INVITATION  AIDS ASIA e FORUM.

Hi,

If you are already a member of this FOURM please forward this message to your
colleagues who may find this FORUM useful.

[AIDS ASIA eFORUM] is an e- forum committed to the development of an Asian
perspective on AIDS prevention and care issues. HIV/AIDS does not recognize
national boundaries. As Asia- pacific countries are increasingly interconnected
through migration and trade, it is imperative to generate a regional perspective
on HIV/AIDS related issues.

A forum for critical analysis of issues, events and programs, which has
implications on, our ability to address HIV/AIDS prevention and care issues
across the region. More than 7,600 subscribers are using this FORUM.

Strategic HIV information and communication support to promote the capacity of
Asian leaders, activists and people living with HIV/AIDS, to facilitate their
engagement and networking, to highlight their experiences and the solutions they
are offering to address HIV/AIDS issues in this region.

A cross cultural discourse on issues and concerns of Asia- Pacific countries
(regions): Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China,
East Timor, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall
Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North Korea,
Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and
Viet Nam will be presented and promoted on this forum.

Please review the archived messages on the following url

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/

Dr. Joe Thomas
Editor
AIDS ASIA e FORUM
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/

KYRGYZSTAN: OFFICIALS GRAPPLE WITH HIV OUTBREAK
Daniel Sershen 10/30/07

Southern Kyrgyzstan became the site of the latest in a series of
recent Central Asian HIV outbreaks, with at least 26 people, mostly
children, infected in two local hospitals. Experts hope that the
combined impact of the wave of infections will serve as a wake-up
call for a dysfunctional and impoverished healthcare system, but some
warn of a misdirected government response.

Unofficial counts put the number of infected children at over 30, and
a preliminary investigation concluded in late August by the US
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that the figure would
eventually reach 100. This would put the Kyrgyz outbreak in the range
of a similar occurrence in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, where since 2006 a
total of 133 children have tested positive for HIV. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive].

"Unsafe injections, poor quality of blood safety, and ... lousy
sterilization of multiple-use medical instruments" were the main
causes of the virus' spread in both cases, said Michael Favorov,
Regional Director of the CDC's Central Asia office.

Health officials believe that the source of the Kyrgyz outbreak was a
sick child admitted to the local hospital in the town of Nookat, who
had gotten the virus either from his mother, or via a contaminated
blood transfusion. The infection spread to the Osh regional pediatric
hospital, and perhaps further, as ill, HIV-positive children shuffled
from one institution to another.

Four health officials from southern Kyrgyzstan were fired for their
alleged roles in the outbreak, including the directors of the two
hospitals. The Kyrgyz General Prosecutor's office has opened a
criminal investigation into the incident.

Sagynaly Mamatov, director of Kyrgyzstan's National AIDS Center,
noted that a government commission had uncovered such high-risk
practices in the hospitals as the transfer of blood directly from
person to person and the re-use of unsterilized or single-injection
needles.

"During an inspection," he said, "we came upon used, unclean syringes
in the refrigerator. We said, 'Why are you holding these?' [and the
hospital workers replied] 'We haven't had time to throw them out
yet.' One can't exclude that these needles were used multiple times,"
Mamatov said.

Experts said that the deeper cause of the outbreak was a general lack
of funding for healthcare in post-Soviet countries. Aging equipment
and a shortage of medical supplies prompt doctors to make do with
what they have. The extremely low salaries paid to healthcare workers
also lead some to use single-use equipment multiple times, as they
sell the surplus to supplement their incomes. (Patients in Kyrgyz
hospitals usually must purchase their own supplies prior to
treatment, often from the doctors themselves).

Bishkek's Adilet legal clinic is providing free representation to one
of the dismissed workers, as well as advising some Osh-based groups
that are working to support the infected children's families. Erik
Iriskulbekov, the clinic's project coordinator, said healthcare
providers frequently cut corners to survive. "A syringe costs two to
five som [roughly 10 US cents]," meaning a doctor who pockets a
single one "already has the ability to buy a loaf of bread."

Sanjar Isaev, a health expert in the Kyrgyz prime minister's office,
agreed that fresh supplies were often a temptation for doctors. "I
can't say people were [definitely] re-selling, but perhaps low
salaries" were a factor, he said. "But in the first place I would put
very weak control from the Osh public health structures."

The Osh region has the highest prevalence of registered HIV cases in
the country, most of them due to injecting drug use. Mamatov from the
AIDS center noted that outbreaks of the virus had previously occurred
in the area, most recently in 2005, adding that they were poorly
investigated. "If there was some noise at that moment," Mamatov
said, "maybe the incident which came to light this year would never
have happened."

Iriskulbekov agreed that the guilty parties should be made an example
of, but warned against creating "scapegoats" out of the mid-ranking
officials who had already been dismissed. "In my opinion, the true
people who permitted negligence have not yet been brought to
account," he said, adding that the net should be cast both "higher"
and "more broadly."

Favorov of the CDC said the Kyrgyz response had been swift from an
epidemiological perspective. "The Kyrgyz government, at least at the
current stage, is very open and allowed international groups to be
involved," said Favorov, although he said it remained to be seen if
that "transparency" would extend to the level of the average
practitioner on the ground.

Kyrgyzstan's poverty distinguished it from the Shymkent case, Favorov
continued. "My major concern is that as a result of that
investigation, Kazakhstan put a lot of funds to the prevention and
control of that outbreak," he said, whereas Kyrgyzstan would have to
seek outside donor support for a similar response.

Indeed, the government's plan – which envisions antiretroviral
treatment, counseling, and social support for the infected, an
overhaul of blood handling and testing procedures, and public
information campaigns – relies heavily on international groups.

In the past, many Kyrgyz AIDS donors have focused on preventing the
spread of the virus through work with vulnerable groups such as drug
users and sex workers. But Mamatov said the Nookat outbreak
underlined a need to emphasize treatment as well. "All the time –
prevention, prevention, prevention – but we need to accept that we've
lost" that battle, Mamatov said. "We need to work on prevention, but
also help the infected."

Editor's Note: Daniel Sershen is a freelance journalist based in
Bishkek.

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav103007.shtml

Asian HIV and AIDS program leaders support network: (Initiated in 2005)

There is an unprecedented rise in the number of Asian HIV/AIDS program
leaders working across borders in the region and taking increasing
responsibilities often "reserved" for the "professionals from the
west".

The professional leap they are making is phenomenal. Many feel that there is a
need for developing informal mechanisms to support and
facilitate this phenomenon.

The Asian HIV and AIDS program leaders who are working on HIV/AIDS
issues beyond the border of their own countries met during the 7th
ICAAP in Kobe and subsequently establish an informal mutual support
network. There has been an informal meeting during the IAS Toronto
Conference and also at the 8th ICAAP in Sri Lanka.

If you are an Asian, working on HIV/AIDS issues beyond the boundaries
of your home country, you are invited to share your experience in
working on HIV/AIDS related issues beyond the borders of your country.

