IRIN HIV/AIDS Weekly - 159
Africa
12 December 2003


NEWS

ZAMBIA: Getting girls back into school
SWAZILAND: Community provides "shoulders to cry on"
SOUTH AFRICA: Court ruling favours children orphaned by AIDS
NAMIBIA: PWAs hopeful about treatment programme
ANGOLA: Irish NGO calls for increased AIDS prevention
ETHIOPIA: Tackling HIV/AIDS through music

LINKS

1. New C-Safe Website
2. New Youth Newsletter
3. Women and Children and HIV

CONFERENCES/EVENTS/RESEARCH RESOURCES

1. HIV/AIDS Research Training Course
2. WHO 3 by 5 Email Discussion Forum
3. Analysis of HIV/AIDS in Uganda
4. Young Women's Dialogue
5. African Conference for Sexual Health and Rights

VACANCIES

1. Country Director
2. Technical Experts


NEWS

ZAMBIA: Getting girls back into school

Zambian girls are defying traditional barriers, teenage pregnancy and the
risk of HIV infection to go back to school to finish their education.

They are doing this despite the findings of a new report that girls in
sub-Saharan Africa face the highest school drop-out rate in the world,
with up to 83 percent of all girls who no longer attend school living in
the region.

"The State of the World's Children", released on Thursday by the UN
Children's Fund (UNICEF), found that the number of girls in sub-Saharan
Africa who had left school before completing their education rose from 20
million in 1990 to 24 million in 2002.

But the report also lists the Programme for the Advancement of Girls'
Education (PAGE), a collaboration between the Zambian government and
UNICEF, as an example of the type of action required by governments and
the international community to reverse the trend.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2848


SWAZILAND: Community provides "shoulders to cry on"

A legion of volunteer community activists in Swaziland are identifying
orphans and vulnerable children - many of them affected by AIDS - and
seeing to their nutritional, medical, educational and psychological needs.


"The community worker is called 'lihlombe lekukhalela', which means
'shoulder to cry on'. They are the person who children know they can go to
for assistance. They can tell their troubles to this person, and find
help," Ezrome Magagula, the community volunteer coordinator for the Deputy
Prime Minister's Office, told PlusNews.

The number of orphaned and vulnerable children as a result of AIDS is on
the rise, according to the latest report from the National Emergency
Response Committee on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA). Out of a national population of
approximately 950,000, an estimated 120,000 children under 15 will have
lost both parents to AIDS by 2010, up from an earlier projection of
110,000.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2847


SOUTH AFRICA: Court ruling favours children orphaned by AIDS

Orphaned HIV-positive children in South Africa will be able to access
antiretroviral (ARV) treatment more easily after a High Court ruled that
permission for such an intervention can now be granted by their
caregivers.

The decision made by the Johannesburg High Court last week was limited to
three "paediatrician working groups" in Johannesburg, the country's
economic hub, attorney Liezl Gernholtz of the AIDS Law Project (ALP) told
PlusNews.

The court ruled in favour of an application made by the ALP and groups of
paediatricians working in Chris Hani Baragwanath, Coronation and
Johannesburg General hospitals, who challenged existing legislation that
prevented orphaned HIV-infected children from receiving antiretroviral
(ARV) drugs.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2829


NAMIBIA: PWAs hopeful about treatment programme

Plans to provide anti-AIDS drugs to HIV-positive Namibians are slowly
taking shape, but the pace of implementing the government's treatment
programme is still cause for concern, activists told PlusNews.

"Things are happening, but not at the pace we want; treatment is being
rolled out, but it is still not country-wide," said Conny Samaria,
advocacy manager for Lironga Eparu, an NGO assisting people living with
HIV/AIDS.

After announcing it had budgeted US $10.9 million for the purchase of ARVs
in April this year, the health department began providing the medication
in 5 hospitals across the country in Windhoek, Rundu, Oshakati and Walvis
Bay.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2841


ANGOLA: Irish NGO calls for increased AIDS prevention

The voluntary counselling and HIV testing clinic run by the Irish
development agency, GOAL, in Angola's capital, Luanda, is always busy. The
simple chairs in the waiting room are occupied by people from all walks of
life.

Dr Eduardo Fulai, the supervisor at the clinic, has heard the same story
dozens of times from people coming to be tested.

"A typical scenario is that a boy comes in and says he had a girlfriend,
but left her for another. He had learnt that his former girl was having
sex with other boys during their time together. Now he has got a
'condition' in his penis. He is very bothered by the situation and is
afraid that she has infected him with HIV," Fulai told PlusNews.

GOAL has found that between five and 10 percent of people who undergo the
test are HIV-positive.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2831


ETHIOPIA: Tackling HIV/AIDS through music

Some of Ethiopia’s best-known musicians have released a song to fight
widespread stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and
AIDS.

