Gender Analysis for Microbicide Introduction: Process, Recommendations and Advocacy (Slides for Adaptation and Use)

FHI360

http://www.fhi360.org/resource/gender-analysis-microbicide-introduction-process-recommendations-and-advocacy-slides  

This PowerPoint presents the methodology, key findings, and recommendations from two recent analyses of gender-related constraints and opportunities in microbicide use conducted by FHI
360 in Kenya and in South Africa in partnership with Sonke Gender Justice. The presentation is an adaptable training tool for other organizations interested in preparing communities and health systems to consider the issue of gender in microbicide introductions.

HIV and Human Rights: A Mapping of Donor Priorities and Trends in Southern Africa

Open Society Foundations 

http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/briefing-papers/hiv-and-human-rights-mapping-donor-priorities-and-trends-southern-africa 

This briefing paper from the Open Society Foundations presents the findings of a 2012 study on HIV and human rights donor trends in South Africa and discusses resource mobilization challenges for Southern Africa. Donors at every level are lowering their funding commitments to HIV programs, and this report identifies ways HIV and human rights organizations can solicit additional donor support and increase donor collaboration.  

Eurasian Harm Reduction Network Promotes Campaign to Encourage Domestic Funding of Harm Reduction

Aidspan

http://www.aidspan.org/gfo_article/eurasian-harm-reduction-network-promotes-campaign-encourage-domestic-funding-harm-reduct 

Members of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network met in May to launch the "Harm Reduction Works -- Fund It!" initiative to encourage increases in domestic spending for harm reduction in countries throughout the region. The three-year initiative aims to create a smooth transition to public sector financing of harm reduction programs, which have previously been funded by the Global Fund and other international donors.

A full report on the meeting can be found here: 

http://www.harm-reduction.org/Chisinau%20Regional%20Forum%20Report%20EN 

PLOS Medicine

http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001658 

This report discusses the recent wave of anti-homosexuality laws and their health implications for LGBT communities in developing countries, particularly communities at high risk for HIV infection. The authors suggest that community-supported advocacy efforts could be more effective than international health or development assistance in addressing discrimination against LGBT groups that causes barriers to essential health services. 

New Targets Set for 2020 for Reducing the HIV Epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean 

UNAIDS

In May, during the First Latin America and Caribbean Forum on the HIV Continuum of Care held in Mexico City, participating countries adopted new targets to expand HIV services, known as 90-90-90. This refers to increasing to 90 percent the proportions of people living with HIV who know their HIV status, are receiving treatment, and are receiving treatment and have an undetectable viral load. To meet these goals, participating countries have promised to review and update their treatment programs to make HIV prevention, treatment, and services more accessible.

HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: Tell us about your work.

As the senior director of public policy at EGPAF, I am proud of our efforts to advocate for women and children living with and affected by HIV and of how we work within the political environment to make sure the needs of these populations are being met by the ever-evolving HIV/AIDS response. Most people know that EGPAF has a long history as a U.S. lobbying organization, working with partners and champions in the U.S. Congress to advocate on issues of importance to children living with HIV. What most people don't know is that EGPAF also has representatives advocating for similar issues at the African Union and at the United Nations. For example, at the United Nations we promote the Convention on the Rights of the Child and work to ensure that countries comply with their obligations to uphold a child's right to health, particularly in relation to HIV and AIDS. In Africa, EGPAF works with regional political bodies and national governments to improve access to treatment for children and to support children's rights to HIV and other health services. For instance, EGPAF is working with civil society, ministries of health, and other implementers to meet obligations made in the Global Plan Towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections Among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive and to promote sound policies related to pediatric AIDS.

HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: What are some political challenges that affect your work?

One major challenge is communicating to global stakeholders that there is a very real opportunity for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, but only if we continue to expand and improve how we reach pregnant women with the services they need.

There has been a 52 percent decline in new HIV infections among children since 2001, and PEPFAR's efforts alone have resulted in a million children being born HIV-free. However, most stakeholders do not realize how much progress there has been in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)---not only on coverage and access, but also on promoting the use of more effective regimens. When I started working at EGPAF, countries were just starting to move away from single-dose nevirapine as the primary means by which they were reducing MTCT. Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending the new PMTCT strategy "Option B+"---the provision of lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for pregnant women living with HIV---which is much more effective in preventing MTCT and considers the health of both the mother and the HIV-exposed child. Option B+ is not just about PMTCT, but also about combatting maternal mortality and helping HIV-positive women stay healthy between pregnancies.

However, it is also important for us as patient advocates to remind stakeholders that while Option B+ has the potential to dramatically reduce the number of children born with HIV worldwide, initiating lifelong treatment can be a complicated issue for many women. Several factors contribute to women having inadequate access to treatment, including stigma and discrimination or distance to a health facility. Also, when a pregnant woman learns that she has HIV, it can be a lot to take in that she not only needs to protect her child and prevent transmission but also that she will then be on treatment for the rest of her life.

Another challenge we face is that the effectiveness of global PMTCT campaigns and dramatic reduction in pediatric HIV infections has drawn attention away from the need to improve and scale up pediatric HIV and AIDS treatment. Out of the estimated 3.3 million children living with HIV, only 650,000 are currently receiving ART. Half of children infected with HIV die by age five if they do not have access to treatment. We must acknowledge that children living with HIV are still a population in need and continue to develop programs and policies that address their needs.

HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: What do you find most rewarding about working in the public policy field?

It is rewarding to see how priorities have become more and more in line with reality. For example, donors and foreign assistance programs have begun to incorporate global perspectives into their planning and implementation processes. When I started at EGPAF in 2007, the U.S. Government was leading the charge against global HIV and AIDS, so most of our advocacy around the global HIV response was based in Washington, DC. Now, there is global dialogue happening---for example, in Africa at the African Union and at the World Health Organization in Geneva---on how to better engage local communities in the global response. I find it really rewarding to be a voice in these forums for children who, without organizations like ours to advocate on their behalf, would have no voice.

HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor: Do you have any final thoughts to share?

There is a real opportunity to end pediatric AIDS. In fact, I view ending pediatric AIDS as the first step in ending the AIDS epidemic. When I started at EGPAF, there were 2,000 new pediatric infections per day with HIV---now that number is down to 700 a day. If we scale up proven, effective prevention and treatment programs for children, we can conceivably end AIDS in one whole segment of the epidemic within the next decade. We know how to prevent new pediatric HIV infections; we just need the financial investment and the political commitment to get the number of new infections as close to zero as possible and make sure that all HIV-positive children get the treatment they need to survive and thrive.

The USAID- and PEPFAR-funded Health Policy Project's HIV Policy and Advocacy Monitor is a monthly newsletter focusing on the advancement, development and analysis of policies, advocacy campaigns and organizations, and policy-related data to inform the response to HIV and AIDS at the global, national, and local levels. It includes news items, resources, advocacy reports, and innovative policy analyses on a wide range of topics such as treatment, key populations issues, gender, and financing for HIV policies and programs.

If you would like to suggest an item for inclusion in the next issue, please send it to: [email protected].