Please contact for details:

Dr Chinkholal Thangsing,

Asia Pacific Bureau Chief,
AIDS Healthcare Foundation - Global
AP - Secretariat:
S 7 Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110017
Email:Chinkholal.thangsing@...
e-mail: <drcthangsing@...>

Dear Forum,

We witnessed a grand re-opening ceremony of Methadone Program in a
very well respected hospital of Nepal, namely Tribhuwan University
Teaching Hospital. Amidst controversies initially, the opening
ceremony took place in the Hospital's conference room by the hands of
chief guest the respected Home Minister of Nepal Mr. Krishna Prasad
Sitaula.

Guests from various backgrounds were present to witness the
opening ceremony. However the special guest list included Dr. Nirakar
Man Shrestha, Special Secretary of Ministry of Health, Dr Dhurba Man
Sakya (Methadone expert for Nepal) from Blue Cross Clinic also Guests
from UNODC and UNDP, INPUD Asia Chair person Mr. Anan Pun together
with the people who made it all possible, the guys from Recovering
Nepal.

The event was seen and speculated as a historic event taking place in
a country where drug users are openly abused by law enforcement and
society alike. In a country where anti choice sentiments are still
popular. Home minister's expression of human prospect of drug use and
positive views towards harm reduction and its tools are seen as a
major achievement for drug users in Nepal.

The National goodwill ambassador against illicit drug use, a famous Nepalese
actor Mr. Rajesh Hamal, during the program, gave a wonderful speech about the
drug user's vulnerability to HIV and HCV and the role that Methadone program can
play in prevention.

Mr. Anan Pun the Chairperson of INPUD Asia and also one of the main
initiator of the Methadone Movement in Nepal stressed in the
importance of Methadone and its positive impacts in drug users,
largely focusing on the Drug users rights to healthcare services. He
also addressed the existing service gap in drug users and mentioned
the need to "scale up" of services keeping in mind the high HIV and
HCV prevalence in drug users.

Methadone distribution will take place from tomorrow 31st of OCT 2007
with the highly recommended Social Unit operated by NGO in Teaching
Hospital premises.

Lastly, on behalf of Recovering Nepal and its Member Organizations, we would
like to thank all our friends and supporters, who have been with us through out
this ordeal, we would like to thank you all for making this movement a success.

Sincerely Yours

Prem Limbu
e-mail: <subba_prem7@...>

Dear Colleagues,

The Collaborative Fund for HIV Treatment Preparedness is a partnership of the
International Treatment Preparedness Coalition and the Tides Centre to improve
access to HIV treatment for all those who need it.

The International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) is an international
movement of HIV+ people and their advocates advocating for access to AIDS
treatment to those who need it through increased treatment literacy for
individuals and organisations and through advocacy with local, regional and
international stakeholders such as governments, international and bilateral
agencies, pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies, non-governmental
organisations and the private sector.  The Collaborative Fund began its work in
Southeast Asia in 2004. The program aims to support civil society, especially
people living with HIV/AIDS, to advocate for improved access to treatment and to
educate people living with HIV about HIV treatment.

The Collaborative Fund is a community funding mechanism that is driven by the
expertise of people living with HIV and their advocates. In each funding region
of the world, Community Review Panels (CRPs) set funding priorities and
determine how funds are disbursed through a peer-reviewed application process.
During the first and second round, the fund supported more than 40 local NGOs,
CBOs and PLHIV groups in the Southeast Asia Region.

This letter is to announce the 3rd year of grants in Southeast Asia. We are
seeking submissions of proposals for community-based HIV treatments advocacy and
education programs.

Funding is geographically limited to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam,
Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Any nongovernmental organization (NGO), community based organisation (CBO) and
PLHIV group from these countries is invited to apply. Joint projects between
organisations will also be considered.

Grants are provided for a program of up to one year with a maximum of USD 10 000
for individual organisations and up to USD 20 000 for joint applications of two
organisations or more. If your organisation is less than one year old, the grant
amount requested should be between USD 3000 and 5000. The amount of funds to be
distributed in Southeast Asia is USD 200 000.

If you are interested in the Collaborative Fund, you will need to consider the
Guide for Submission of Applications and the Proposal Form.

If these documents are not attached to this letter and you would like to receive
them, e-mail Mr. Sowat at sowat@...

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS OF PROPOSALS IS 30 NOV 2007.

It is envisioned that projects will start from February 2008.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Please forward this information to other organisations who work on treatments
access issues.

Please contact Mr. Sowat at sowat@... if you need any further
information or clarifications.

Shiba Phurailatpam
South East Asia Regional Coordinator
On behalf of the South East Asia Community Review Panel of the Collaborative
Fund
e-mail: <shiba@...>

Men politicians missing at the APCRSH meet

Monday, October 29 2007 16:11 (IST)

Hyderabad, Oct 29 (UNI) While 1300 delegates from 40 countries
deliberated on the sexual and reproductive rights of the people,
especially those of women, adolescents, transgender and gays, at the
Fourth Asia Pacific Conference On Reproductive and Sexual Health and
Rights here today, male politicians chose to give it a miss
indicating the low priority given to these issues.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y
S Rajasekhara Reddy were conspicuous by their absence at the
inauguration of the three day APCRSH meet here this morning. Dr
Ramadoss' absence was attributed to having Viral fever, while Mr
Reddy could not attend the meeting due to some family problem.

UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid also could not make the
keynote address, which was read by UNFPA Deputy Executive Director
Purnima Mane.

However, Chinese Vice Minister for National Population and Family
Planning Commission Baige Zhao compensated for their absence at the
inaugural function, while Minister of State for Women and Child
Development Renuka Chowdhury made her presence felt at the plenary
session on 'Implementing Sexual and Reproductive Rights: An
Unfinished Agenda' later in the day.

Meanwhile, President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi sent their messages complimenting
the efforts of Indian Consortium and the international community for
making efforts to organise this International event for the first
time in India.

The meet would focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights of
the people and bring it to the centre stage as it would not only help
in checking population growth but would also prevent HIV/AIDS
infection.

The Conference on the theme of 'Exploring New Frontier in
Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights' would focus on the sexual
and reproductive rights of women, adolescent, youth, transgender,
disabled and other marginalised sections of the society.

Addressing the conference, Ms Purnima Mani of UNFPA highlighted the
high maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS infection and violence against
women and said that meeting their sexual and reproductive needs were
crucial for reducing maternal mortality and morbidity and realising
the Millennium Development Goals.

Dr Gillian Greer, Director General of the International Planned
Parenthood Federation, emphasised women's rights to control her body
was crucial in controlling population. He said that the policies and
programmes should be properly implemented so that the sexual and
reproductive rights of women, especially adolescent girls and boys
were met.

Ms Zhao also released the documents of the conference and announced
that the 5th APCRSH would be held in China

http://news.oneindia.in/2007/10/29/men-politicians-missing-at-the-apcrsh-meet-11\
93656069.html

amfAR APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP AS AIDS RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
EXTENDS ITS GLOBAL REACH

NEW YORK, October 17, 2007 – amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research,
today announced several key appointments to its staff and volunteer
leadership.

Chairman of the Board Kenneth Cole named Sharon Stone to the position
of Global Fundraising Chairman and announced the election of Natasha
Richardson and Diana L. Taylor to the Foundation's Board of Trustees.

