IRIN HIV/AIDS Weekly - 154
Africa
7 November 2003


NEWS:

ZIMBABWE: AIDS-related deaths rise due to food crisis
AFRICA: Canada to supply cheaper anti-AIDS drugs
AFRICA: New HIV/AIDS monitoring test could cut costs in developing world
SOUTH AFRICA: HIV/AIDS vaccine trials underway
UGANDA: Local company undertakes to produce antiretrovirals
GUINEA-BISSAU: Prime Minister to chair committee on HIV/AIDS
DRC: HIV/AIDS prevalence 20 percent in certain regions

LINKS

1. Positive Connection
2. IAVI Report and HIV/AIDS VAX
3. Football and HIV/AIDS
4. Child Rights Information Centre

CONFERENCES/EVENTS/RESEARCH RESOURCES

1. Entertainment/AIDS Summit
2. New YouthNet research briefs
3. Safe Motherhood Workshop
4. WHO ARV treatment guidelines reviewed
5. Advances through HIV/AIDS research series

VACANCIES

1. Regional Thematic Coordinators, Actionaid Africa
2. Project Director - FHI Malawi


NEWS

ZIMBABWE: AIDS-related deaths rise due to food crisis

As food shortages across Zimbabwe continue to worsen, HIV/AIDS support
groups have raised the alarm over rising malnutrition and the high
incidence of HIV/AIDS related deaths in urban centres.

Matabeleland AIDS Council (MAC) director, Andrew Moyo, told PlusNews that
the critical food situation had led to the deaths of many people who would
have survived, had they had access to a healthy diet. MAC works with 90
HIV/AIDS support groups throughout Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city.

Moyo added that the demise of the Zimbabwe National Network for People
Living with AIDS (ZNNP) two years ago had compounded the problems of
HIV-positive people trying to cope with the food crisis.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2696

AFRICA: Canada to supply cheaper anti-AIDS drugs

It would still be a "a good few months" before HIV-positive people in
developing countries could benefit from Canada's move to introduce
legislation allowing its drug manufacturers to export cheaper anti-AIDS
drugs to poor countries, activists told PlusNews.

Nevertheless, the introduction of the bill in parliament on Thursday was a
"significant first step", which should be welcomed, director of policy and
research at the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Richard Elliot, told
PlusNews.

The Canadian government announced this week that it would present
legislation to change the country's patent laws - including drug laws - to
permit exports of lower-cost generic medicines to developing countries.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2709

AFRICA: New HIV/AIDS monitoring test could cut costs in developing world

Scientists have come up with a faster and cheaper HIV/AIDS monitoring
technique, which could make treatment more affordable in developing
countries.

A study conducted by researchers in Zambia's University Teaching Hospital
and the University College in London, has found that spots of dried blood,
filter paper and inexpensive commercially available chemicals could be
developed into a "field-friendly alternative" to the sophisticated
technology required to carry out CD4 count testing. A CD4 count measures
the strength of the immune system.

In Zambia, where the government has announced plans to treat up to 10,000
HIV-positive people in state hospitals and clinics, a CD4 count test can
cost up to US $40.

"But the equipment for measuring CD4 counts is not widely available and is
limited to tertiary institutions and private hospitals," Dr Peter Mwaba of
the University Teaching Hospital, and one of the study's researchers, told
PlusNews.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2697

SOUTH AFRICA: HIV/AIDS vaccine trials underway

The South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) on Monday announced the
start of the first of several human trials to be conducted in the country.

According to Dr Glenda Gray, national principal investigator of the tests,
Phase 1 of the trials includes concurrent testing of a preventive HIV/AIDS
candidate, AVX101, in the United States and South Africa. The HIV Vaccine
Trials Network, the vaccine research arm of the US National Institutes of
Health (NIH), will undertake the US tests.

The vaccine trials, conducted in Soweto and the port city of Durban, will
be looking at "the safety of the vaccine, and how the immune system
responds," Gray said during a press briefing. A total of 24 participants
in South Africa are involved in the first phase.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2695

UGANDA: Local company undertakes to produce antiretrovirals

Uganda's estimated 100,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, who are in urgent
need of antiretrovirals (ARVs) but cannot afford them, could soon have
access to locally produced ARVs at a cost of less than 50 US cents per
day, according to a Ugandan company planning to produce the drugs.

The Kampala-based Quality Chemicals (QC), which for the past three months
has been importing generic ARVs from India-based Cipla Pharmaceuticals,
told PlusNews on Wednesday that it planned to set up a factory to
manufacture ARVs before the end of next year.

"We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and [the] Uganda AIDS
Commission to have this facility in place," the QC managing director,
Emmanuel Katongole, told PlusNews. "Our proposal is still being negotiated
with Cipla. What is important is that everyone – us, the patients, the
government, the aid agencies, and our suppliers in Cipla – wants this to
happen. We should be able to find a way."

