IRIN HIV/AIDS Weekly - 144
Africa
29 August 2003


NEWS:

TANZANIA: World Bank approves US $70 million HIV/AIDS grant
BOTSWANA: Govt anti-AIDS commitment applauded
AFRICA: What about the men?
SOUTH AFRICA: Second vaccine trial given go-ahead
COTE D'IVOIRE: Condom machines placed in internet cafes to combat AIDS
ZAMBIA: HIV/AIDS information campaigns not reaching young men
AFRICA: US mayors to follow up on Bush visit
SWAZILAND: Stigma and silence threaten AIDS workers' efforts

LINKS

1. Managing HIV

CONFERENCES/EVENTS/RESEARCH/RESOURCES

1. Sixth International Conference on Healthcare Resource Allocation for
HIV/AIDS
2. Medical Research Council (MRC) Research Trainee Programme for young
black scientists
3. Ask your aunty: sex education in rural Uganda
4. Voices and choices: speaking-up for HIV-positive women in Zimbabwe

VACANCIES

1. Compliance Officer - Tanzania
2. Technical Advisors - Rwanda, Tanzania, Swaziland

TANZANIA: World Bank approves US $70 million HIV/AIDS grant

The World Bank approved on Wednesday a US $70-million grant for Tanzania's
multisectoral HIV/AIDS project, which is aimed at reducing the spread of
the disease through working with government, non-government, civil society
and community organisations.

The money is intended to support the country’s National Programme for
HIV/AIDS and will sustain activities "in the priority areas of prevention
and the mitigation of the health and the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS
at individual, household and community levels", the Bank reported.

The sectors targeted for the project are social mobilisation and community
level response; public sector programmes in prevention, care and support;
support for the Tanzanian Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS); and the
implementation of similar programmes on Zanzibar.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2443&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=TANZANIA

BOTSWANA: Govt anti-AIDS commitment applauded

A group of US senators on a two-day visit to Botswana have hailed the
government's commitment to tackling the AIDS pandemic.

"I am most impressed with the political will. I hope that this political
will, will serve as an example to other countries throughout the world,
even beyond Africa," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. "The United
States, under the leadership of George W. Bush, is committed to
partnerships with African countries that demonstrate political will."

Confronted with an HIV infection rate of 38.8 percent of adults, the
Botswana government launched a national antiretroviral (ARV) therapy
programme in four strategic sites across the country in 2001. It was
initially targeted at people with AIDS-defining illnesses, pregnant women,
young children and TB patients with CD4 counts (a gauge of the strength of
the body's immune system) of less than 200.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2439&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=BOTSWANA

AFRICA: What about the men?

Reproductive and sexual health services have always focused on women and
girls, but little effort has gone into working with men, especially young
men.

The critical challenge is to curb the further spread of HIV/AIDS and
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by getting men to support their
female partners' needs, choices and rights in sexual and reproductive
health, a report by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said.

Interventions involving men would also improve "understanding of men's own
identity behaviour and sexual health needs", the report noted.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2438&SelectRegion=Africa&SelectCountry=AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA: Second vaccine trial given go-ahead

South Africa's Medicines Control Council (MCC) has given the go-ahead for
the country's second vaccine trial, expected to kick off later this year.

The vaccine, named HIVA.MVA, was designed by the University of Nairobi in
Kenya and Oxford University in the United Kingdom. The first phase of
human trials of the vaccine have already been completed in Kenya and are
underway in Uganda.

The South African trials will be a "small study", with between 20 and 50
volunteers, to examine the safety of different methods of injecting the
same vaccine, South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) spokeswoman,
Michelle Galloway, told PlusNews.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2432&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=SOUTH_AFRICA

COTE D IVOIRE: Condom machines placed in internet cafes to combat AIDS

The government of Cote d'Ivoire has started placing condom dispensing
machines in internet cafes as part of its drive to control HIV/AIDS
infection among young people, a government official said on Monday.

The project, financed by Belgium and supervised by the UN Population Fund
(UNFPA), involves the installation of vending machines that dispense cheap
condoms in internet cafes in nine towns and cities across the country, he
said. A packet of four condoms will cost just 100 FCFA (US 16 cents).

