E-BULLETIN OF AIDSFOCUS.CH SWISS PLATFORM ON HIV/AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

October 2012

No baby should be born with HIV, no one should die from AIDS. What is already true for people in rich countries today, should be true for all by the year 2015. The chances are good – owing to joint efforts of UNAIDS, UNICEF, the Global Fund and other international organisations, national governments as well as of civil society. The pictures of innocent babies who got the HI-virus virtually as „birth gifts“ and are dying of AIDS during their first years of life leaves no one indifferent.

The chances are good, or, expressed in the words of UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé: “We know how to get to zero – science has shown the way. The only thing that can stop us now is indecision or a lack of courage. Through strengthened political will and financial resources, we can reach our twin goals of zero new HIV infections among children and zero AIDS-related maternal deaths.”

To have reduced child mortality by 40 percent in twenty years, from 12 million in 1990 to 6,9 million in 2011, is a success story of global health and development. However, progress has been considerably uneven. And it is particularly problematic for poor children and infants who have been infected with HIV at birth. AIDS and related conditions is still a major driver of high child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated 330,000 children around the world were newly infected with HIV in 2011 – this is 24 percent lower than the number of children newly infected in 2009. Without treatment, half of all babies born with HIV will die by their second birthday. In countries with a high HIV prevalence, AIDS-related deaths among children range from 10 percent in Mozambique and Zambia to 28 percent in South Africa. (UNICEF 2012)

Improving access to the medical treatment to prevent vertical HIV transmission (the politically correct term for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, PMTCT), accelerated progress in reducing global child mortality. In high-income countries, it was possible to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV to below 2 percent due to comprehensive medical care and drug therapy during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. But only 57 percent of the estimated 1,5 million pregnant women living with HIV in low or middle income countries receive effective antiretroviral drugs to avoid transmission to their child.

AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of childbearing age worldwide (UNAIDS 2012). Children of positive mothers not only risk death through HIV infection, but indirectly also from the fact that HIV-positive mothers fall ill and are no longer able to care for their children and their families.

Maternal and child health not only needs a comprehensive approach to prevent vertical transmission of HIV for protecting the children from an infection: it also requires the commitment to empower women and young girls to prevent HIV-infections, as well as HIV-positive women to prevent unwanted pregnancies; and we are compelled to develop healthcare systems meeting the comprehensive needs of women.

The MMS Symposium 2012 taking place November 6 in Basel with the title „Creating Perspectives for Life“ deals with experiences, strategies and politics around the issue of maternal and child health in developing countries. HIV is one of many factors influencing the lives and well-being of mothers and children. Please register now.

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch Executive Director Medicus Mundi Switzerland

Basel | This year’s symposium organized by the Medicus Mundi Switzerland network will take a closer look. What is being done in international politics to further improve the health of mother and child? What strategies are effective? How can women and expectant mothers be given better access to healthcare provision? Speakers: Agnes Adjou-Moumouni, SDC, Ann Svensén, RFSU, Adriane Martin Hilber, Swiss TPH, Katrin Heeskens, Bethlehem Mission Immensee Muzahid Ali, Enfants du Monde Michael Hobbins, SolidarMed Oumu Dolo, IAMANEH Judith Eisenring, medico international switzerland Erika Placella, Médecins du Monde Jean-Marc Thomé, Swiss Red Cross Bounlam Souvannasab, Swiss Red Cross Elizabeth Moreno, Swiss Red Cross Nathalie López, Swiss Red Cross. Information and registration:

http://www.medicusmundi.ch

A new progress report released by UNICEF titled "Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed" is showing a sharp drop in the estimated number of deaths among children under the age of five worldwide. However, an estimated 3.4 million children under 15 years old were living with HIV in 2011, 91% of them in sub-Saharan Africa. In the same year, about 230,000 died of AIDS-related causes. According to the report, access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) was still low in most countries, with only about 28% of children who needed treatment receiving it in 2011, in contrast to the 57% coverage among adults. (14 September 2012)

http://www.unaids.org

The new UNAIDS report contains the latest data on numbers of new HIV infections, numbers of people receiving antiretroviral treatment, AIDS-related deaths and HIV among children. It highlights new scientific opportunities and social progress which are bringing the world closer to UNAIDS vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. The report also gives an overview of international and domestic HIV investments. Calling for global solidarity and shared responsibility, the UNAIDS report contains commentaries from global and community leaders as well as people living with and affected by HIV. (July 2012)

