THE ELECTRONIC BULLETIN OF THE SWISS PLATFORM FOR HIV/AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION December 2008

„Positiv im Leben stehen“ (to have a positive outlook on life) is a wonderful, moving book full of stories of young people with HIV/Aids. It is a document of thoughtful young women and men who had to deal with central questions of life very early on due to their positive HIV-diagnosis. It is a text about strong young women and men who have decided to take hold of their life and to have a positive outlook on life. But it is also a document about vulnerable, sensitive young people and their everyday life with all its troubles, questions and doubts as well as their need for bonding and love.

The concept of the book „Positiv im Leben stehen“ was created within the context of meetings organized by Aids & Child for young people living with HIV. The young have themselves helped to design the book. It has now developed into a small jewel, a gift of the young to us – a gift that you could certainly pass on to your friends and acquaintances. (Available in German only)

Wishing you Season’s Greetings and a good start into the New Year 2009

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch

Launched in 2003, the platform aidsfocus. ch can now look back over a five-year history, making this an ideal moment to step outside the framework of an annual report and to look back and beyond these initiatory years. During this time, aidsfocus.ch has developed into a central pivot in international cooperation on issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, winning as partners a representative and growing number of organizations. The efficacy of the platform is demonstrated when organizations can benefit from the knowledge and experiences of others and can channel these into their own organizations and projects.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) play much a greater role in HIV/AIDS care and treatment in sub-Saharan especially. Yet by and large, the responses of FBO towards the global HIV epidemic have generally lacked sufficient urgency and commitment. This is especially so in the field of HIV prevention, and in combating the stigma, denial and discrimination that are often attached to HIV andAIDS. “We don’t have right to give up because we are called to promote life rather than death.” (Emery Mpwate Munfu, Mission 21, 2 December 2008)

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Geneva, 28 November 2008 - National HIV prevention programmes can become more successful using combination prevention approaches—this will help make the money work effectively during tough economic times. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the first observance of World AIDS Day, a new report by UNAIDS calls on countries to realign HIV prevention programmes through understanding how the most recent HIV infections were transmitted, and understanding the reasons why they occurred. “Not only will this approach help prevent the next 1,000 infections in each community, but it will also make money for AIDS work more effectively and help put forward a long term and sustainable AIDS response,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.

http://www.unaids.org

1. December, 2008 - Daily we hear about the horrific conditions in Zimbabwe. In the past three weeks, the complete collapse of public health system and sanitation infrastructure has developed into a major cholera epidemic, which has not only extended to the entire country but also into South Africa. Essential medicines are not available to treat diseases that the government's gross negligence has exacerbated. Antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS patients and TB treatment has been severely disrupted. Urgent action by the international community is needed.

http://www.tac.org.za
http://www.plusnews.org

Dakar, 7 December 2008 - The 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2008 closed with a strong message: youth are essential in the response to AIDS in Africa, especially those living with HIV. Ms Souadou N'Doye, a young Senegalese, spoke on behalf of all young Africans and urged those in attendance to ensure that young people are involved in the design of HIV programmes. She asked governments and partners to utilize the talents of young people from each country. Without young people, she stressed the AIDS response is incomplete. "All that is done for us, but without us, is against us," she said.

http://www.unaids.org

Washington, DC, 26 November 2008 – The HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting will take place June 10-14, 2009 in Windhoek, Namibia. This year’s theme is “Optimizing the Response: Partnerships for Sustainability.” The meeting gathers together program implementers to share best practices and lessons learned in the fight against global HIV/AIDS. This year’s meeting will focus on widely disseminating best practices and lessons learned during the implementation of multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS programs with a emphasis on optimizing the impact of prevention, care and treatment programs; enhancing program quality; promoting coordination among partners; and encouraging innovative responses. Abstract Submission Guidelines available online at:

http://www.hivimplementers.com

1. November 2008 - Faith leaders "should shout from the rooftops that AIDS is not a punishment from God but a medical condition which is preventable", the former leader of South Africa's Anglican church, Archbishop Njongo Ndungane, has told the World Aids Campaign. He added, "Faith leaders should hence commit themselves to working towards achieving a generation without AIDS, and show loving care and support for those infected. They should develop and implement imaginative strategies to fight stigmatisation, ensure that infected people have access to the essential needs like nutrition and medical care, as well as encourage those not infected to stay uninfected."

