IRIN HIV/AIDS Weekly - 217
Africa
21 January 2005


NEWS:

MOZAMBIQUE: Starting to save HIV-positive children
SENEGAL: Gay community plays it quietly in face of social taboos
AFRICA: Glaring lack of child ARVs and slow rollout
SWAZILAND: Increasing focus on paediatric care
GUINEA-BISSAU: First ARVs arrive, but no-one trained to prescribe them
MALAWI: Boost for HIV/AIDS treatment programmes
SOUTH AFRICA: Closing the treatment gap
SIERRA LEONE: 300 people to receive free antiretroviral drugs
COTE D IVOIRE: Condom Cafe at front-line of awareness campaign
BOTSWANA: Countering stigma isn't easy
KENYA: Fight against HIV/AIDS bearing fruit, but challenges remain
UGANDA: Public transport to be used to combat HIV/AIDS

CONFERENCES/ EVENTS/ RESEARCH/ RESOURCES

1. Health Journalism CD-ROM
2. Training course on gender policy and HIV/AIDS 3. WHO Monthly survey of
PMTCT publications and abstracts

VACANCIES

1. Panos Global AIDS Programme Director
2. Executive Secretary - Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on
HIV/AIDS in Africa


NEWS


MOZAMBIQUE: Starting to save HIV-positive children

Albertina, a 34-year-old mother of three children, has just learnt she is
HIV positive. She appears to take it calmly and manages to remain focused
on her youngest son, Pedro, who is waiting to see the doctor at the
Paediatric Day Hospital in Maputo, the Mozambican capital.

Pedro is fortunate to be one of just 500 children who are on the
government's free treatment programme  -  an estimated 69,025 children below
the age of 14 need ARVs to help prolong their lives, according to Dr Paula
Vaz, who works at the hospital.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4395


SENEGAL: Gay community plays it quietly in face of social taboos

The meeting-place was at a noisy down-market street cafe where the waiter
as well the clients were gay, but where everyone was staunchly pretending
not to be. Senegal's homosexual men are peeping out from behind the mask,
but social and religious taboos run strong.

"We are always pretending," said one of a couple of the leaders of the
country's underground movement who had agreed to come out of the woodwork
to talk to PlusNews on condition of anonymity. "Sometimes we feel sick of
the lies."

Hit by a spate of deaths and disease in the community five years ago, a
group of gays got together "to find out whether it was HIV/AIDS and what
to do about it," said 27-year-old Mamadou (not his real name). "There were
no free tests available, people wondered if it was malaria."

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4396


AFRICA: Glaring lack of child ARVs and slow rollout

Children have been left out of national programmes to provide anti-AIDS
drugs, the UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, said on
Tuesday.

Although about 2.2 million children were HIV positive - at least
two-thirds of them in Africa - paediatric antiretroviral (ARV)
formulations were still not widely available and ARV rollouts were being
assembled as if children did not exist, Lewis said during a press
conference.

"In the instance of antiretroviral therapy, the scenario for children is,
quite simply, doomsday," he warned.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4388


SWAZILAND: Increasing focus on paediatric care

A joint effort by local health authorities, aid agencies and a major
pharmaceutical company is expected to improve paediatric care in
Swaziland.

With four out of 10 pregnant women testing positive for HIV, adequate
healthcare for children has become a priority as the government grapples
with climbing infection rates.

The high cost of drugs and lack of trained medical staff were seen as the
main reasons for the ongoing neglect of child health in this tiny
landlocked country of just over a million people: Swaziland has just four
paediatricians.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4382


GUINEA-BISSAU: First ARVs arrive, but no-one trained to prescribe them

A first consignment of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for people living with
AIDS has arrived from Brazil for distribution free of charge to people
living with AIDS in Guinea-Bissau. However, local doctors and nurses have
not yet received training in how to use the drugs and will be reliant on
medical manuals to learn how to prescribe them.

The first consignment of 170 kg of ARVs, provided by Brazil under an
agreement to help control AIDS in Guinea-Bissau, was delivered by
Brazilian foreign minister Celso Amorim during a brief visit to the
capital, Bissau, on Saturday.

Guinea-Bissau's health minister, Odete Semedo, said distribution would
begin immediately, and the drugs would be offered free of charge. She
declined to say how many people would benefit from ARV treatment, but
estimated there were nearly 43,000 HIV-positive people in this small West
African country of 1.3 million inhabitants.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4384&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU


MALAWI: Boost for HIV/AIDS treatment programmes

HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes in Malawi have been boosted
by a new US $14 million grant from the Global Fund.

The National AIDS Commission (NAC) said the money is to be used to
purchase and distribute antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. "UNICEF [the United
Nations Children's Fund] is currently the procurement agent for the
Ministry of Health for health products under the Global Fund," the NAC
confirmed.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4372


SOUTH AFRICA: Closing the treatment gap

It's been over a year since the South African government launched its
much-anticipated HIV/AIDS treatment programme, but there is growing
frustration over the pace of implementation.