"Young people use the internet to exchange ideas about AIDS with young
people in other countries," a UNPF spokesman told IRIN.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2429&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=COTE_D_IVOIRE

ZAMBIA: HIV/AIDS information campaigns not reaching young men

Poor, less educated young Zambian men are falling through the cracks of
the country's HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, giving rise to misconceptions
and folk beliefs about the disease.

A Population Services International (PSI) study of young Zambian males who
have dropped out of school revealed that their risk perception of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) was low, due to incorrect information and
denial.

Although the study's participants demonstrated a wide range of knowledge
about the disease, they often mixed correct information with
misconceptions, the study found.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2428&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=ZAMBIA

AFRICA: US mayors to follow up on Bush visit

As a follow-up to President Bush’s Africa tour last June, undertaken
largely to promote the launch of his global fund on HIV/AIDS, a delegation
of nine US mayors is to visit four African countries later this month.

The delegation, led by Hempstead mayor James A. Garner, will travel to
South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Uganda. Their reception is being
organised by the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in
Africa - a body created in 1998 by prominent mayors from throughout
sub-Saharan Africa with the stated mission “to curb the impact of HIV/AIDS
on our communities”.

In a press statement released over the weekend, Garner described the visit
as a “historic journey”, and said its goal "is to further sustainable
efforts in sharing and learning about HIV/AIDS and prevention".

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2423&SelectRegion=East_Africa,%20Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=AFRICA

SWAZILAND: Stigma and silence threaten AIDS workers' efforts

Discouraged AIDS activists reported this week that they are not only
failing to overcome the social stigma attached to people who are
HIV-positive, but are losing ground in their efforts to encourage condom
use.

"The picture is mixed. We do have new AIDS education initiatives, and
programmes to halt mother-to-child transmission of the HI virus, and new
anti retroviral drugs. But there is not a health worker in the kingdom who
has found a way to convince Swazis to change the sexual behaviour that
breeds AIDS," said Pholile Dlamini, an AIDS activist and Manzini city
council consultant.

Swaziland's adult HIV infection rate of 38.6 percent is due in part to the
attitude of denial most Swazis have towards the epidemic, health
organisations said.

More details:
http://www.irinnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=2422&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=SWAZILAND


LINKS

1. Managing HIV
The site is dedicated to providing high-quality information to people
living with HIV/AIDS, and offers these individuals, their friends and
family a broad range of HIV/AIDS information. Managing HIV covers symptoms
and the latest medications, provides expert advice on when to start
treatment and coping with treatment side effects. All this information is
also available in video, audio and written formats.

For more information: http://www.managinghiv.com/


CONFERENCES/EVENTS/RESEARCH

1. Sixth International Conference on Healthcare Resource Allocation for
HIV/AIDS
The conference, from 13 to 15 October 2003, promises to contribute
significantly to global policy around the reform and expansion of HIV/AIDS
care and treatment. The programme is dedicated to exploring the various
successes and failures of 30 international healthcare systems in
responding to their respective HIV/AIDS epidemics. The conference will be
a key opportunity for government and NGO representatives, delegates from
industry, the patient community, and donor agencies to assess broad health
system needs as access to HIV/AIDS treatment is scaled up. Conference
proceedings will be captured in a book to be published by the Oxford
University Press.

For more information: http://www.iapac.org/

2. The Medical Research Council (MRC) Research Trainee Programme for young
black scientists
places black postgraduates in its units and groups. Black candidates with
a four-year degree or equivalent, or a Master's degree, can apply for a
research training internship position with an MRC research unit or group.
Research trainees who register for a master's or doctoral degree can renew
their appointment for a second and third year, subject to their
satisfactory performance.

For more information:
http://www.mrc.co.za/funding/fundopportunities.htm#research

3. Ask your aunty: sex education in rural Uganda
Developing sex education for young people in sub-Saharan Africa is
essential if the battle against HIV is to be won. Information about sex
and marriage has traditionally been passed on to young girls by the
'senga', their father’s sister, in rural Uganda. The UK's Medical Research
Council carried out a pilot study which adapted this traditional
institution in an attempt to combat AIDS. The study was conducted in two
villages in rural Masaka over a period of 12 months.

