HIV, Aids und Advocacy: Die Politik verändern

Wir befinden uns in einer entscheidenden Phase der internationalen Aidsbekämpfung. Die Erfolge der letzten zehn Jahre lassen sich sehen. Über 6 Millionen HIV-positiver Menschen können heute auch in Ländern mit niedrigem und mittlerem Einkommen behandelt werden. Die Zahl der Neuinfektionen hat in Afrika südlich der Sahara ihren Peak überschritten. Dank dem unermüdlichen Engagement von HIV-Betroffenen, Aktionsgruppen und Organisationen, dem weltweiten politischen Engagements, der wissenschaftlichen Innovationen und finanzieller Investitionen scheint heute ein Ende der Aidsepidemie in Sicht zu sein.

Für die Menschen in Simbabwe, Tansania oder Indien ist das Schreckensgespengst der Aidsepidemie noch lange nicht entschwunden. Im Gegenteil: 1‘800 Menschen infizieren sich täglich neu mit dem Virus. In fast allen Ländern Afrikas südlich der Sahara sind die Mehrheit der HIV-Positiven Frauen, insbesondere Mädchen und junge Frauen zwischen 15 und 24. Die Zahl der HIV-positiven und aidskranken Menschen steigt weiterhin an.

Die Chancen, die Aidsepidemie zu beenden, könnten leichtfertig verspielt werden. Um die Erfolge aufrechtzuerhalten und die Aidsepidemie zu besiegen braucht es ein verstärktes politisches Commitment und mehr Finanzen. Doch die internationale Aufmerksamkeit für HIV und damit einhergehend die Finanzierung schwindet. Noch liegen grosse Aufgaben vor uns, um die 14,2 Millionen Menschen, die behandelt werden sollten, langfristig zu behandeln, um zu verhindern, dass Babies bei der Geburt infiziert werden oder um der Stigmatisierung und Ausgrenzung von Risikogruppen entgegenzuwirken.

Auch heute sind es vor allem HIV-Betroffene, Aktionsgruppen und Organisationen in den von Aids nach wie vor am härtesten betroffenen Ländern, die sich unermüdlich für den Zugang aller Menschen zu Prävention, Behandlung und Pflege einsetzen. Aus Selbsthilfegruppen sind Advocacy-Teams geworden. In Simbabwe ist ein solches Team von BHASO, einem Partner von fepa, von Dorf zu Dorf gegangen und hat die Anliegen der Leute aufgenommen. Mit Informationen über Mängel und Argumenten ausgerüstet sind sie an die verantwortlichen Behörden und PolitikerInnen gelangt, haben den Dialog gesucht und wo notwendig ihre Stimme mit Demonstrationen verstärkt. Mit einigem Erfolg: die Medikamente und Nahrungspakete gelangen jetzt tatsächlich in die ländlichen Regionen zu den Leuten. Ihr Beispiel hat Schule gemacht, sie sind jetzt auch auf nationaler Ebene ein ernstzunehmender Partner zu Advocacy und Aids.

Die Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Südafrika hat eine zentrale Rolle gespielt in der Aidspolitik des Landes und ist weltweit bekannt als Modell erfolgreicher Advocacy. Seit 1998 hat TAC die Regierung in Bezug auf die Gesundheitsversorgung in die Pflicht genommen, hat Kampagnen gegen die offizielle Aidsverleugnung und gegen international führende Pharmaunternehmen geführt, um Aidsmedikamente bezahlbar zu machen.

Die Fachtagung von aidsfocus.ch, der Fachplattform des Netzwerkes zu HIV und Aids, stellt am 17. April 2012 in Bern Advocacy im Kontext von HIV und Aids ins Zentrum. Sie werden Gelegenheit haben, zusammen mit PartnerInnen aus Simabwe, Südafrika, Tansania und Indien sowie VertreterInnen des Schweizer Parlaments, der DEZA und Schweizer NGOs Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Advocacyarbeit erkunden in Hinblick auf unser Ziel: Gesundheit für alle.

