THE ELECTRONIC BULLETIN OF THE SWISS PLATFORM FOR HIV/AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Dezember 2009

In the Swiss public, the World AIDS Day on December 1, 2009 was hardly noticed. „HIV-infections have considerably dropped“, was the title of a short article in several daily newspapers one week earlier. Is AIDS no issue any longer? Has the situation normalized? Is there a reason to give the all-clear?

33,4 million people are living with HIV and AIDS, so many as never before. Two million people died from AIDS last year. 18 million children are AIDS orphans meaning that they have lost one or both parents.

In contrast to AIDS, climate change is the topic everybody is taking about. At the climate summit in Copenhagen, AIDS will be no issue most probably. Which is wrong. Because with climate change, the frequency and violence of natural disasters is on the increase, the food and water scarcity is exacerbated and poverty aggravated – both on regional as well as on global level. At this time already, the international community faces a global health crisis. And climate change intensifies social inequalities that are restricting the right to health. These inequalities particularly effect the vulnerable groups of the poor who are already to a large extent excluded from health care and access to comprehensive prevention, treatment and care: children, senior citizens, women, refugees, disabled people and those who are marginalized due to illness.

The success of the global AIDS response does not only depend on how the HI-Virus can be controlled but equally on how the effects of climate change can be managed. In reverse, if AIDS programmes are successful and if people are strengthened in their health and vitality, they are much more able to come to terms with the disasters of nature.

Climate change and AIDS are closely connected. Climate change and AIDS have similarities, links and offer opportunities to increasingly cooperate, which have so far hardly been analysed. Now that the attention has been raised with the climate summit in Copenhagen, the opportunities are out there to increase the cooperation on the issues of HIV, AIDS and climate change.

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch Executive director Medicus Mundi Switzerland

To mark World AIDS Day 2009 and to express its solidarity with the people affected by HIV and AIDS, aidsfocus.ch, the Swiss specialist platform for HIV/AIDS and international cooperation, showed the documentary film "Memory Books”. The film portrays the lives of five Ugandan children affected by HIV and AIDS. The showing will be followed by a discussion with film-maker Christa Graf. The SDC is the main financial supporter of AIDS Focus Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch
http://www.memorybooks-film.de
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Berne, 1 December 2009 - The good news on World AIDS Day is that the number of new infections worldwide has fallen by 17 per cent. However: "HIV/AIDS certainly has not been eradicated. We still face huge challenges if we are to tackle this pandemic. The biggest challenge is in the area of prevention,“ says Andreas Loebell, who is responsible for health in the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The SDC works with and supports various partners and actors on the ground: governments, non-governmental organisations, international and UN organisations as well as Swiss NGOs and platforms such as aidsfocus.ch.

http://www.deza.admin.ch

This FOCUS ON HIV and AIDS - the electronic medium of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (sdc) on HIV and AIDS – takes up the theme of the 2009 World AIDS Day “Universal Access and Human Rights”. The theme offers the possibility and opportunity to stress again that access to HIV prevention, treatment and care is a human right and that it is impossible to decouple human rights issues from the discussion of how we tackle HIV and AIDS today and in the future.”

http://www.sdc-health.ch
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Berlin, 10 December 2009 - On the International Human Rights Day 10th December, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) celebrates its eleventh anniversary. It is befitting that on this day the TAC will be receiving the Human Rights Award of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation. The Human Rights Award of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung was presented for the first time in 1994. Each year the award is given to an individual or organisation that rendered outstanding services for human rights. Ms Nonkosi Khumalo, the Chairperson of the TAC and Ms Noloyiso Nthamehlo, coordinator of the TAC Lusikisiki Office, will receive this award on behalf of TAC.

http://www.tac.org.za

Geneva, 8 December 2009 - In the opening session of the 25th meeting of the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) of UNAIDS, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé in his address also envisioned two key goals for a successful AIDS response. “Firstly”, Mr Sidibé said, “the AIDS movement must be leveraged as a force for transformation in global health, development and environmental sustainability.” Secondly, Mr Sidibé called for the mobilization of a prevention revolution. The UNAIDS head stressed that by adequate investments today the number of new infections by 2015 could be halved.

http://www.unaids.org

Nairobi, 7 December 2009 - If universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care is to be achieved, experts recommend an inclusive approach to healthcare, rather than narrow HIV programmes. "For countries [where] the epidemic is generalized but stabilizing, it is no longer necessary to have special budgets for HIV but rather development budgets in which HIV is included in all aspects." Jonathan Quick, chief executive officer of a public health NGO, Management Sciences for Health (MSH), told. (PlusNews)

http://www.plusnews.org

1. December 2009 - The red ribbon is a global symbol in the movement to address AIDS. The Red Ribbon Award, presented every two years at the International AIDS Conference, is designed to honor and celebrate community based organizations for their outstanding initiatives that show leadership in reducing the spread and impact of AIDS. The call for nominations for the 2010 Red Ribbon Award is now open. Nominations are accepted from December 1st, 2009 until February 28th, 2010.