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2703

GUINEA-BISSAU: Prime Minister to chair committee on HIV/AIDS

Interim Prime Minister Artur Sanha is to chair a committee on HIV/AIDS as
part of the new government's attempts to control the spread of the disease
in Guinea-Bissau.

Approved by the Council of Ministers last week, the new committee includes
Health Minister Mariama Ba Biague and several leading AIDS experts.

Health workers said reliable statistics on the prevalence of AIDS are
difficult to obtain in Guinea-Bissau, but estimates by UNAIDS put the
number of HIV-positive people in 2002 at about 13,000 in a population of
1.3 million people.

Campaigns against the disease in Guinea-Bissau have included radio
programmes, plays and television broadcasts. Experts warned in the past
that their activities had been handicapped by declining health services
and poor data collection.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2704

DRC: HIV/AIDS prevalence 20 percent in certain regions

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
may have reached 20 percent in certain regions of the country, according
to Dr Francois Lepira, director of the national programme against AIDS
(Programme national de lutte contre le sida).

The announcement came on Monday as the country's Ministry of Health
presented its new multi-sector plan to fight HIV/AIDS in what it says are
some of the hardest-hit regions of the country, namely the provinces of
Kasai Oriental in central Congo, Katanga in the southeast, South Kivu in
the east, and Orientale in the northeast.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2702


LINKS

1. Positive Connection is South Africa's first online dating service and
provides a secure, hassle-free environment where people living with
HIV/AIDS can meet to form new relationships. Using The Positive Connection
is quick, easy, free and anonymous. The site also offers free photo
profiles.
http://positive.datingbuzz.com/s/

2. The IAVI Report and AIDSVAX are online publications of the
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). The IAVI report is published
several times a year, and provides updates on HIV vaccine research. It
requires a background in the topic, but not necessarily the specialised
expertise of vaccine researchers. VAX is a short, non-technical source of
information on AIDS vaccine research and related fields. VAX provides
articles each month concerning progress towards an AIDS vaccine, along
with a "primer" that offers a basic introduction to a key topic covered in
the issue. VAX target audiences include community health educators, policy
makers, potential vaccine trial volunteers, AIDS NGOs, and people infected
and affected by HIV, who want to learn more about AIDS vaccines. VAX is
also available in translation, with French, Spanish and Portuguese
editions.
http://www.iavi.org/iavireport/

3. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has a website providing links and
information on how football can help fight HIV/AIDS among children. One of
the projects featured is that of a group of youths who formed an Anti-AIDS
Association football club in Ethiopia and team members distribute HIV/AIDS
awareness pamphlets to spectators before each match. In Kenya, UNICEF is
sponsoring football games for children. At half-time, coaches invite the
opponents over for a chat about girls, relationships, safe sex and AIDS.
http://www.unicef.org/football/aids/index.html

4. The Child Rights Information and Documentation Centre (CRIDOC) is a
recently launched web-based service, which seeks to provide access to
information on child rights or related issues through documentation,
research, website and/or other information, communication and technology
models in Malawi.
http://www.cridoc.globalmarch.de


CONFERENCES/EVENTS/RESEARCH RESOURCES

1. Actors, writers and producers of TV drama series broadcast around the
world will be joined by international business, media and public health
leaders in New York on the 18th November 2003, to set the course for one
of the most innovative and potentially powerful HIV/AIDS initiatives.
Organised by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and
Population Communications International, the Entertainment/AIDS Summit
will examine the use of entertainment programmes to effect critical
behavioural changes among populations at greatest risk of HIV/AIDS and
create new partnerships for using entertainment in the struggle against
the AIDS pandemic.

The event's keynote speech will be delivered by United Nations Special
Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis. President of the Global
Business Coalition for HIV/AIDS, Richard Holbrooke, will examine the role
of the international business community in the fight against HIV/AIDS in a
luncheon address. A panel of writers, producers and performers from
Afghanistan, China, India, Kenya and South Africa will also screen
excerpts from dramatic series in their countries, and share the stories of
how these entertainment programmes have impacted their communities'
attitudes to HIV/AIDS and helped to curtail high-risk behaviour.

The gathering will be held on the Columbia University campus and is being
presented by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and
Population Communications International.