Helena Zweifel
Geschäftsführerin Netzwerk Medicus Mundi Schweiz, Koordinatorin der Fachplattform aidsfocus.ch

Focus: HIV, AIDS and Advocacy
Network MMS: What's up?
Network MMS: News
Job Opportunities
International Health and more: Issues, Debates, Tools

Focus: HIV, AIDS and Advocacy

aidsfocus.ch conference 2012: HIV, AIDS and Advocacy
Bern, 17 April 2012
aidsfocus.ch | Support groups of people living with HIV turn more and more into advocacy groups to stand up for their interests and their rights. Advocacy is a key component in the struggle towards an AIDSfree future and the fulfilment of the right to health for all. The aidsfocus.ch conference 2012 will focus on advocacy and open a space for sharing, discussion and joint learning on experiences, visions and strategies to end the epidemic.
http://www.aidsfocus.ch/platform/Event.2011-12-15.5802

Network MMS: What's up?

Geneva Health Forum : A Critical Shift to Chronic Conditions
Geneva, 18-20 April 2012
SMIH/GHF | Geneva Health Forum has come to be seen as the flagship conference in Global Health in Switzerland. This is where the global debate on access to health is infused with insights and innovative solutions of the frontliners. Each edition of the Geneva Health Forum attracts more than 1’000 participants from all over the world. Chronic conditions pose a major challenge to our health systems. As these conditions are influenced by changing lifestyles and socio-economic factors like urbanization, demographic developments, climate change, but also gender inequities, a multi-sectorial approach is needed. The format of Geneva Health Forum 2012 is adapted to this need.
http://www.ghf12.org/

eHealth in Proof and Practice: Opportunities and Challenges in International Health
Basel, 8 May 2012
Swiss TPH | Years ago the concept of ”eHealth” was discussed only in its general manifestations, but of course, things change. The focus of the spring symposium will be on the review of evidence and best practice of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) to enhance health services and population health over the past decade.
http://www.swisstph.ch/?id=1476

Health District Management: Planning and Programme Design
Basel, 18 - 29 June 2012
Swiss TPH | The course aims at introducing the basic principles of strategic program and project management. It is based on exercises that simulate real problems in planning and management as closely as possible to real life situations. Participants are working in small groups (max. 6 members) and take the roles of a project design mission - the group work is supervised by experienced facilitators. Using the Logical Framework Approach and other tools they will go through all steps of such a planning process and will write a project proposal document.
http://bit.ly/v14DQl

Health District Management: Priority Setting and Resource Allocation
Basel, 2 - 13 July 2012
Swiss TPH | This two-weeks module is a simulation exercise applying the latest tools for assessing population health needs, establishing district intervention priorities, and allocating district health resources in a context of limited funding. In small groups participants take the roles of district health planning team members and will elaborate a full District Health Plan and Budget that responds to population needs, health system realities and resources, and contemporary evidence on effectiveness of interventions. During the learning process, students will apply practical computer-based tools and health information analyses to understand current coverage/access constraints retarding equity-effectiveness of a district health system. In addition they will set evidence-based priorities for intervention strategies, and allocate appropriate shares of resources to address population health need.
http://bit.ly/rNaSKF

Network MMS: News

Claudia Bandixen wird Direktorin von mission 21
Die «richtige Person»
Switzerland mission 21 | Der Vorstand von mission 21 hat Claudia Bandixen, Präsidentin des Kirchenrats der Reformierten Landeskirche Aargau, zur neuen Direktorin des Missionswerks in Basel berufen. Nach neun Jahren in der Leitung der Aargauer Kirche tritt sie im Sommer 2012 zurück und übernimmt die Leitung von mission 21. Die 54-jährige Theologin ist gut in der Deutschschweizer Kirchenlandschaft verankert. Sie bringt zudem einen Leistungsausweis in der Leitung grosser kirchlicher Organisationen mit und verfügt über Erfahrung in der Projektarbeit des Missionswerks.
http://www.mission-21.org/medien/

Filling the gap: A Learning Network for Health and Human Rights in the Western Cape, South Africa
South Africa Health and Human Rights | "We draw on the experience of a Learning Network for Health and Human Rights (LN) involving collaboration between academic institutions and civil society organizations in the Western Cape, South Africa, aimed at identifying and disseminating best practice related to the right to health. The LN's work in materials development, participatory research, training and capacity-building for action, and advocacy for intervention illustrates important lessons for human rights practice."
http://hhrjournal.org/index.php/hhr/article/view/452/716