In November 2003 the government committed itself to providing free
antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to 53,000 patients by March 2004; by the
end of 2004 the health department estimated the number of patients
receiving the drugs at 19,500, and the target date was moved forward a
year, to March 2005.

The Uthukela district, along the key transport corridor between
Johannesburg and the port city of Durban, is one of the worst affected
regions in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are not available in Ladysmith or any of the
smaller towns in the district, and HIV-positive people have to travel over
150 km for treatment.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4377


SIERRA LEONE: 300 people to receive free antiretroviral drugs

The government of Sierra Leone has launched a programme to provide free
antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to 300 people living with AIDS, Professor Sidi
Alghali, director of the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) said.

Alghali said the government had provided US $180,000 to fund the initial
one-year programme, which was being run by the Sierra Leone Treatment
Action Group (SILTAG), a local non-governmental organisation.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4391


COTE D IVOIRE: Condom Cafe at front-line of awareness campaign

At the Condom Cafe in Abidjan, customers don't get after-dinner mints with
their bill. Instead they leave with an AIDS goodie bag, complete with red
ribbon, a leaflet about the disease and a free condom.

The cafe, known by the locals as Kpote Kiosque, has been serving up snacks
and safe sex for the last three years in Adjame, a run-down suburb of Cote
d'Ivoire's main city, Abidjan.

>From the outside it looks like any of the open-air 'maquis' restaurants
found on many a street corner in the city. The only hint of anything out
of the ordinary is a faded red ribbon painted on the roof.

Kpote Kiosque is not just about free condoms: it aims to raise the
public's awareness about HIV/AIDS via its trained team of young waiters
and waitresses, some of whom are HIV-positive themselves.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4373


BOTSWANA: Countering stigma isn't easy

When Tebogo Masilo obtained a bursary to study archaeology in the United
States he was overjoyed, but it didn't last long. As part of its
regulations, the government demands an HIV test.

"The results confirmed that I was positive and I did not get the
scholarship," Masilo, 24, recalled. "They could not make an investment in
me."

Despite the existence of anti-discriminatory laws, the Botswana government
introduced mandatory testing for overseas bursary holders about two years
ago, but students wishing to attend the University of Botswana and other
local higher education institutions are not tested.

The move has been criticised by activists, who say it entrenches stigma
and is all the more disappointing from a government that has been so
proactive in the fight against AIDS.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4381


UGANDA: Public transport to be used to combat HIV/AIDS

Uganda's public transport system is set to become the latest vehicle for
promoting behaviour change in the country's continued fight against
HIV/AIDS, according to the ministry of health.

"We have developed a strategy, and we think we can work with the public
transport system to raise awareness because thousands of people use these
means [of transport] every day," Julius Byenkya, of the Uganda AIDS
Control Programme told PlusNews.

The project will make use of the entire range of public transportation in
the country, which is made up of large long distance buses, 15-seater
mini-buses, cabs, motor cycles - known locally as "boda-bodas" - and water
transport, such as canoes and ferries.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4389


KENYA: Fight against HIV/AIDS bearing fruit, but challenges remain

Kenya's campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS is bearing fruit, but more
needs to be done to help those vulnerable to infection and those affected
by the disease, a top UN official said.

"Kenya has made good progress in the fight against AIDS - infection rates
are falling," Peter Piot, the executive director of UNAIDS, said during a
joint news conference in Nairobi.

Kenya's success, he added, was partly due to "strong leadership within the
government". Calling for better coordination of efforts by the government,
donors and the civil society, he noted that that 1.2 million Kenyans were
living with the virus.

More details:
http://www.plusnews.org/AIDSreport.asp?ReportID=4376



CONFERENCES/ EVENTS/ RESEARCH/ RESOURCES

1. Voice of America, in partnership with the Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO), launched an interactive CD-ROM on HIV in October
2004. The purpose of this initiative is to help promote public health by
educating journalists on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV
and other infectious diseases. The first of a larger series focusing on
health journalism, this CD-ROM is designed to be a tool for reporters and
journalism students to improve their reporting on the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, as well as on other issues critical
to the health and well-being of global audiences. It generates a virtual
newsroom and provides the user with step-by-step instructions, guidance
and exercises on writing effective health-related news and feature stories
on HIV/AIDS.
http://www.ibb.gov/healthcd/healthcd.htm

2. The Regional AIDS Training Network will be holding a training course on
gender, policy and HIV/AIDS in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in June/July 2005.
The exact dates are to be confirmed.

This course focuses on enhancing the capacities of senior-level actors,
policy-makers and managers working with HIV/AIDS issues regarding gender
and policy issues. It consists of familiarising participants with key
gender policy concepts and the sharing of information and experiences on
HIV issues.