The eight singers, who are among the country’s best-known vocalists,
collaborated to produce the hit which is currently being broadcast on
radio and television.

The song - called Compassion in Modernity - was composed by well-known
Ethiopian poet Nebiy Mekonnen. "The singers feel that they have done
nothing so far against AIDS," said Assafa Gosaye of Admass Advertising who
produced the song and music video.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2832


LINKS

1. C-SAFE, the Consortium for Southern Africa Food Security Emergency, has
launched its newly designed website with easy-to-use, in-depth country
information on the most severe food security crisis to hit the region.

The consortium is led by three international NGOs – Word Vision, CARE and
Catholic Relief Services - with an additional six members in Malawi
(Africare, Save the Children US, Save the Children UK, American Red Cross,
Emmanuel International and the Salvation Army), and one member in Zambia
(ADRA). The consortium operates in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.

In addition to situation reports, news from the field, and related sites
to the ongoing emergency, the C-SAFE website contains information on the
HIV/AIDS pandemic.
http://www.c-safe.org


2. YouthNet, Family Health International's global youth programme, has
launched Youth InfoNet, a one-stop monthly source of new publications and
information on youth reproductive health and HIV prevention. The
newsletter is divided into two sections:
- Summaries of innovative programme resources
- Summaries of recent research articles.

Submissions and ideas for the newsletter are welcomed. For more
information on subscriptions to Youth InfoNet (and other electronic
notices of YouthNet publications and information), or to propose
submissions to the newsletter, send an email to: youthnetpubs@fhi.org

The first issue of Youth InfoNet is available at:
www.fhi.org/en/Youth/YouthNet/Publications/Youth+InfoNet.htm


3. Analysis of HIV/AIDS in Uganda. This site contains a library of
practically applicable materials on mother and child HIV infection,
including preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT), infant
feeding, clinical care of women and children living with HIV, and the
support of orphans. The goal of the site is to contribute to an
improvement in international HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment
programmes for women and children, by increasing access to authoritative
HIV/AIDS information.
http://www.womenchildrenhiv.org/


CONFERENCES/EVENTS/RESEARCH RESOURCES

1. South Africa's University Of The Witwatersrand Graduate School, Faculty
of Health Sciences, will conduct a short training course on research
methodology in the Field of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from 8 to
19 March 2004.

The course is designed to prepare researchers and postgraduate students
with the requisite knowledge for formulating sound projects to meet the
requirements of postgraduate training at the University of the
Witwatersrand and other universities. A selection of one or more of the
following topics will be covered in the final programme, depending on
participants' needs and interests:

- Steps in proposal development i.e. formulation of objectives, study
design, sampling, budgeting etc.
- Introduction to Data Management and Statistical Analysis
- Case studies in implementing research proposals in the field of
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
- Funding research for postgraduate training projects
- Panel discussion of postgraduate research proposals with experienced
supervisors and assessors
- Networking with other postgraduate students and researchers in
implementation of projects

There will be no charge for eligible postgraduate students and researchers
from the SADC region, including from the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS).
Each application should include a clearly articulated motivation that
indicates how the applicant would benefit from the training.

Fifteen places are available and these will be allocated on a first-come,
first-served basis. Apply directly, preferably by fax or e-mail, with a
short description (1 page) of your current professional qualifications and
motivation to participate, by 20 January 2004 to:

Alison Mclean
Tel: +27-11-717-2075
Fax: +27-11-717-2119
Email: mailto:mcleanam@health.wits.ac.za


2. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS have collaborated with
SATELLIFE to create e-3x5, an electronic discussion group and information
network. The goal of e-3x5 is to provide a forum for dialogue and exchange
of information on the WHO and partner-supported initiative to put 3
million people living with HIV/AIDS in resource-limited countries on
antiretroviral (ARV) therapy by the end of 2005.

Implementers of ARV programmes, governments, NGOs, advocacy groups, people
living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and interested individuals, will be
able to rapidly share information and experiences, discuss strategies,
problems and successes, and learn through action.

To subscribe send an e-mail to e-3x5-join@healthnet.org without a subject
and body or go to: http://list.healthnet.org/mailman/listinfo/e-3x5 and
follow the instructions.


3. As part of its Country AIDS Policy Analysis Project, the AIDS Policy
Research Centre at the University of California, San Francisco, has
published a multidisciplinary, fully referenced, peer-reviewed analysis of
HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

The paper includes sections on epidemiology, political economy,
sociobehavioural context, impact, and response - at household, sectoral,
and macro-levels. It is accompanied by a comparative table of 70 key
HIV/AIDS and socioeconomic indicators. The analysis is available in Word,
PDF, and Text-only formats.
http://ari.ucsf.edu/ARI/policy/countries.htm


4. In order to examine the gender-based challenges faced by young women
living with HIV/AIDS in East and Southern Africa, the International
Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) and the Youth Against AIDS
Network (YAAN) are planning a regional meeting in South Africa in February
2004.