New website: Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health
Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health
(D) WHO | "WHO and partners are launching a new web site on results, resources and oversight related to women's and children's health. The site will track progress on the implementation of the recommendations of the Accountability Commission and inform the international community about the work of its independent Expert Review Group (iERG). The website will also serve as a global database for the accountability issues related to women's and children's health."
http://www.who.int/pmnch/en/

aidsfocus.ch supports Petition to Novartis
Act-up Basel: Take your claws off our medicines
India aidsfocus.ch | Novartis is threatening India’s capacity to provide affordable drugs to millions of people worldwide in need of ARV by challenging the Indian Patent Law in the Supreme Court of India. The next hearing will take place in New Delhi on the 28th of February 2012. The Steering Committee of aidsfocus.ch decided unanimously to support the petition launched by Act-up Basel. With the petition, Novartis is asked to drop the case against the Indian government and the Indian patent law. aidsfocus.ch considers the right to health care as a human right, and demands equity in access and access to free or at least affordable ARV treatments for all.
http://www.aidsfocus.ch/ebulletin/bulletin_de/letter_1328776948198

Center for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH)
Training and diplomas and conducting multi-disciplinary research
(E) CERAH | "The Center for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action CERAH is the humanitarian platform in Geneva’s academic environment, offering several types of training and diplomas and conducting multi-disciplinary research into humanitarian action. In partnership with the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute (IHEID), CERAH has developed a wide range of courses, specifically adapted to the needs of humanitarian professionals."
http://www.cerahgeneve.ch/accueil_en.html

Job Opportunities

Conseiller Technique Diabète pour l’Afrique de l’Est
Poste d'Handicap International
Handicap International | Dans sa volonté de réduire les risques d’incapacités, Handicap International s’est impliqué dans la lutte contre les maladies invalidantes au Burundi dès 2007, en apportant un appui aux sensibilisations à certaines associations locales de lutte contre le diabète. Depuis 2009, Handicap International mène le projet « Le diabète dans la Région de l’Afrique de l'Est : Renforcement des systèmes de santé et autonomisation des personnes diabétiques ». Ce projet est exécuté dans trois pays de l’East African Community : Burundi, Kenya et Tanzanie pour une durée initiale de 4 ans (01/01/2009 – 31/12/2012). Au Burundi, les zones pilotes de ce projet sont les provinces sanitaires de Bujumbura Mairie, Makamba et Ngozi. (word doc.)
http://bit.ly/yJ7Xk6

PhD on health impact assessment (HIA) of resource recovery & reuse (RR&R) models
Swiss TPH job opportunity
Swiss TPH | The PhD student, conducting his PhD in the Ecosystem Health Sciences Unit at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health of Swiss TPH, will focus his/her work on the assessment and modelling of health impacts of resource recovery & reuse (RR&R) models that will be identified and optimised in collaboration with our research partners. This will entail desktop work in Basel as well as the design and potentially implementation of field studies in Africa, Asia and/or South America in order to fill identified gaps in the required evidence base. (pdf)
http://bit.ly/znWqOt

Regional Procurement and Supply Management Expert Latin America
Swiss TPH job opportunity
Swiss TPH | The Swiss TPH is contracted by the Global Fund to provide Local Fund Agent (LFA) services and is seeking applications for a Regional Procurement and Supply Management Expert based in Nicaragua or El Salvador.The tasks are: Review of quantification and specifications of pharmaceuticals and health and non-health products and equipment to be procured; assess systems for the management of health and non-health products (storage, distribution and information systems); review a sample of tenders for the procurement health and non-health products for consistency with Global Fund procurement policies and principles; review information entered in The Global Fund’s online reporting system; review consistency of procurement plan, workplan and budget and performance targets, conduct site visits to cross check information reported by Principal Recipients. (pdf)
http://bit.ly/wAMUDx

International Health and more: Issues, Debates, Tools

Global Health Watch 3 now available online
Third Edition of the Alternative World Health Report
GHW | The Global Health Watch is designed to seek answers to why so little progress is being made in promoting health across the world and also to articulate solutions. It proposes an alternate vision of health located in a vision of equity, rights and empowerment. It is a collaborative civil society initiative, co-ordinated by the Peoples Health Movement, Medact, Medico International, Health Action International and Third World Network. The Global Health Watch is contributed to by researchers, academics and activists from across the globe.
http://www.ghwatch.org/

International NGOs must address their accountability deficit
New legal frameworks are needed to hold NGOs to account for the unintended consequences of development interventions
Guardian Online | "In the absence of legal protections, transparency is essential. NGOs should be obliged to make available all details of projects and programmes to independent scrutiny," writes Michael Jennings on Guardian Online.
http://bit.ly/y9JrjH