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

PMTCT interventions are guided by a comprehensive strategic approach which includes 4 components: Primary prevention of HIV infection among women of childbearing age; preventing unintended pregnancies among HIV infected women; preventing HIV transmission from a woman living with HIV to her infant, and provision of appropriate treatment, care and support to mothers living with HIV and their children and families. There has been uneven progress to date in implementing these four programming areas. Offering family planning services is critical for component 2 and is an underutilized component in PMTCT services. (Women’s Health Care 2012)

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Fragmented services create major barriers for women. From a health system perspective, separating out different services for different health issues may be duplicative and highly inefficient. What is the strength of the evidence on integration? Who is most likely to benefit? What are the costs in the long run? And what are the real world challenges and opportunities in integrating services in low-income settings? Last month, in Nairobi, Kenya, these questions were explored at the Integration for Impact conference. (October 2012)

http://blogs.plos.org

The Global Fund and Civil Society will be in the focus of the thematic part of the Annual Meeting of aidsfocus.ch 2012. Christoph Benn, Director of Resource Mobilization and Donor Relation Division, and Linda Mafu, Head of Political and Civil Society Advocacy, Global Fund will give first hand information on the recent situation of the Global Fund after re-organisation, including financial forecast. They will open the discussion on the role of Civil Society in shaping the Global Fund, opportunities for intervention and challenges. This will be a great opportunity for sharing of information, ideas and concerns. Agenda: 9.15-10.30 formal part of the Annual Meeting, 11.00-12.30 Focus on Global Fund und and Civil Society

http://www.aidsfocus.ch
http://www.aidsfocus.ch
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

The Bulletin of Medicus Mundi Switzerland, the reader of the aidsfocus.ch conference 2012, publishes recent and inspiring stories of local level advocacy as well as advocacy on an international level. We can learn from our Southern partners from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzansia and India. In Zimbabwe, young people living with HIV who were trained in leadership and advocacy now dialogue with the government, and whenever necessary, also demonstrate in front of the respective offices in order to get the medication and what is due to them. Advocacy is a key component in the struggle towards an AIDSfree future and the fulfilment of the right to health for all. (MMS Bulletin 125, September 2012).

http://www.medicusmundi.ch

London, 19 October 2012 - Lynne Featherstone MP, the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DFID reflected in her keynote address at the Consortium Annual General Meeting on her time as International Development spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats when she saw for herself the effects of HIV treatment during a visit to a Johannesburg township. The Minister spoke about the relationship between DFID and the UK Consortium, and then moved on to the central message of her address: "I have come here today to emphasize the UK's continued commitment to HIV. I want to make that very, very clear”.

http://aidsconsortium.org.uk

Kinshasa, 13 October 2012 - French President François Hollande confirmed the commitment of France to continue the development of innovative financing through taxes, like the tax on airline tickets, and those on financial transactions which are already in place. This strong commitment to finance the AIDS response reflects the policy of "shared responsibility" advocated by UNAIDS, which calls on international donors to honour their commitments. The speeches delivered by Heads of States at the opening echoed the key messages: “No new HIV Infections, No one denied treatment." (UNAIDS)

http://www.unaids.org

1. October 2012 - In the current Millennium Development Framework (MDGs) three out of the eight goals directly refer to health conditions (maternal health; child health; AIDS, TB and Malaria). What will be the role of health in the development agenda beyond 2015? The UN is putting in place a series of thematic consultations on the post-2015 development agenda. Health is one of the 9 topics covered. The consultation on health lead by WHO and UNICEF will take place between October 2012 and February 2013. Beyond 2015 appointed the Medicus Mundi International Network to coordinate campaign input in the health consultation.