For more information contact:
Laura Tomasetti Tel: +1 617-367-6655 Email: laura@tomasettipr.com or
Population Communications International www.population.org

2. The YouthNet Programme, coordinated by Family Health International, has
released two new YouthLens research briefs. The first brief - Abstinence
and Delayed Sexual Initiation - is now available. According to the report,
promoting abstinence is an important strategy that can help delay sexual
activity, but complementary messages are needed for those who are sexually
active. This research brief is available at:
http://www.fhi.org/en/Youth/YouthNet/Publications/YouthLens+English.htm

The second brief on information and communications technology and HIV/AIDS
has also been published. It deals with how technology resources such as
email, CD-ROMs, listservs, the internet, radio, and television can be
applied to youth health issues.
http://www.fhi.org/en/Youth/YouthNet/Publications/YouthLens+English.htm

3. The global White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood (WRA) and Zambia
White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood are hosting a workshop focusing
on building the skills of the WRA members and National Secretariats. The
workshop will be held in Lusaka, Zambia, on 10 to 14 November 2003. During
the workshop, a series of technical updates focusing on current and
emerging safe motherhood issues will be held for the workshop
participants.

To register or for more information about the workshop contact:
Courtland Sikazwe
Workshop Coordinator, Zambia WRA
Tel: +260 1 251026
Fax: +260 1 251026
Email: courtland2001@yahoo.com
http://www.whiteribbonalliance.org/frontnews.cfm?id=4

4. The draft version of the 2003 revision of World Health Organisation
(WHO) treatment guidelines "Scaling up ARV for resource-limited settings:
Treatment Guidelines for a Public Health Approach" has now been posted for
public comment on the WHO HIV website. Comments on the publication are
welcomed - before the 14 November 2003 deadline - and can be sent to:
arvguidelines@who.int
http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/prev_care/draft/en/

5. The 'Advances Through HIV/AIDS' 2002-2003 series includes papers on a
range of emerging issues, such as Breastfeeding and HIV Transmission,
Microfinance and HIV/AIDS, Home Self-Testing for HIV, and Human Capacity
Development for HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support. The goal of the
series is to disseminate key research findings and expert analyses to
practitioners and policy makers working in the field.
http://www.synergyaids.com/SynergyPublications/Synergypublications.htm


VACANCIES

1. Employment Opportunities at Actionaid Africa Region for Regional
Thematic Coordinators

Actionaid is an international development agency working in over 30
countries world wide. ActionAid Africa Region is seeking competent and
qualified applicants to fill the following positions of Thematic Regional
Coordinators:

- HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator
- HIV/AIDS Policy Analyst

These are all senior programme management positions in Actionaid and
require self-driven and motivated persons, able to work in a fast-paced
environment with multiple accountabilities and minimum supervision.

The more detailed responsibilities for each post can be viewed on
Actionaid's website at: www.jobs@actionaid.org.uk
or www.charityjob.co.uk

REQUIREMENTS:

- Candidates must be in possession of at least a first degree, with a
postgraduate qualification in development studies or equivalent and work
experience in a related field, of a minimum of 5 years at a senior level -
preferably in a development agency.
- Team leadership, networking, creation of support mechanisms to
independent teams and a donor relationship maintenance capability.
- Knowledge and expertise in HIV/AIDS field of at least 5 years.
- Ability to lead and manage projects in NGOs, as well as the ability to
work in diverse and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Knowledge of Africa, familiarity with development work, and proven
experience in running donor-funded projects.
- In-depth knowledge of current policy debates and development approaches
in the relevant field, strong leadership and management skills, computer
literacy in basic packages.

All applications with relevant documents must clearly state the position
applied for and must state salary expectations equivalent in US $
addressed to the:

Africa Regional HR&OD Coordinator
ActionAid Africa Regional office
PO Box CY 2451, Causeway
Harare Zimbabwe
Email: vacancies@aafrica.org.zw

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All short-listed
candidates will be required to provide two references before the interview
date. Applications can also be delivered to any of the Actionaid Country
Programmes in Africa. The applicants will be interviewed in December 2003
and should be ready to take on the new assignment in February 2004. The
closing date for applications is 15 November 2003.

2. Project Director - FHI Malawi

The Project Director will provide senior-level expertise in the
development, management, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive
HIV/AIDS programme in the southern region of Malawi, based in Blantyre.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Providing oversight to a comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme with multiple
district offices.
- Ensuring project accountability, including financial accounting.
- Reporting and monitoring and evaluation.
- Coordinating efforts to increase local capacity in HIV/AIDS programming.

REQUIREMENTS:

- Master/PhD in public health or related field
- Minimum of 10 years' experience managing large international
donor-funded health programmes, including 5 years of senior-level project
management experience and HIV/AIDS experience
- Experience working with local government personnel and with local NGOs.

This is not an expatriate assignment. No relocation or expatriate benefits
provided.

FHI has a competitive compensation package. Interested candidates can send
an application to:

Family Health Insurance HR
2101 Wilson Blvd. Suite 700
Arlington VA  22201
Fax +1 703 516-9036
Email: humanresources@fhi.org


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

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Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2003


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