http://www.oikoumene.org

Johannesburg, 20 November 2008 - A ground-breaking South African study has provided the first hard evidence that treating HIV-positive babies with antiretroviral (ARV) medicines from as early as six weeks dramatically improves their chances of survival. The study, conducted in Cape Town and Soweto, Johannesburg's largest township found that infants started on ARV therapy immediately after diagnosis were 76 percent less likely to die than those who began treatment only after displaying clinical symptoms. Early treatment also greatly reduced the progression of disease. The WHO, the US and several European countries have already revised their guidelines for treating HIV-infected infants. (PlusNews)

http://www.plusnews.org

AIDS Outlook is a new report from UNAIDS that provides perspectives on some of the most pressing issues that will confront policymakers and leaders as they respond to the challenges presented by AIDS in 2009. In many ways the year ahead will be a year of transition—and acceleration. Many countries are reviewing their national strategies on AIDS. Even though political commitment for AIDS is at an all-time high, recent developments in the financial world will test the resilience of many. (November 2008)

http://www.unaids.org

This publication from UNIFEM highlights approaches and examples that ensure that the three principles promote and protect gender equality as a key element in strategies to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS. The first chapter examines why gender equality and women’s human rights are central to the principles of the “Three Ones.” The next three chapters cover each of the principles, analyzing proposed entry points for integrating gender equality and women’s rights. The final chapter contains recommendations on strengthening gender equality in AIDS actions and strategies. (2008)

http://gender.developmentgateway.org

UNAIDS launched a new regional report that looks at the vulnerability of women and girls in Southern Africa to HIV. Almost two-thirds of all young people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa where about 75% of all infections among young people aged 15 to 24 years are among young women. The factors that are driving the current epidemic in southern Africa include the practice of age disparate and intergenerational sex; biological vulnerability of young women; economic empowerment; education and gender-based violence. A final paper examines the complex interaction between environmental factors and individual choices, behaviours and community norms. (December 2008)

http://www.unaids.org

According to a United Nations report titled "Children and AIDS" and published for World AIDS Day, the number of pregnant women receiving antiretrovirals in low- and middle-income countries has tripled in the past three years. In addition, increased donor interest and funding has made such gains even more impressive in some countries. This Third Stocktaking Report examines data on progress, emerging evidence, and current knowledge and practice for children as they relate to four programme areas, and it calls for several focused, concrete, achievable actions that can significantly improve prospects for children and women and help nations move towards their goals. (December 2008)

http://www.unicef.org

An HIV mainstreaming toolkit for development and humanitarian response workers. HIV mainstreaming must be applied to wider development and humanitarian response programmes if these are to remain effective and do no harm in contexts affected by HIV and AIDS. This toolkit was produced by CAFOD and includes: • CAFOD’s understanding of and commitment to HIV mainstreaming • Tools and processes for applying HIV mainstreaming to development and humanitarian response programmes AND to internal, or organisational, policies and practices • Ideas for facilitating training, and case studies and scenarios . (2008)

http://www.aidsportal.org

Durres, Albania | The Fourth Balkans Regional Conference on HIV and AIDS is organized by Partnerships in Health in collaboration with UNAIDS and other partners. The Conference is a unique forum for all to share lessons-learned and to enhance skills. Highlights of the Conference: Challenges of HIV prevention and AIDS care and support for mobile populations in the European context; challenges in HIV and TB prevention and continuity of care; youth including street children, mobility and HIV vulnerability reduction.

http://www.balkans-fight-hiv.org

Biel | 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 of HIV / AIDS can have on the life and the work of expatriate personnel. They explore strategies that might help to effectively manage the challenges at personal, institutional, and intercultural levels.

http://www.cinfo.ch

aidsfocus.ch is a project set up by Medicus Mundi Switzerland. aidsfocus.ch is sponsored and shaped by its partner organizations who support the aims and activities of the platform through their financial contributions, expertise and commitment.

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, International Federation of the Blue Cross, 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.