http://www.medicusmundi.org
http://www.worldwewant2015.org

1. October 2012 - The Indonesian government has quietly made an order which overrides Big Pharma's patents on seven important drugs for HIV and hepatitis B, allowing local drug companies to make cheap and affordable versions for its citizens. The "government use" order was made on Setember 3rd, but with no fanfare and, as yet, no public outcry from the pharmaceutical giants who, in the past, used to defend their patents volubly and aggressively, through the courts as well as diplomatic back-channels. Times have somewhat changed, with much greater public awareness of the toll of treatable diseases and the high price of medicines in developing countries. (Sarah Boseley, The guardian)

http://www.guardian.co.uk

Johannesburg, 25 September 2012 - The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has released initial details on its new funding model, which will change the way countries apply for money. The Global Fund board adopted guiding principles of the model at a mid-September board meeting in Geneva. Although the model’s finer aspects are still being developed, key elements include the allocation of funding to country groupings based on disease burden and ability to pay as well as largely foreseen changes to grant application procedures. The new model will group countries by disease burden and World Bank income level, with resulting groups known as “bands”. (PlusNews)

http://www.irinnews.org
http://www.theglobalfund.org
http://www.aidspan.org

A new briefing published by Amnesty International, explores the linkages between human rights and the improvement of sexual and reproductive health. It assesses the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action in relation to sexual and reproductive rights. Women’s equality, their ability to make their own decisions freely and without coercion, is central to any effective population and development policy. More than 18 years since the world’s governments adopted the Programme of Action on population and development, it is clearer than ever that the autonomy of women and girls is fundamental to any effective progress. (2012)

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

The latest policy paper from the UK Consortium on AIDS and International Development focuses on how we can learn from the response to HIV and AIDS to galvanize our approach to global health. Drawing on case studies, the paper explores the ways in which the HIV response has reverberated across health systems, playing a key role in improving access to health services and medicines, highlighting and addressing the shortcomings of national and local health systems, improving quality of care and helping to decrease stigma of marginalised populations. It also considers the role of communities as ‘critical enablers’ in the HIV response. (October 2012)

http://aidsconsortium.org.uk

This Good Practice Guide brings together expertise from the HIV/AIDS Alliance global community, current research and other key external materials. This guide includes good practice in four key areas: 1. Community-based and owned approaches which put the most-affected people at the centre of the response; 2. Co-ordinating change at multiple levels to make an impact on HIV and SRH. 3. Joined up approaches to SRHR and HIV, and 4. Working together with the most affected people and tailoring programmes to address their specific needs. Also available in French and Spanish. (2011)

http://www.aidsalliance.org

The Global Fund results report for 2012, entitled “Strategic Investments for Impact”, provides comprehensive information on the achievements of programmes supported by the Global Fund through June 2012, and discusses some of the strategic issues the Fund is currently addressing. One chapter describes the Global Fund’s contribution towards international targets for HIV, TB and malaria. The report also includes sections on grant performance; support for health and community systems; monitoring and evaluation; the use of new technologies; sources of Global Fund financing; and patterns of Fund disbursements. (September 2012)

http://www.aidspan.org

Zurich | Although enormous progress has been made in the last 30 years throughout the world in the treatment, prevention, provision of psychological support, and in accompanying people affected with HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS continues to be a major challenge for humankind. The important thing is to consolidate progress that has been achieved and to build on it for the future. The SDC, the Federal Office of Public Health, the Swiss Aids Federation and its partners are committed to ensuring it will. Joining Federal Councillor Alain Berset, other committed speakers will take a critical look at the issue of “Stigma and Discrimination in Switzerland and Africa” from a wide range of perspectives.

http://www.deza.admin.ch

Bâle | This year’s Novartis Foundation Symposium invites esteemed speakers and experts to assess psychosocial approaches and discuss various interventions that strive to ensure mental health and wellbeing for Africa’s children. Over 16 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to HIV and AIDS, and most of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. These vulnerable children face material hardship, socio-economic disadvantage, social stigma, emotional isolation and psychological trauma.

http://www.novartisfoundation.org

Partners: Afro-European Medical and Research Network, AIDS & Child, Caritas Switzerland, cinfo, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, HEKS, IAMANEH Switzerland, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, medico international Switzerland, mediCuba-Suisse, missio, mission21, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss Catholic Women’s League, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch