed by spending requirements in allocating prevention funding under the President's Emergency Funding for Aids Relief (PEPFAR).
Southern African leaders commit to stepping up HIV/AIDS prevention
World Health Organisation Mozambique E-News
An initiative by African governments to step up the pace of HIV prevention was launched at four simultaneous events across the continent. African health ministers designated 2006 as the Year for Accelerating Access to HIV Prevention at a meeting in Maputo last August. The purpose of the campaign is to ensure that prevention reassumes its rightful position as the mainstay of the global response to HIV and AIDS.
The international treatment preparedness coalition
This letter was written by and to represent the various groups of people living with HIV/AIDS across the world. Adressed to the Director General of the WHO, Dr Lee, the letter begins by thanking Dr Lee for the truly visionary leadership in launching WHO’s 3x5 campaign in 2003. However, the letter proceeds to express concern that the new Universal Access initiative may lack the specificity of WHO's 3x5 campaign and is not accompanied by any clear and concrete operational goals.
Further details: /newsletter/id/31481
Womens rights and HIV/AIDS
Agenda Feminist Media Project
Fifty four women from 21 African countries representing 41 national, regional and international women’s organizations in Africa; comprising of HIV and AIDS organizations, feminist associations and human rights institutions, meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa between April 6 and 7, 2006 to formulate advocacy positions on women’s rights in the context of HIV and AIDS expressed outrage at the conduct of the defence lawyers, the media, the courts and the police in the rape trial of the deputy President of the African National Congress, ANC, Jacob Zuma; concern at the twin epidemics of Violence Against Women and HIV and AIDS; and solidarity with Khwezi for bravely reporting her experience; and for showing respect for the mechanisms that exist in South Africa to report and resolve crimes.
Engaging local NGOs in the response to HIV/AIDS
Procaare: Pact\'s Community REACH program
Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), faith-based organization(FBOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs) have always been and continue to be a driving force in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In many countries, they have been responsible for the majority of the resources reaching individuals and have played a leading role in developing and implementing sustainable strategies to mitigate and prevent HIV/AIDS. In December 2005, Pact's Community REACH program released this important document entitled "Engaging Local NGOs in the Response to HIV/AIDS", highlighting their essential role in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Firms fail on pledge to deliver life-saving drugs
Mail & Guardian (South Africa): 13 March 2006
Major drug companies are still not making life-saving drugs available to millions of people with HIV/AIDS in the developing world, according to the charity Médécins Sans Frontières (MSF). Basic three-drug cocktails in a single pill are being slowly rolled out to some who need them, but doctors fear many of those people will die within a few years if they cannot get hold of alternative drugs that are widely available in Western countries.
Focus on education, gender, HIV and AIDS
Eldis HIV and AIDS Reporter
There is growing evidence that education improves the chances of girls to build a better future for themselves and their families. The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS argues that abolishing school fees, providing cash grants and introducing flexible schooling are all ways to help increase girls' enrolment in school. Policies and interventions must also take the needs of HIV positive girls into consideration. The International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS calls for continued access to education for HIV positive girls, as well as systems to fight discrimination against HIV positive girls.