They join such esteemed colleagues on amfAR's board as legendary
performer and humanitarian Harry Belafonte and Edward L. Milstein, a
major force in the business life of New York City. On the staff side,
Kevin Robert Frost has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and
Rear Admiral Susan J. Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A., (ret.), has been
named Senior Medical and Policy Advisor.

"I am very pleased that amfAR continues to grow and expand its
capacity to address the global AIDS epidemic," Mr. Cole said. "These
appointments will bring new vigor to the organization and help
reaffirm amfAR's position as a leader in AIDS research and an
influential voice for people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide."

Kevin Frost was previously Vice President for Global Initiatives at
amfAR and has been Interim CEO since March 2007. Prior to joining the
Foundation in September 1994, Mr. Frost spent four years at New York
University Medical Center where he worked primarily on clinical
research studies of cytomegalovirus retinitis in people with
HIV/AIDS. He also served for a year as the inpatient care coordinator
of the AIDS program at New York City's Bellevue Hospital.

Mr. Frost lived and worked extensively in Asia, where he facilitated
the development of TREAT Asia, a network of more than 50 hospitals,
community clinics, NGOs, and health care facilities, working together
with civil society in 17 countries to build capacity for scaling up
treatment efforts in the region. He served as a member of the
international advisory committee for the 2004 International AIDS
Conference in Barcelona and was a member of the Scientific Committee
for the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto. Mr. Frost has
also served on the advisory panels for three U.S. Food and Drug
Administration hearings on AIDS-related drug treatments. He has
published in numerous journals including The Lancet, Journal of
Clinical Epidemiology, Journal of AIDS (JAIDS), Journal of Infectious
Diseases, and The AIDS Reader.

"amfAR's 25 years of experience fighting AIDS obligates us to do all
we can in our efforts to end this pandemic," Mr. Frost said. "And
while the needs are great, amfAR is well positioned to continue to
make major contributions to HIV research, prevention, treatment, and
advocacy in the coming years. I'm honored by this appointment and I
look forward to working with my colleagues at amfAR to take on the
complex challenges that lie ahead."

Since becoming chairman of amfAR's Campaign for AIDS Research in
1995, Sharon Stone has traveled nationally and internationally on the
Foundation's behalf. She has worked tirelessly to heighten awareness
of HIV/AIDS and to underscore the urgent need for continued AIDS
research. Ms. Stone's dynamic presence and captivating skills have
been indispensable elements in a number of highly successful amfAR
benefits. Through personal appearances, benefit premieres of her
movies, and other special events, Ms. Stone has helped amfAR raise
millions of dollars and has greatly increased AIDS awareness
worldwide.

An award-winning stage and screen actress, Natasha Richardson has
conceived, organized, and spearheaded a number of highly successful
amfAR events. Her service to AIDS organizations in the United States
and in the United Kingdom includes work with Bailey House, God's Love
We Deliver, and Mothers' Voices in the U.S.; Aids Crisis Trust and
National Aids Trust, for which she is an ambassador, in the U.K. Ms.
Richardson received amfAR's Award of Courage in November 2000.

Diana L. Taylor has more than 20 years experience serving in the
public and private sectors. She currently serves on boards of several
nonprofit organizations, and also chairs a commission for the Federal
Depository Insurance Corporation, concentrating on financially
underserved communities, and is a member of the Council on Foreign

Relations. In April 2007, Ms. Taylor joined the investment banking
firm, Wolfensohn & Co., as a managing director. Previously, she was
superintendent of banks for the State of New York.

Rear Admiral Susan J. Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A. (ret.), has been a
leading U.S. government health expert and spokesperson for more than
20 years. She served as Assistant Surgeon General of the United
States, as the first ever Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's
Health, as Senior Global and E-Health Advisor in the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services and as Chief of the Behavioral Medicine
and Basic Prevention Research Branch at the National Institute of
Mental Health, NIH. She also was a White House advisor on health
issues. Dr. Blumenthal is currently Distinguished Advisor on Health
and Medicine at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and a
Clinical Professor at Georgetown and Tufts Schools of Medicine. She
is the recipient of numerous awards, medals and honorary doctorates
for her landmark contributions to improving health. Her work in the
government has included a focus on HIV/AIDS since the beginning of
the epidemic in the early 1980's.

About amfAR:

amfAR is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated
to the support of HIV/AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment
education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. With
its freedom and flexibility to respond quickly to emerging
opportunities and its determination to invest in cutting-edge
science, amfAR plays a unique, catalytic role in accelerating the
pace of HIV/AIDS research and achieving real breakthroughs. Funded by
voluntary contributions from individuals, foundations, and
corporations, amfAR has invested $260 million in support of its
mission since 1985 and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research
teams worldwide.

FROM:
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research

CONTACT:
Donald Kaplan, Director of Program Communications
(212) 806-1602
donald.kaplan@...
Jennifer Samuels, Assistant Coordinator, Program Communications

(212) 806-1756
jennifer.samuels@...

"stanley3324" <stan.wong@...>

New Zealand: HIV: Too Much Emphasis on White Gay Males – Maori Party

"We ignore increases in HIV diagnoses amongst Maori at our peril"
WELLINGTON, October 14, 2007  –  The Maori Party spokesperson for
health in the New Zealand Parliament has said that not enough is
being done to combat HIV in the Maori population, saying "even
amongst the marginalised there is marginalisation".

Last month, the New Zealand AIDS Epidemiology Group identified huge
increases in HIV diagnoses among Maori in the first six months of
2007.

"The September 2007 report reveals that HIV infection amongst Maori
has risen from 6.4% of all notifications in 2006, to 11.4% in the
first six months of 2007" said Tariana Turia, health spokesperson for
the Maori Party.

"The sharp increase in HIV infection amongst Maori for this first
half year is an early warning that we ignore at our peril" said Mrs
Turia.

Twelve of the 105 people found to be infected with HIV are identified
as Maori.

"This new information is a cause for concern amongst Maori, in the
context of the hotbed of controversy that seems to be associated with
the New Zealand AIDS Foundation" said Mrs Turia.

"I have advised the Minister of Health some two months ago, about
concerns reported to me, that the needs of Maori living with HIV, HIV
positive women, migrant and refugees were being neglected in favour
of white gay men" said Mrs Turia.

"These were concerns that were directed to our attention by members
of the affected community who have expressed a lack of confidence in
the leadership of the Foundation" said Mrs Turia.

"They have told us of a mass exodus of staff who have resigned; of a
number of current cases of personal grievances, culminating in a
letter of no-confidence sent to the Board of NZAF"" said Mrs Turia.
"Then to read one of the NZAF reports on the new rapid testing which
states outright that "Pakeha gay men" are "the exact group most at
risk of becoming infected" really doesn't give me much confidence in
the capacity of that organisation to care for those people living
with the virus who happen to be Maori; women, or migrant and
refugees".

"While there is no disputing the facts that the majority of people
notified with AIDS have been men infected through sex with men (73%);
and that the majority of people notified with AIDS are European (71%)
we must make sure that our efforts to control the incidence of HIV
and other sexually transmitted infections in Aotearoa cater for the
broader population" said Mrs Turia.

