IRIN HIV/AIDS Weekly - 70
Africa
15 March 2002


NEWS:

ZAMBIA: Focus on traditional medicine
AFRICA: Interview with ECA Executive Secretary KY Amoako
AFRICA: Stigmatised MSM receive little support
NAMIBIA: Overcoming stigma and discrimination
ZIMBABWE: Corruption allegations plague PWA group
SOUTH AFRICA: Government ordered to provide nevirapine
RWANDA: Sexual activity among street children in Kigali

LINKS:

1. The Terrence Higgins Trust
2. AEGiS' new interactive web site tool - 'Ask the Doc'
3. Association for women in development (AWID)

CONFERENCES/RESEARCH:

1. Youth Communication and HIV/AIDS
2. Call for proposals: Health, Nutrition and Population for disadvantaged
groups
3. New guide - working in francophone Africa to prevent the spread of
HIV/AIDS
4. Funds for community-based participatory prevention research
5. Comparing liver toxicity between efavirenz and nevirapine

JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

1. Director - Health Systems Trust
2. Project Manager - HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme


ZAMBIA: Focus on traditional medicine

While there is a strong cultural acceptance of traditional medicine in
Zambia, resistance continues within the "orthodox" medical fraternity
towards its use in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Zambians spend almost double the amount on traditional healers compared
with conventional medicine. According to research by the University of
Zambia, over 80 percent of the spending goes towards treatment for
HIV-related illnesses.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=1246&SelectRegion=Southern
_Africa&SelectCountry=ZAMBIA

AFRICA: Interview with ECA Executive Secretary KY Amoako

African countries have scaled up their HIV/AIDS response, but more needs
to be done, according to UN Under Secretary-General and Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA) Executive Secretary, KY Amoako.

In an interview with PlusNews, Amoako said that the key to tackling most
of the continent's health problems was to strengthen economies. He was
optimistic that the Abuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS in April 2001 would be
implemented. He also discussed the impact of the Global Fund in Africa and
the role of women in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSReport.ASP?ReportID=1244&SelectRegion=Africa&S
electCountry=AFRICA

AFRICA: Stigmatised MSM receive little support

In Africa, men who have sex with men (MSM) receive little attention in
sexual health and HIV/AIDS programmes despite a "dangerously high" risk of
HIV infection, a new study has found.

Researchers interviewed 250 MSM in Dakar, Senegal, and found that only 14
percent used condoms for receptive anal intercourse during their last
sexual encounter, despite frequent sexual activity.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSReport.ASP?ReportID=1245&SelectRegion=Africa&S
electCountry=AFRICA

NAMIBIA: Overcoming stigma and discrimination

Simon Elago fights discrimination against HIV-positive people publicly and
fights poverty in a quieter, but equally determined way.

Tucked away behind the Bernard Nordkamp Centre in Namibia's biggest black
township of Katutura, Elago and several fellow HIV-positive men make paper
coffins to reduce the financial burden for bereaved families.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSReport.ASP?ReportID=1240&SelectRegion=Southern
_Africa&SelectCountry=NAMIBIA

ZIMBABWE: Corruption allegations plague PWA group

Allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds could seriously
jeopardise the work of Zimbabwe's National Network for People Living with
HIV/AIDS (ZNNP+), says the organisation's chairperson.

The network's director, Frank Guni, has been suspended over the alleged
misappropriation of funds and will be investigated, Tendai Chimusoro
chairperson of ZNNP+, told PlusNews on Monday. Guni is being accused of
misusing nearly 40 million Zimbabwe dollars (US $750,000), which he
allegedly used to buy houses for himself.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSReport.ASP?ReportID=1242&SelectRegion=Southern
_Africa&SelectCountry=ZIMBABWE

SOUTH AFRICA: Government ordered to provide nevirapine

The Pretoria High Court on Monday ordered the South African government to
provide nevirapine to all HIV-positive pregnant women until the
Constitutional Court rules on the matter in May.

Judge Chris Botha issued an execution order stating that the government
must provide the drug through all public health facilities "with the
capacity for testing and counselling". The government currently offers
nevirapine at only 18 pilot sites throughout the country.

According to AIDS lobby group the Treatment Action Campaign this means
that doctors have a right to prescribe nevirapine, after the offer of
voluntary counselling and HIV testing, where a pregnant women is
HIV-positive. "The government now has a duty to provide nevirapine to all
public health facilities where the medicine is needed and can be properly
used," the group said in a statement released this week.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSReport.ASP?ReportID=1241&SelectRegion=Southern
_Africa&SelectCountry=SOUTH_AFRICA

RWANDA: Sexual activity among street children in Kigali

A recent survey of street children living in the Rwandan capital, Kigali,
has shown that most of them are interested in learning more about
HIV/AIDS, said Johns Hopkins University, which conducted the survey in
conjunction with an association caring for the children - the Myboboh
Club.

The median age of the interviewed children - 238 in all - was 13 years,
ranging from six to 20. Most of them - 184 - were male, while 54 were
female. Over half of those interviewed had lost both parents, and 13
percent had one parent.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=1243&SelectRegion=Great_La
kes&SelectCountry=RWANDA

LINKS:

1. Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is the leading HIV/AIDS charity in the UK
and the largest in Europe. Established in 1982, it was the first charity
to be set up in response to the HIV epidemic and has been at the forefront
of the fight against HIV/AIDS ever since. http://www.tht.org.uk

2. AEGiS (AIDS Education Global Information System) announced this week
the formation of "Ask the Doc", an interactive programme on its web site,
http:/www.AEGiS.org. The programme is designed to provide general
information from physicians on a variety of AIDS-related medical topics.