The meeting will provide a space for 20 HIV-positive young women from the
region to explore the range of issues affecting them. It will also
establish a regional support mechanism, focused on advocacy at national
and regional level, for young women living with the virus.

Young HIV-positive women aged between 15 and 30 are encouraged to apply to
participate in the meeting. Application forms are available at:
http://www.icw.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=47

Applicants should:
- Reside and work in one of the following countries: Botswana, Kenya,
Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Swaziland Uganda and
Zimbabwe.
- Have disclosed their HIV positive status and be openly living with
HIV/AIDS in their country.
- Be employed in a position focused on working with people living with
HIV/AIDS and/or human rights and/or be a member of a PLWHA organisation.
- Be comfortable working and speaking in English
- Be willing to share their experiences with other participants during the
workshop; after the workshop applicants will contact other young women in
their communities to pass on what they have learned
- Be a member, or willing to become a member, of ICW and be available to
participate in follow-up activities after the workshop.
-Please send application forms together with a letter of support from your
organisation to:

The Coordinator
The Young Women’s Dialogue
The International Community of Women Living With HIV/AIDS
Unit 6 Building 1 Canonbury Yard
190a New North Road, London
N1 7BJ England
Email: ywd@icw.org
The deadline for the submission of applications is 9 January 2004.


5. The Southern African Sexual Health Association and the African
Federation for Sexual Health and Rights will be hosting the African
Conference for Sexual Health and Rights, to be held from 25 to 29 February
2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The meeting will bring together health care practitioners, educators,
psychologists, social workers, sexual health and rights policymakers, to
promote the advancement of sexual health and rights throughout Africa.

Delegates are invited to submit abstracts within the broad themes of the
congress, as outlined on the conference website. Abstracts are not
restricted to researchers and scientists and anyone who has done work in
the field of sexual health and rights may submit an abstract. The deadline
for submission of abstracts has been extended to 31 January 2004. All
details on requirements for abstract submissions can be found on the
website.

The congress organisers are unable to provide sponsorships and all
delegates are responsible for their own funding.

For more information:
Nicole Stoyell
Frontline PR
Tel: +27 11 8036833
Fax: +27 11 8034997
Email: nicole@frontlinepr.co.za
Conference website: www.acitravel.co.za/sasha2004


VACANCIES

1. Family Health International (FHI), an international NGO involved in
family health and HIV/AIDS prevention and care, are looking for a country
director for Nigeria.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Directing the management, implementation, and evaluation of
comprehensive HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) programme in Nigeria
- Serving as the FHI representative to the relevant private and public
agencies
- Managing the development of work plans and budgets, including periodic
review and revision
- Developing and maintaining technical collaboration with partners,
collaborators, and other groups involved in HIV/AIDS and TB programmes

REQUIREMENTS:

- An MPH/MS/MA and 7 to 10 years of relevant experience, or a PhD/MD and 5
to 7 years' relevant experience in managing large-scale HIV/AIDS
prevention programmes in Africa, preferably in Nigeria
- Proven skills in management, supervision, leadership and networking,
including 3 to 5 years of supervisory experience.
- Proven technical experience in HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support
and/or TB activities preferred
- Extensive knowledge of donor planning and reporting systems

FHI has a competitive compensation package. Interested candidates please
submit cover letter and resume, including salary requirements to:
FHI HR, 2101 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201
Fax: + 703 5169036
Email: ERHR@fhi.org


2. FHI also has several upcoming opportunities for technical positions in
Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Kenya, Mozambique,
Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Provide technical assistance to developing country governments,
institutions, NGOs and partner organisations in any aspect of HIV/AIDS
programme management, implementation and application of best practices
- Work with partners and stakeholders to scale up existing HIV/AIDS
programmes and develop new ones
- Provide sound technical expertise and leadership, and facilitate
development and exploitation of links and synergies between HIV/AIDS and
other sectors and health programmes as appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS:

- Excel in one or more areas of expertise related to HIV/AIDS, including
but not limited to: Prevention, Prevention of Mother to Child
Transmission, Clinical/Community Care, Antiretroviral Therapy, Voluntary
Counselling and Testing, Behaviour Change Communication, Training or
Monitoring and Evaluation
- MPH or MS/ MA in public health and 5 to 10 years' relevant working
experience, or PhD in public health/MD and 3 to 7 years' relevant
experience in HIV/AIDS or family planning with international development
programmes

Applications from developing country nationals are encouraged. Interested
candidates should submit cover letter and resume, including salary
requirements to:
FHI HR, 2101 Wilson Blvd. Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22201
Fax +1 703 5169036
Email: ERHR@fhi.org

Please indicate country/countries of interest in the cover letter.


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

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