"What an irony that even amongst the marginalised there is
marginalisation, and let's face it, this same ethnic targeting which
favours white males is a reflection of the bias which exists in the
wider community and society" said Mrs Turia.

http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/07/Oct/1401.htm

We ignore increases in HIV diagnoses amongst Maori at our peril
Tariana Turia, Health Spokesperson for the Maori Party

Friday 12 October 2007

The Maori Party today has reacted to the most recent information from
the AIDS Epidemiology Group, which identifies huge increases in HIV
diagnoses among Maori in the first six months of 2007.

"The September 2007 report reveals that HIV infection amongst Maori
has risen from 6.4% of all notifications in 2006, to 11.4% in the
first six months of 2007" said Tariana Turia, health spokesperson for
the Maori Party.

"The sharp increase in HIV infection amongst Maori for this first
half year is an early warning that we ignore at our peril" said Mrs
Turia.

Twelve of the 105 people found to be infected with HIV are identified
as Maori.

"This new information is a cause for concern amongst Maori, in the
context of the hotbed of controversy that seems to be associated with
the New Zealand AIDS Foundation" said Mrs Turia.

"I have advised the Minister of Health some two months ago, about
concerns reported to me, that the needs of Maori living with HIV, HIV
positive women, migrant and refugees were being neglected in favour
of white gay men" said Mrs Turia.

"These were concerns that were directed to our attention by members
of the affected community who have expressed a lack of confidence in
the leadership of the Foundation" said Mrs Turia.

"They have told us of a mass exodus of staff who have resigned; of a
number of current cases of personal grievances, culminating in a
letter of no-confidence sent to the Board of NZAF"" said Mrs Turia.

"Then to read one of the NZAF reports on the new rapid testing which
states outright that "Pakeha gay men" are "the exact group most at
risk of becoming infected" really doesn't give me much confidence in
the capacity of that organisation to care for those people living
with the virus who happen to be Maori; women, or migrant and
refugees".

"While there is no disputing the facts that the majority of people
notified with AIDS have been men infected through sex with men (73%);
and that the majority of people notified with AIDS are European (71%)
we must make sure that our efforts to control the incidence of HIV
and other sexually transmitted infections in Aotearoa cater for the
broader population" said Mrs Turia.

"What an irony that even amongst the marginalised there is
marginalisation, and let's face it, this same ethnic targeting which
favours white males is a reflection of the bias which exists in the
wider community and society" said Mrs Turia.


Marama Pala
e-mail: <marama.pala@...>

Fourth Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health &
Rights,  29 – 31 Oct, 2007: Hyderabad/India

The conference, being held in Hyderabad from October 29-31, 2007,
will bring together more than 1200 participants including NGOs,
government officials, donors, UN representatives, media persons and
parliamentarians to discuss issues related to sexual and reproductive
health (SRH) and rights.

Besides union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss, who will inaugurate
the conference, other important speakers will be the chief minister
of Andhra Pradesh, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA
Executive Director, who will deliver the keynote address and Gill
Greer, IPPF Director General, who will speak on the journey from
Cairo to Hyderabad.

Dr Baige Zhao, Vice Minister, National Population and Family Planning
Commission, The Peoples Republic of China, and Renuka Chowdhury,
Minister of State, Women and Child Development will address the first
plenary session on `Implementing sexual and reproductive rights: an
unfinished agenda'.

According to Poonam Muttreja, co-chair, international steering
committee, 4th APCRSH, it is appropriate that the conference is being
held in India because the greatest challenges in this area have
emerged from Asia. Therefore, the conference  aims to develop new
strategies for future research and programming on the sex ratio
imbalance in Asia, addressing unmet reproductive needs of young
women, making pregnancy safe and wanted through more expanded,
informed choices in services and the need for a renewed political and
economic commitment.

A huge number (921) of research abstracts were received from 42
countries. Saroj Pachauri, chair, scientific committee, 4th APCRSH,
says these were reviewed by 72 professionals from 15 countries.
Finally, 343 abstracts were accepted; 182 for oral and 161 for poster
presentations.

The rapid fertility decline and demographic transition experienced in
most of Asia has been accompanied by heightened discrimination
against girls. It is manifested through prevailing pre-natal sex
selection and female feotecide resulting in increased sex ratio
imbalance. Son-preference, the combination of traditional methods of
neglect of girls and misuse of modern technology, urbanization,
rising educational levels and standard of living has lead to an
increasing deficit of young girls across the region, often so in the
affluent sections of the populations.

The social well-being of any country can be assessed by its sex-
ratio. Skewed sex ratios at birth have already resulted in a
demographic gap in parts of China and in India, with the far reaching
consequences, including growing violence against women and girls,
bride trafficking and early marriages. Despite legislative responses,
recent available data shows that the practice persists and its spill-
over effects are impacting neighbouring countries too.

A recent study by Rajib Acharya and Shireen J Jejeebhoy of the
Population Council shows that women who were forced into sex were
significantly more likely than other women to have experienced SRH
problems. The study, which is to be presented at the 4th APCRSH,
finds that women who were beaten are almost twice as likely as those
who were not beaten to report SRH problems.

Gender based violence is not limited to India alone. Presenters from
countries like Indonesia, Afghanistan, Nepal and Thailand will talk
about the situation in their countries.

There will be special focus on young people and adolescents keeping
in mind that about 700 million adolescents (10-19 years) live in
Asia. Not only are their numbers large but they are experiencing
rapid changes in attitudes and expectations in a fast-changing world.
Therefore, developing programmes to address their SRH needs poses a
major challenge, says Sunil Mehra, co chair, India Organising
Committee.

In India there has been considerable debate on the relevance and
importance of sex education in schools. Sexuality does not operate in
isolation says Radhika Chandiramani, director, Talking About
Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues (TARSHI), a NGO working on the
issues of sexuality. Chandiramani, who will chair a satellite session
on ` More than Pleasure: New Issues in Affirming Sexuality in Asia,
says sexuality intersects with gender, class, caste, religion,
economics, the law, culture, and many other variables and is
implicated in broader structures of power.

TARSHI, which has been running a telephone helpline on sexuality
since 1996, has responded to more than 59,000 calls. Most callers say
they want to know about basic facts like sexual anatomy and
physiology, underlining the need for the introduction of
comprehensive sexuality education in the school curriculum says
Chandiramani.

The 4th APCRSH hopes to enable educationists and thinkers to get a
wider regional and international perspective on the subject
Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is seen as central to achieving
the Millennium Development Goals too. In this context, the
integration of family planning, HIV/AIDS and SRH as envisioned at
ICPD (International Conference on Population and Development held in
Cairo in 1994) is fundamental. The conference will discuss how these
goals can be achieved despite constraints of funding, organizational
barriers, and limited training opportunities for health service
providers.

http://www.4apcrsh.org/

Deepak Gupta
e-mail: <dgupta_southasia@...>

Dear FORUM,

Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/message/681

From all of us in Harmony Home, our DEEPEST GRATITUDE! to all of you who have
supported us and  have responded through our signature campaign.