The course seeks to develop strategies for addressing gender gaps in
policy programmes for more effective gender-progressive interventions. The
course is divided into 8 modules.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introductions: Getting to Know Each Other
- Self and Organisational Introduction
- Participants' expectations

Module 2: Conceptual Building on Gender as It Relates to Policy and
HIV/AIDS Issues
- Rationale for key gender concepts in policy
- Key Gender concepts

Module 3: Gender Conceptual Frameworks and Participatory Animation
Methodologies  - Characteristics of Participatory/Animation methodologies
- Application to HIV/AIDS intervention
- Animation/Participatory methodologies

Module 4: HIV/ AIDS Interventions with a Gender Perspective  - Gender
Analysis Framework
- Rationale for Gender analysis
- Life Cycle Framework
- The Harvard Analytical Framework
- The Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Framework (GEWEF)
- Capacity and Vulnerability Framework

Module 5: Policy Analysis and Development with a Gender Perspective
- Conceptual clarifications of gender and policy
- Rationale for mainstreaming gender approaches to HIV/AIDS policy and
Approaches
- Module 6: Putting Gender and HIV on the Agenda: From analysis to action
- Rationale for HIV/AIDS Programming
- Gender Within
- Gender Without
- Breaking the silence on gender in HIV/AIDS
- Programming for HIV/AIDS and Gender

Module 7: Strategising For the Future
- Conceptual understanding of the principles of advocacy coalition
building and organising for activities

Module 8: Evaluation
- Follow up and evaluation
- Conclusions

For more information:
Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN)
Beatrice Hezekiel
P.O Box 8921
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255-22-2443205, 2443450
Fax: +255-22-2443244
Email: beatrice.hezekiel@tgnp.co.tz, tgnp@tgnp.co.tz, or info@tgnp.co.tz

3. The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Monthly Intelligence Reports are
compiled from a regular survey of publications related to the prevention
of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. They also cover abstracts
presented at international conferences. They include a brief summary and
comments prepared by the Bordeaux Working Group.

The Intelligence Reports are commissioned by UNAIDS and WHO, and are made
available to policy makers, public health officials, advocates and
scientists as an information service.

Access the reports:
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/rtis/MTCT/monthly_publications/listing_mtct_reports.htm



VACANCIES

1. Panos Global AIDS Programme Director

The Panos AIDS programme has a history of producing analyses of key issues
in the response to HIV/AIDS and is recognised as a pioneering organisation
challenging existing strategies and approaches to fighting the epidemic.

Panos is looking for a director to provide vision and leadership to the
programme. This is a new role based in the Panos office in Zambia and the
incumbent will be responsible for coordinating Panos' programme of global
activities, including a series of high-profile editorial outputs and
sharing the experiences gained by Panos with an international audience.

REQUIREMENTS:

- At least 7 years' international experience in the field of HIV/AIDS,
with specific experience in the role of media and communication in a
developing country context
- At least 3 years' experience in a senior management position, with
direct responsibility for people and budgets
- Strong leadership skills and ability to provide direction, while
accommodating a variety of viewpoints from the autonomous offices around
the world
- Proven networking and negotiating skills, experience of fundraising from
international donors, and the ability to present complex arguments
accessibly, galvanising support among a wide range of audiences
  - Fluency in English and, ideally, in at least one other relevant
language.

For further information regarding the post and an application form:
www.panosaids.org/vacancies.htm or contact Johanna Hanefeld on tel. +
260-1-263258 or via email at johanna@panos.org.zm

Closing date for the applications is 11 February 2005 at 12pm GMT. Please
note only candidates short-listed for interview will be contacted.
Interviews will be held in Zambia the week of 4 April 2005.


2. Executive Secretary - Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on
HIV/AIDS in Africa, Windhoek, Namibia.

The Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS is an
international NGO based in Windhoek, Namibia, and has been operational
since 2002. National chapters of the Alliance have been launched in 12
countries in Africa, as of September 2004. Through its advocacy and
capacity building efforts, the Alliance is promoting and supporting
scaled-up and community- based responses to the epidemic at the local
level.

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Support the promotion and implementation of the approaches underpinning
the goals of the Alliance and AMICAALL, in collaboration with key
stakeholders at municipal, national, regional and global levels
- Develop, execute and evaluate the Alliance's strategic and operational
plans, projects and programmes
- Ensure adequate financial resources for the operations of the Alliance
- Manage the Secretariat
- Provide support to the Coordinating Committee
- Maintain communications with donors and the constituencies of the
Alliance
- Represent the Alliance at the appropriate national, regional and
international fora
- Collaborate with institutions and organisations involved in local
governance and HIV/AIDS to enhance cohesion of efforts

For more information:
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy2121.html


IRIN-SA
Tel: +27 11 895-1900
Fax: +27 11 784-6759
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za

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Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
2005


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