http://www.redribbonaward.org

Pretoria, 1 December 2009 - To mark World AIDS Day, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé joined President Jacob Zuma and South Africans in their national commemoration in Pretoria where he called for the forging of a mass prevention movement. In South Africa an estimated 5.7 million were people living with HIV in 2007; the world’s largest population of people living with HIV. “Our message is simple,” President Zuma said, “we have to stop the spread of HIV”. He also spoke of South Africa’s goal of universal voluntary HIV testing: “To take our response a step forward, we are launching a massive campaign to mobilise all South Africans to get tested for HIV. Every South African should know his or her HIV status.” (IRIN)

http://www.unaids.org

Kampala, 1 December 2009 - As donors tighten their belts in the global recession, health experts in Uganda worry that the national antiretroviral (ARV) programme, which is almost entirely dependent on foreign aid, will be unable to keep providing the life-prolonging drugs. Uganda is only able to provide ARVs to 57 percent of the 240,000 people who require them, and the number is growing. Ministry officials said the government could not afford treatment for everyone needing it, but many activists feel that universal access is the responsibility of government rather than donors.(PlusNews)

http://www.plusnews.org

The success of the global response to AIDS will rely on tackling not only the encroaching virus itself but also the affects of climate change such as food and water shortages, growth in poverty and an increase in natural disasters, argues the State of World Population 2009, by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The report also contends that, equally, strengthening the response to the AIDS epidemic will mean that individuals, communities and societies will have greater social resilience in the face of a range of climate change threats and will be better able to deal with their consequences. HIV and climate change are perceived as profoundly linked, a perception shared by a range of UN bodies. (2009)

http://www.unaids.org

The rate of new HIV infections worldwide has declined by 17 percent in the past eight years and prevention efforts can take some of the credit, according to the annual UNAIDS update on the epidemic released on 24 November 2009. The report noted that while the epidemic appeared to have stabilized in most parts of the world, the number of people living with HIV continued to grow, reaching 33.4 million by December 2008. This was partly the result of better access to life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) treatment - four million people, or 42 percent of those needing the medication were receiving it by the end of 2008 - but an estimated 2.7 million new HIV infections were added.

http://www.unaids.org
http://www.unaids.org

UNAIDS Outlook 2010 explores new ideas and ways to use the data collected in the AIDS Epidemic Update companion report. Outlook gives an overview of the epidemic with global and regional statistics, but also contains analysis offering the UNAIDS interpretation and eyes the data available in the more detailed AIDS Epidemic Update report from different angles. Features include “Where does the Money for AIDS go?” exploring fund flows in the AIDS response and “Being the Change” digging deeper into issues on young people, sexuality and how behaviors are changing. (December 2009)

http://www.unaids.org

In a landmark report on the health of women and girls across the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that AIDS-related illness is the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age in low and middle income countries, particularly in Africa. Also, globally, unsafe sex is the single leading risk factor contributing to deaths among women of reproductive age. These findings support the contention that in a multiplicity of areas female health is neglected and must now be considered an urgent priority. (2009)

http://www.unaids.org

This independent assessment and rating is developed through a comprehensive consultative process with global health experts and civil society representatives from across the world, and evaluates data on women that all governments provide as part of the 2001 United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to, and disproportionately affected by, HIV and AIDS in the global context. Lack of accountability for addressing women’s needs hampers efforts to measure the impact of different approaches, reward effective efforts, adjust or stop ineffective ones and ensure good use of resources. (2009)

http://www.genderandaids.org

An AIDS-free generation is not impossible. Yet the world is not on track to meet targets for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, and the global economic crisis raises concerns about sustaining and expanding assistance. This Fourth Stocktaking Report highlights progress made and challenges that remain in scaling up services for women, children and young people affected by the epidemic, and it calls for concerted action and continued commitments amid economic difficulties that affect all countries. (December 2009)

http://zunia.org

This book looks at the recent history and the many struggles related to advocacy for access to antiretroviral medicines of engaged civil society. Through the experiences of five middle-income countries - Brazil, China, Colombia, India, and Thailand - it presents the perspective of local civil society organisations about the national impact of intellectual property protection and access to medications. These five countries were chosen due to their accumulated experience in this field, their capacity to produce generic medication, their activist efforts, and the exchange of ideas and information that already exists between them. (2009)

http://www.abiaids.org.br

Bern | The global economic crisis that has induced cutbacks in the spending of Government and international donors also threatens efforts for an effective response to HIV and AIDS. In addition, a ‘backlash’ against disease-specific initiatives (“exeptionalism response”) can be observed in the international arena. On the other hand, HIV and AIDS with a present high of 33.4 million people living with HIV remains a serious global problem, reaching out beyond the health sector – and a united concerted effort is needed more than ever. What are the implications of these changes and debates on macro level for Swiss NGOs working in the field of HIV, AIDS and international cooperation?

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Biel | cinfo: HIV and AIDS are a sad reality in a number of countries involved in International Cooperation (IC). It affects not only every aspect of the lives of the people concerned, but also considerably impacts the life and work of IC expatriate personnel. This seminar has the objective of working with participants so that they can better manage this challenge. The participants will explore various levels of impact which the epidemic can have on the life and the work of expatriate personnel, consider various social and professional situations linked to HIV/AIDS and explore strategies that might help to effectively manage the challenges at personal, institutional, and intercultural levels.

http://www.cinfo.ch

Wien | The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward.

"Rights Here, Right Now", the theme of the conference, emphasizes the central importance of protecting and promoting human rights, including the rights of women and girls, as a prerequisite to a successful response to HIV. Vienna, 18 to 23 July 2010.

http://www.aids2010.org

Partners: Afro-European Medical and Research Network, AIDS & Child, Bethlehem Mission Immensee, Caritas Switzerland, cinfo, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, Doctors without Borders, Esperanza Medicines Foundation, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, HEKS, IAMANEH Switzerland, INTERTEAM, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, medico international Switzerland, mediCuba-Suisse, missio, REPSSI, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, missio, mission 21, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical Institute, Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.c