We are very fortunate that the Taiwan government has ensured the protection of
the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS in Taiwan by implementing the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Prevention and Patients' Rights Protection Act effective
last July 2007. It states that:

"those suffering from HIV/AIDS who have Taiwanese citizenship at birth cannot be
treated with discrimination, and cannot be denied attending school, visits to
the hospital, finding residence, or other similar necessities."

HIV status cannot be used as grounds for denying individuals employment, medical
treatment, housing or education.

Foreign spouses infected by their Taiwanese wives or husbands with HIV have the
right to remain in Taiwan."

We have won our appeal in the Supreme Court because of this newly ammended law
protecting the rights of PLWHA. The decision was made last 7th of August 2007. 
Our shelter will continue to be a home to people living and affected by
HIV/AIDS.

You have  been a significant part in this very important change in the lives of
people  living with HIV/AIDS here in Taiwan. Your support made a difference in
their lives. We hope that with this accomplishment of our united efforts, more
people may learn to accept and not discriminate people living with HIV/AIDS.

We will continue our commitment to helping people living with HIV/AIDS and to
fight against stigma and discrimination.

Again, from all of us in Harmony Home, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Sincerely,
Nicole

Harmony Home Association, Taiwan
11054/  1F., No.262-1, Jiaxing St., Xinyi District,
Taipei City 110, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel:+886-2-2738-9600‘@Fax:+886-2-2738-9903
Key Contact: Nicole Yang(Harmony Home Association)
website. http://www.hhat.org/
E-mail: <harmonyhome2003@...>

Dear FORUM,

We (EML) are a sri Lankan organisation bidding for UNAIDS establishment of a TSF
in South Asia.

We are looking for persons interested in  serving as Consultants.

If you are in HIV work and interested please send a VERY brief CV to
<Hemanth_wickram@...>

Thank you,

Dr Hemantha Wickramatillake,

Senior Program Manager
National HIV Prevention Program Sri Lanka
USAID/AED Office
207/17 Dharmapala Mawatha
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Telephone - Office 0094 112665765
Mobile - 0094 773059714
E-MAIL: <hemanth_wickram@...>

Nutrition key to surviving HIV/AIDS, WHO says

Bangkok - Well-balanced meals are a key ingredient to survival for
the millions of HIV/AIDS patients in South and South-East Asia, World
Health Organization (WHO) experts said Tuesday. "Nutrition and HIV
are closely related," said Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO's regional
director for South-East Asia.

"HIV affects nutritional status, and poor nutrition in turn leads to
faster progression of HIV to AIDS," Samlee told a seminar of health
workers and experts who gathered in Bangkok this week to find
solutions to fighting the two epidemics of malnutrition and
HIV/AIDS. "Scaling-up care and antiretroviral therapy cannot be
addressed without appropriate support for nutrition."

There are an estimated 4 million people suffering from HIV/AIDS in
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, South
Korea and Sri Lanka, the area defined by the UN agency as South-East
Asia.

The good news is that most Asian diets are well-suited to providing
the nutrition HIV/AIDS patients require.

"I think Thai food is well-balanced and has all the nutrients
somebody needs, but it depends on keeping the right balance of
carbohydrates, proteins and fats," said Ranga Saadeh, a scientist
working for WHO's nutrition department in Geneva.
Evidence has established that people living with HIV have higher
energy needs than those who are HIV-negative.

Asymptomatic HIV-positive adults or children need 10 per cent more
energy than those who are not HIV-positive, and those at advanced
stages need 20 to 30 per cent more energy to maintain body weight,
Saadeh said.

HIV-positive children who are losing weight need 50 to 100 per cent
more energy, she said.

Providing a balanced, nutritious diet in countries where malnutrition
is endemic poses an added challenge to their health services.

"This HIV/AIDs epidemic is being superimposed on the already existing
malnutrition problems," Saddeh said, "so if we want to make a
difference, we should really deal with both challenges at the same
time."

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/121064.html

Nearly 1,000 new HIV diagnoses each year

The convenor of a major sexual health conference under way in
Queensland says Australia's rate of HIV infection is slowly getting
worse.

Cairns Base Hospital sexual health director Dr Darren Russell says the
trend is one of a number of issues that will be discussed at the
Australasian Sexual Health Conference on the Gold Coast today.

Dr Russell says about 20,000 Australians are HIV positive.
"I think Queensland, Victoria and perhaps some other places in
Australia really haven't grasped the nettle," he said.
"As a result, we are seeing rising numbers of HIV in Australia each
year - almost 1,000 new cases."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/08/2053731.htm

Australia's Ambassador for Hiv/Aids

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Murray Proctor as
Australia's new Ambassador for HIV/AIDS.

Mr Proctor will take up his role as Ambassador on World Aids Day, 1
December 2007.

This appointment follows the imminent departure of the current and
inaugural Ambassador, Ms Annmaree O'Keeffe, to work on global
indigenous  issues. I thank Ms O'Keeffe for her outstanding
leadership and dedication as an advocate for Australia on HIV/AIDS,
and for encouraging governments, the private sector and other
institutions to work harder to halt the spread of the disease and
reduce the suffering it causes.

The Government has committed to spend $1 billion by 2010 by increasing
efforts to combat HIV, particularly in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia
and through regional programs across both Asia and the Pacific.

With almost 25 years experience in aid and development Mr Proctor will
lead and coordinate these efforts, as well as promote collaboration
and innovation in the front line response to the epidemic.

Mr Proctor is concurrently Deputy Director General, Asia Division for
the Australian Government's overseas aid agency, AusAID. He was
previously Assistant Director General, East Asia and his
responsibilities have included Asia regional programs, health and
communicable diseases programs.  He has worked with the World Bank
and for four years led Australia's aid program to PNG.

Mr Proctor holds degrees in Psychology and Economics from the
University of Queensland and the Australian National University.

http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/

Funding Announcement

The Australian Federation of AIDS Organistions (AFAO) is now accepting
applications from community organisations in selected Asia and Pacific
countries for HIV and AIDS related projects through its international
grant scheme.

The deadline for applications is Monday the 19th of November 2007.

Detailed information, guidelines, eligibility criteria (including
project & country eligibility) and application forms are available via
the AFAO website:  www.afao.org.au

Alternately the direct link is:

http://www.afao.org.au/view_articles.asp?pxa=ve&pxs=102&id=298


Traynor David
e-mail: <traynor.david@...>

Dear FORUM,

Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/message/1064

While I appreciate your point Mark, I would also like to think that the fact the
posting was made on the forum indicates how important/significant OUR forum has
become in their eyes.

I would rather look at it as an appreciation of the membership and I reckon
using the forum is also indicative of a transparent system of recruitment.

What their intentions are, if there really is a hidden agenda, will be known in
time..In the meantime, Let's stay focused on the issue - HIV/AIDS.

Matelita Ragogo
E-MAIL: <matelita_r@...>

The  Family planning handbook is currently available at no cost to readers in
developing countries in English both online and as a bound publication.

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 4, 2007--The INFO Project of the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs convened an
expert panel recently to launch an innovative new guidebook, Family Planning: A
Global Handbook for Providers, and highlight ways the book can help advance
global health.

Published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the INFO Project at the
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Communication
Programs, with support from the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), the handbook brings together the best available scientific
evidence on family planning methods and related topics into one easy-to-use
publication.

Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers offers technical information to
help health care providers deliver family planning methods appropriately and
effectively.  Together, the four cornerstones support the safe and effective
provision and use of family planning methods and can be used to develop national
guidelines.

A pdf version of the handbook is available from the following url

http://www.fphandbook.org

Or contact <orders@...>

Dear FORUM,

Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/message/1060

I find this request for consultants to an undisclosed consortium of leading NGOs
posted to AIDS ASIA a little disconcerting. If they already have as they state
extensive experience in the HIV response in the South Asia region, then why are
they using this forum to request for additional consultants? To bulk up/impress
UNAIDS with their submission bid. ?

I would be reluctant to ask any consultant to submit their CVs without knowing
more background information on the consortium.

To me this request is somewhat disturbing.

Greg Gray
International Coordinator
International Treatment Preparedness Coalition
Bangkok
e-mail: <itpc@...>

Dear FORUM,

Re: Impact of AIDS on children remains under-researched and poorly understood.
Piot

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/message/1058

In my opinion, any list of objectives that does not have PREVENTION
OF NEW INFECTIONS as the very first on the list is flawed.

This objective is admittedly the most difficult to accomplish, but it
analogous to "fixing the leak in a sinking ship". Everything else
must be regarded as "bailing the water out of the boat"-no matter how
well you do it, you are condemned to be doing it forever.

Mark Rapoport, MD,MPH
E-MAIL: <markrapoportmd@...>

amfAR MSM INITIATIVE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, has issued Requests for Proposals 
(RFPs) seeking to support front-line organizations and networks in the
Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Africa working to address HIV among men who have
sex with men (MSM).

Individual organizations are eligible for awards of up to US$20,000;
networks are eligible for awards of up to $50,000.

The deadlines for  submitting proposals are October 25 for organizations in the
Caribbean,  November 15 for Southeast Asia (Greater Mekong Subregion), and
December 4 for Africa .

The RFP, application form, application instructions, and additional
information about the MSM Initiative can be found at
www.amfar.org/msm/awards (http://www.amfar.org/msm/awards)

The MSM Initiative, founded and administered by amfAR, and benefiting from
collaboration with the Global Forum on MSM and HIV, UNAIDS, and many other
partners, is a global effort to fight the spread of HIV among men who have sex
with men in the developing world.  The objectives of the MSM Initiative include
supporting front-line organizations and networks working to address HIV among
MSM; supporting research to build understanding of HIV epidemics and
interventions among MSM; and supporting effective policies and increased public
funding for HIV prevention and treatment efforts among MSM.

Shaleena Theophilus
e-mail: <shaleena@...>

Dear all,

To avoid any confusion, I would like to clarify that no decision has yet been
made by UNAIDS on who will be awarded the contract to manage the Technical
Support Facility for South Asia (TSF SA).

The deadline for submitting tenders is 19 October 2007 after which a review of
all bids submitted will be undertaken. This will be followed by an institutional
appraisal of short-listed bidders before a recommendation is made on the
preferred bidder.

The selection process is undertaken in accordance with UN regulations for
international tenders.

Best wishes,

Tony Bates

Tony Bates
Regional Adviser - Technical Support
UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific (RST AP)
9th Floor, A Block, United Nations Building
Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +(66)0-2288-2184, Fax: +(66)0-2288-1092
E-mail: batest@..., Website: www.unaids.org

Beijing registers 50% jump in Aids cases

Beijing, Sept 20: Beijing registered 563 new cases of HIV/Aids in the
first half of this year, up 50 per cent from the same period last year,
mostly through needle sharing and sex, a health official said here
Thursday.

Among the new cases were 11 foreigners, 120 Beijing residents and 432
migrant Chinese from outside the city, head of the disease control and
prevention section of the Municipal Health Bureau, Zhao Tao said.

The Chinese capital city had registered 4,253 HIV/Aids cases since 1985
by June, including 164 foreigners and 885 Beijing residents.

Needle sharing by drug takers and sex were the main transmission routes
of the disease, accounting for 68.1 per cent of the infections, he said.

http://publication.samachar.com/pub_article.php?id=276211

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to contact you with view to invite you to submit your expression
of interest in carrying out potential consulting assignments with the proposed,
UNAIDS Technical Support Facility for South Asia (TSF SA).

We are a recently established consortium of leading NGOs, project managers and
consultants with extensive experience in HIV response in South Asia region.
(Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri lanka)

We are intending to bid for the UNAIDS proposed Technical Support Facility for
South Asia (TSF-SA).

The proposed consortium for TSF SA is in the process of developing a data base
of highly qualified and experienced consults nationally, regionally and
internationally

TSF- SA is expected to provide high quality technical assistance in support of
country responses to HIV and AIDS in the region. If our consortium wins the bid
we will be offering fee-based services on request to national AIDS coordinating
bodies, government ministries and departments, civil society organizations and
the private sector.

The consortium will be providing competitively priced and quality assured
technical assistance, from our database of consultants.

As pat of the requirement of the UNAIDS bid we are urgently in need to contact
about 20 consultants with experience in developing HIV responses in  Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri lanka

Would you be interested?  If so, could you please send a copy of your resume,
and please complete the attached TSF-SA Consultants Form.

We will be developing a rigorous protocol to ensure the TSF-SA provides quality
assured technical assistance to clients so please provide details of three
referees, one of which should be a recent employer or consultancy client.

All information submitted will remain strictly confidential.

If you know of anyone else who may be interested in being included on the
database, please let us know their contact details.  Please respond within 10
days of this advertisement.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us at
<tsf-sa@...>

Yours sincerely,

Consortium for TSF- SA
e-mail: tsf-sa@...

Aidspan Guide to Building and Running an Effective CCM (Second
Edition)" is Released

The second edition of "The Aidspan Guide to Building and Running an
Effective CCM" has just been published.

It is accessible at no charge at www.aidspan.org/guides, where
various other Aidspan Guides are also available. Versions of the
guide in French and Spanish will be posted by the end of November
2007.

This second edition contains considerably more information than the
first edition, which was published in 2004.

The 90-page guide provides advice on all aspects of the structure and
operations of the CCM, and borrows heavily from the experiences of
individual CCMs. The guide will be of interest both to CCMs that are
experiencing problems and to CCMs that are functioning fairly well
but that would like to improve their performance.

The main sections in the Guide are as follows:

Chapter 1: Introduction and Background
-          Ten Most Common Problems Faced by CCMs
-          Overview of the Global Fund
-          Global Fund Policies and Guidance on CCMs

Chapter 2: The Place of the CCM in Country and Global Fund Contexts
-          The CCM-Global Fund Relationship
-          The Politics of CCMs

Chapter 3: General Governance Issues
-          Mandate Statement
-          Statement of Roles and Responsibilities
-          Core Principles
-          Terms of Reference

Chapter 4: Structure of the CCM
-          Size
-          Committees
-          Secretariat

Chapter 5: CCM Membership
-          Representation from Different Sectors
-          Representation from People Living with the Diseases
-          Representation from Vulnerable Groups
-          Representation from Women
-          Responsibilities of Members
-          Selection Process
-          Categories of Membership: Voting, Non-Voting, Observer
-          Failing To Turn Up for Meetings

Chapter 6: CCM Operations
-          Importance of Transparency
-          Decision-Making Process
-          Full Participation of Members in the Deliberations and
Work of the CCM
-          CCM Meetings
-          Covering CCM Expenses
-          Conflict of Interest

Chapter 7: Proposal Development
-          Designing and Implementing a Proposal Development Process
-          The Submissions Process
-          Selection of PR(s) and SR(s)

Chapter 8: Project Implementation
-          Oversight Role of the CCM
-          How Should CCMs Monitor Progress in Project implementation?
-          How Should CCMs Work with PRs to Identify Issues and
Develop Solutions?