For more information:
http://www.id21.org/zinter/id21zinter.exe?a=0&i=h6hm1g1&u=3f4f62e9

4. Voices and choices: speaking-up for HIV-positive women in Zimbabwe
Women with AIDS face neglect and prejudice all over the world. Many are
denied healthcare during pregnancy or forced to have abortions. Some are
sent away by their husband’s family to their parents’ home. How can their
situation be improved?  The International Community of Women living with
HIV/AIDS set up a research project to find out the needs of HIV-positive
women in Zimbabwe.

For more information:
http://www.id21.org/zinter/id21zinter.exe?a=1&i=h5rf1g1&u=3f4f62e9


VACANCIES

1. Compliance Officer

The Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) invites
applications from qualified candidates for the monitoring and review
compliance of all applicable regulations, statutes, guidelines and rules
for USAID funding requirements and standards, for EGPAF's USAID-funded
sub-grant recipients. The incumbent will be part of a team of compliance
professionals, both international and domestic, to ensure that all
compliance requirements are met.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Field Compliance Officer is responsible to the US Compliance Manager
with essential duties and responsibilities that will include the
following, but are not limited to:

- Implement USAID compliance policies, procedures, administrative
structures and systems designed to measure fiscal, financial and metric
accountability on site for sub-recipients of EGPAF's federal fund awards.
- Report all procedural problems, violations and failures and, if
possible, supply immediate on-site solutions or recommend proper methods
of resolution.
- Monitor sub-recipient activity and implementation of all compliance
requirements at all stages, and at every level of progress, of each funded
programme, including pre-award review and close-out activity.
- Submit assessment reports to evaluate the success and or failure of
implemented compliance structures and recommend ways to improve or avoid
them.
- Serve as liaison between EGPAF and the programme site.

REQUIREMENTS:

- Knowledge of policies and procedures regarding USAID grant contract
compliance and administration requirements.
- Experience in accounting and financial management practices and
principles.
- Experience in acceptable local (to site) accounting standards.
- Audit experience essential.
- Knowledge of principles and practices governing USAID and/or other
federal grant programmes.
- Some knowledge of contract negotiations.
- Ability to implement training programmes related to federal funding
compliance.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects while working as part
of a team.
- Ability to travel, nationally and internationally.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Bachelor's Degree required, MA in Business, Public Health or Public
Administration preferred, with 3 to 5 years experience as a compliance
officer working on projects funded by grants from the federal government
in a public or private sector environment.

- Any combination of education and experience.

Email cover letter, resume and salary history to: hrint@pedaids.org
Incomplete submission of requirements will delay applications.

2. Technical Advisors - Rwanda, Tanzania, Swaziland

The Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) invites
applications from qualified candidates to provide in-country technical
direction to EGPAF in supporting the implementation of national programmes
for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. In
collaboration with USAID and local partners, our objectives will be to
expand PMTCT programmes to additional regions and introduce expanded care
and support programmes to keep families healthy and communities strong.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The technical advisor is responsible to the country director for the
coordination of the local PMTCT programme, and to the regional technical
director for the technical direction of the programme. Essential duties
and responsibilities include the following, but are not limited to:

- Development of overall PMTCT partner strategy to support the national
strategy in providing national expansion of PMTCT and associated care and
support services.
- In collaboration with partners, assist in documenting lessons learned
across PMTCT sites.
- Serve as member of the PMTCT partnership forum in the ministry of
health, if established in-country.
- Track progress at individual sites through site visits and district
reports, in collaboration with the ministry of health, outside
contractors, and EGPAF staff.
- Interface with national government and relevant agencies to achieve a
mutual understanding of programmes and to avoid duplication.

REQUIREMENTS:

- Extensive skills and knowledge in monitoring and evaluation (both
quantitative and qualitative methods) of PMTCT and care and support.
- Skills and knowledge in programme sustainability and capacity building.
- Clinical experience in care of HIV-infected adults and children in
resource-poor settings.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects while working as part
of a team.
- Knowledge of the functioning of the country's Ministry of Health.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- MD with 2 to 5 years of experience working in HIV/AIDS programmes and
international health.
- At least 3 years of proven project management experience in the design,
administration, management and implementation of international health
programmes in developing countries, including supervision and reporting.
- Master's in public health or other master's an asset.

Email cover letter, resume and salary history to: hrint@pedaids.org
Incomplete submission of requirements will delay your application.


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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