3. Association for women in development (AWID) is an international
membership organisation connecting, informing and mobilising people and
organisations committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable
development and women's human rights. http://www.awid.org

4. The African Women's Development and Communication Network FEMNET.
FEMNET's goal is to strengthen the role and contribution of African NGOs
concerned with women's development by providing channels for these
organisations to reach each other and share ideas.
http://www.africaonline.co.ke/femnet

CONFERENCES/RESEARCH:

1. In a 23-country study among children whose homes had electricity, over
90 percent watched an average of three hours of television per day. In
virtually all developing countries most young women have regular access to
television and radio. Experience shows that the most effective
communication programmes involve both mass media and face-to-face
communication such as peer education in small groups. JHU/CCPs Population
Report - 'Youth & HIV/AIDS: Can We Avoid Catastrophe?' examines the social
environment that HIV/AIDS has created for youth, as well as advocacy and
communication strategies to address the epidemic.
http://www.jhuccp.org/pr/l12edsum.shtml

2. The World Bank's Thematic Group on Health, Nutrition and Population and
Poverty is inviting applications for participation in a project designed
to determine how well programmes to improve health, nutrition and
population status are reaching disadvantaged population groups, and to
find ways of reaching those groups more effectively.

Financial support up to US $40,000 is available for each of 10 to 12
submissions, to be selected through open competition. The application
deadline is April 19, 2002. Contact Information: Dr. Manju Rani,
HNP/Poverty Thematic Group, Room G7-035B Mail Stop G7-701, The World Bank
1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A.. Fax: 202-522-3234
Telephone: 202-473-2062 email: mrani1@worldbank.org

For more information:
Reaching the Poor: what works?:
http://www.paho.org/English/HDP/HDD/wb-poor-proj.doc

3. More than 70 communication experts from 12 French-speaking African
nations gathered last year to develop a guide for crafting messages to
prevent HIV/AIDS infection and to address care and support of people
living with HIV/AIDS. 'Le SIDA parlons-en' is a 114-page primer written in
French on how to develop messages for 11 specific audiences: young people,
truck drivers, migrant workers, soldiers, people living with HIV/AIDS,
journalists, political leaders, religious leaders, health workers,
communities, and commercial workers. To obtain a copy of the guide,
contact: Michele Beaupin: Email: mbeaupin@jhuccp.org or Anne-Edith
Kouassigan: Email: aek@sfps.or.ci

4. Funds are now available for community-based participatory prevention
research. For more information:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2002_register&do
cid=02-4110-filed

5. Comparing liver toxicity between efavirenz and nevirapine. Researchers
in Baltimore, Maryland, compared the effect that the two commonly used
anti-HIV drugs have on the liver. Go to:
http://ww2.aegis.org/pubs/catie/2002/cate12501.html


JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

1. Director - Health Systems Trust, South Africa

The Health Systems Trust is a South African NGO that deals with the
support and commissioning of research that addresses key health priorities
(currently decentralisation and district systems development, monitoring
equity in health and health care and HIV/AIDS, including prevention of
mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT).

HST is looking for a director for a two-year contract, renewable depending
on performance and/or need for the position. The responsibilities include:

- Overall management and co-ordination of research (development of a
  research agenda and budget planning).
- Management and support to professional staff.
- Ensuring the utilisation of research information by key stakeholders.
- Liaison with key stakeholders, including government and academic
  institutions

Requirements:
- The ideal candidate should be in possession of a post-graduate (or
  equivalent) qualification in health and management/leadership.
- At least 10 years' relevant experience in public health and research
  management.

Prospective incumbents should be prepared to travel, and preferably be
based in Durban.

Applications/Enquiries: A detailed CV with names and contact details of at
least two referees should be sent to Dawn McDonald at the Durban Head
Office, PO Box 808, Durban 4000.
Fax 031-304-0775 or send an email to dawn@hst.org.za

Closing date for applications: 29 March 2002

2. Project Manager, HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme - Population Services
International (PSI)

PSI is seeking a project manager to collaborate with the Kosovar National
AIDS Board to design and implement an HIV/AIDS prevention programme for
Kosovo.

The project manager will be responsible for:

- coordinating, planning for and sourcing of high-calibre technical
  assistance in key areas that support the development and implementation
  of the action plan.
- leading a state-of-the-art behaviour change communication (BCC)
  initiative.

Duties include, but are not limited to: managing all project activities,
including technical assistance, capacity building, research and pilot
project activities; coordinate donor and stakeholder contacts to ensure
effective project implementation; organise advocacy initiatives to
influence and monitor the decisions of policy makers at various levels;
recruit and supervise project staff and technical assistance; establish
effective monitoring systems to evaluate project activities and assess
results of pilot BCC activities; prepare donor reports and monitor project
expenditures to ensure compliance with donor regulations.

Requirements:

- Masters degree in public health or related field, or equivalent
  professional experience
- at least 5 years' international management experience in HIV/AIDS issues
- demonstrated expertise in BCC methodologies in low prevalence countries
- experience in research and designing pilot activities for target
  sub-populations
- knowledge of effective surveillance systems, voluntary HIV counselling
  and testing

This position is dependent upon the successful award of the USAID request
for application. It is a 15-month position starting around May 2002.

Applications for this position should be sent to:
PSI Recruitment (Ref. Kosovo)
1120 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036, USA
Fax: +1 (202) 785-0120
E-mail: recruitment@psiwash.org
No calls please.
Job reference code: RW_72983U
SOURCE: Reliefweb


IRIN-SA
Tel: +27 11 880-4633
Fax: +27 11 447-5472
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za

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