Chapter 9: Phase 2 Renewal

Chapter 10: Information Sharing and Constituency Communications

Chapter 11: Technical Support and Capacity Building for the CCM

Chapter 12: Evaluating CCM Performance and Problem-Solving Within the
CCM

The guide also contains a sample "CCM terms of reference" (TOR)
document that CCMs can adapt to suit their particular circumstances.
__________
Two Excerpts from "The Aidspan Guide to Building and Running an
Effective CCM (Second Edition)"

Following are two sample excerpts from "The Aidspan Guide to Building
and Running an Effective CCM (Second Edition)", whose publication is
announced in article 4 above.

Excerpt 1: Full Participation of Members in the Deliberations and
Work of the CCM

Having an equal vote may not, in itself, ensure full participation.

CCM members have to feel confident about speaking out and about
expressing a different view to those of other CCM members. This is
not always the case, particularly among the members of the CCM who
are not from the government or development partners sectors.
The fact is that on many CCMs, even where representation from NGOs,
FBOs, academia and the private sector is strong in terms of numbers,
the representatives of the government or development partners sectors
often dominate the CCM. Why does this happen? It may be because
governments in these countries are used to making decisions without
consulting other sectors. It may be because development partners are
not used to working with civil society or the private sector. It may
be because some of the representatives of the NGO, FBO, and academic
sectors are not used to operating in an environment like the CCM. It
may be because some of the NGOs and FBOs receive funding from the MOH
and are therefore reluctant to say anything critical about the
Ministry.

Whatever the reasons, the CCM as a whole should make a special effort
to ensure that all CCM members are participating in discussions. This
may involve exploring issues of stigma and discrimination and other
impediments to participation, particularly with respect to
representatives of people living with the diseases and marginalised
populations. It would be helpful if government members of the CCM
took the lead on this. For some CCMs, it might be useful if the CCM
formally evaluated the level and scope of participation of non-
government members. Such evaluations could determine what the
barriers are to full participation and suggest ways in which these
barriers could be overcome.

The principle of full participation requires that all CCM members be
involved in all of the major activities of the CCM, including the
development of proposals submitted to the Global Fund. As well, the
chair should ensure that all CCM members are consulted concerning the
scheduling of meetings and the development of meeting agendas.

An example: In one particular CCM, the arrival of a new chair changed
the way things were done. The new chair instituted regular meetings
of the CCM, encouraged open and frank dialogue and ensured that
decisions were made by consensus. Tensions between CCM members were
managed by making sure that all parties could give their views openly
during meetings. As a result, all CCM members now participate openly,
meetings are well attended and there is a sense of ownership of the
programmes.

Excerpt 2: The Submissions Process
Many CCMs assume that the need for an in-country submissions process
[that is, where organizations around the country are invited to
submit to the CCM their suggestions for what should be included in
the CCM's proposal to the Global Fund] requires an open call for
submissions. CCMs struggle with this requirement because there is no
little guidance on how the call should be organised, what kinds of
eligibility criteria should apply (if any), and what framework should
be provided to applicants. The process can be quite onerous. Below,
we talk about approaches that can be used for an open call for
submissions, but we also explore alternatives to an open call.

One possible approach is for the CCM to issue an open call for
submissions without establishing any criteria or issuing any
guidance. This is what many CCMs have done. The advantages of this
approach are that it allows all interested stakeholders to submit
their ideas; and it allows them to make suggestions concerning both
what thematic areas should be covered in the proposal and what
specific services and activities should be included.

The disadvantages of this approach are that the CCM may receive a
large number of submissions, which may make the process very
unwieldy; that it may be difficult for the CCM to assemble all the
pieces into a coherent whole; and that if only parts of some
submissions are eventually incorporated into the proposal, many
organisations will have wasted a lot of time and energy and may
become disillusioned with the whole process.

Another possible approach is to establish a framework and some
criteria prior to issuing the call for submissions. For example, for
a Round 6 HIV/AIDS proposal, the CCM in Morocco followed the
following process:

1. The CCM developed the broad outline of the proposal -
including objectives, service delivery areas and indicators.

2. The CCM made sure that the outline of the proposal was
aligned with the national strategic plan for HIV/AIDS (which had been
developed through broad consultations).

3. The CCM put out a call for submissions based on the outline
it developed. In their proposals, applicants essentially had to
explain how their activities would contribute to the achievement of
the overall project.

4. When it issued the call, the CCM established eligibility
criteria covering strategic and programmatic issues, geographic
priorities and capacity or experience thresholds for applicants (for
example, number of years of experience and levels of donor funds
previously managed).

The use of Global Fund service delivery areas and indicators ensured
that it would not be difficult for the CCM to collate accepted
submissions into the country coordinated proposal.

While stakeholders were preparing their submissions, the CCM was able
to work on elements of the country coordinated proposal (e.g., CCM
structure, programmatic and financial gap analysis) that were not
dependent on the implementation details.

A variation on the Moroccan approach would be for the CCM to hold
broad consultations in each sector; to develop the broad outlines of
a country coordinated proposal; and to then issue a call for
submissions. This approach might be particularly appropriate if the
country's national strategy for the disease (or diseases) in question
has not been developed through broad consultations.

But is it necessary to issue an open call for submissions? The
Zanzibar CCM followed a process for its Round 6 proposal that did not
involve a call for submissions. The process was as follows:

1.                   The CCM identified potential implementing
partners and sources of technical support.

2.                   The implementation partners participated in a
five-day "design forum" where, supported by resource persons, they
reviewed the CCM's Round 5 proposal and identified the goals,
objectives, strategies and indicators for the Round 6 proposal.

3.                   A proposal development group was established to
coordinate the planning and writing of the proposal. This 15-member
group included representatives from some of the implementing partners
and some technical support persons.

4.                   During the planning and writing of the proposal -
  a process that took five weeks - consultative meetings were held
with implementing partners and development partners.

5.                   A draft proposal was reviewed by the
implementing partners.

So, while the principle behind the requirement for an open call - to
ensure that all sectors can contribute to the development of the
proposal - is obviously important, perhaps this principle can be
achieved in other ways. The Zanzibar example suggests that the Global
Fund is prepared to accept that there are alternatives to an open
call.

One of the challenges faced by CCMs is to come up with a process
which allows both large and small organisations to participate in a
way that does not make the process unwieldy.

Whatever process the CCM adopts, remember that it must be documented
and disseminated to interested stakeholders. The description of the
process should include the criteria that the CCM will use to review
the in-country submissions. If the CCM issues a call for submissions,
the review criteria should be included in the call.

"Reproduced from the Global Fund Observer Newsletter
(www.aidspan.org/gfo), a service of Aidspan."

"Impact of AIDS on children remains under-researched and poorly
understood" Piot

(Speech Check against Delivery) Dr Peter Piot UNAIDS Executive
Director's speech at the   JOINT LEARNING INITIATIVE ON CHILDREN AND
HIV/AIDS: International Symposium. Harvard Medical School. 24
September 2007.

I first want to thank Jim Kim, Peter Bell, Agnes Binagwaho for
inviting me here today, and to pay tribute to the tremendous work
they – and all of you – are doing. It is a privilege to be here today
with so many experts and activists. The issue of children and AIDS
was overlooked for far too long. UNAIDS was one of the first to
welcome the creation of the Joint Learning Initiative on Children and
AIDS, and I look forward to hearing about the progress you've made.

Let's start by looking at progress on AIDS in general. It's a mixed
picture, but there definitely is progress.

Today, 2.5 million people in developing countries are taking anti-
retroviral treatment up from 100,000 in 2001.

And in some populations in East Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia, HIV
infections are falling.

But if HIV is declining in some populations, it is rising in others.
In some Asian countries there's an upsurge in HIV infections among
men who have sex with men, but infections are declining in other
groups. The most striking overall increases have taken place in East
Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia: the number of people
living with HIV went up by one fifth here between 2004 and 2006.

Globally, young people (15-24) accounted for 40% of new HIV
infections last year.

One in seven new HIV infections last year occurred among under-
fifteens. By the end of 2006, 2.3 million (1.7-3.5 million) children
(under 15) were living with HIV.

Let's just remind ourselves that the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child defines children as people up to the age of 18.

But AIDS epidemiologists compile information for under fifteens and
for 15-24-year-olds. Lack of disaggregated data for children makes it
even harder to take effective action on their behalf.

One reason for this is the feminization of the epidemic: almost half
of all adults living with HIV are women. Only one in ten pregnant
women with HIV in low and middleincome countries receives anti-
retroviral prophylaxis to prevent transmission of HIV to their
children. Every year, more than 500,000 children are infected via
transmission from their mothers.

But this is just one way children become infected with HIV. Sexual
abuse is another.

The second (and main) way is through sex – whether it's between young
girls and older men, sex between adolescents, or sex between
trafficked girls or boys and clients, sexual violence and rape, or
incest.

A third cause of infection is injecting drug use, which often starts
in adolescence. In Russia, 76% of all people living with HIV are or
have been injecting drug users.

This is all fuelled by ignorance about HIV transmission. It's amazing
how prevalent this still is in 2007. I've just come back from China
where most young people have barely a clue about how HIV is
transmitted.

At the same time, only one in ten children needing HIV treatment can
get it – even though paediatric drug formulations are much more
widely available, and the price of antiretroviral drugs for children
has dropped – in some cases to less than 16 US cents per day. Just 4%
of children born to HIV-positive mothers receive cotrimoxazole, which
WHO recommends providing to children when early diagnosis of HIV
infection is unavailable. In Botswana and Zimbabwe, child mortality
rates have nearly doubled since 1990.

Last eek UNICEF reported some remarkable declines in child mortality
throughout the world, for the first time fewer than 10 million
children under five died – except in countries with high HIV
prevalence and those in conflict.

More than 15 million children worldwide have now been orphaned by
AIDS – over 12 million in Southern and East Africa. Orphan
populations are increasing in some populations in Asia, Latin America
and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe too.

This much we know. Now let me turn to what we don't know.

We are constantly striving to know more about the AIDS epidemic,
through better and more accurate data collection. But there's still a
long way to go.

Today's surveillance categories are too broad and too blurred.
Collecting data for children up to the age of 15 and then for young
people between the ages of 15 and 24 doesn't give us the sort of
information we need: there's a huge difference in terms
of action between HIV infection at 15 and acquiring HIV at 24.

We need much more refined data about different age groups. We also
need to distinguish between the different categories of orphan –
  "double", "one parent", maternal and paternal. And we need to become
much more systematic in pinpointing the differences between epidemics
within countries.

We also need to re-evaluate the way we perceive the issue of children
and AIDS. As so often happens, we have tended to only do this through
the medical lens, with a primary focus on mother to child
transmission. But this is to over-simplify, and to
ignore critical social and rights-related issues.

One problem is that we don't know enough about what these issues are.
We sense that AIDS is breaking up families and communities and
challenging traditional safety nets. We know that the impact on
household welfare is greater on the poor than on the better off, and
that gender inequities make girls more vulnerable than boys. We
are aware that it is threatening children's rights - civil,
political, economic, social and cultural.

And then there's the new reality: older children living with HIV. In
recent years, I've been meeting increasing numbers of HIV positive
adolescents and young adults.

But we often still lack hard, empirical data: the impact of AIDS on
children remains under-researched and poorly understood. We simply
don't know enough about what is happening. That's why the Joint
Learning Initiative is so badly needed.

Now let's look at what action is being taken today.

It's nearly 20 years since world leaders decided that people under 18
needed their own convention. That convention - the 1989 United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, famously ratified by
all UN Member States except the US and Somalia – stresses the
importance of making the "best interests of the child" a
primary consideration and lists a series of rights. These include
such basics as information, education, non-discrimination, health,
social security, an appropriate standard of living, to be protected
from violence and different forms of exploitation, and the right not
to be separated from their parents. All are critical if children are
to grow up to live safe and healthy lives in a world with AIDS.

Since then, a series of international meetings and declarations have
highlighted the urgent need to address the issue of children and
AIDS. But to what extent are these declarations being acted on?

A few countries have substantially increased access to services to
prevent transmission of HIV from parents to children. For example, in
Argentina, Botswana, Jamaica, and Ukraine, more than 85% of HIV-
positive pregnant women received antiretroviral drugs to prevent
transmission of HIV to their children.

Some countries - including Botswana, Rwanda, and Thailand - have
scaled up HIV treatment for children by integrating it into treatment
sites for adults. Thailand is getting antiretrovirals to more than
95% of the under-15s in need.

Several countries in southern Africa have provided child grants and
other benefits on a national scale. Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique have
piloted cash-transfer programmes in poor areas.

In 58 countries surveyed last year, 74% of primary schools and 81% of
secondary schools said they were providing AIDS education. This is
critical if adolescents are to protect themselves from infection. To
be effective, AIDS education must fulfil the right to information (as
required in the Convention on the Rights of the Child). It must
provide information about all risks, and offer a broad palette of
prevention options – including abstinence, condoms, and measures to
address inequalities between girls and boys.

More efforts are being made to see that children get a fair share of
AIDS funding. A number of donors including the US and UK have
earmarked at least 10% of their  AIDS money to go towards services
for children.

And lastly, more is being done to integrate services – to forge links
across diseases and sectors and bring partners closer together. In
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia, strategic investment of AIDS
funding is improving services such as immunization and antenatal
care. And Norway's Women and Children First Initiative sets out to
provide a continuum of care for mothers, newborns, and children.

Many organizations are providing support to help countries look after
their children better. UNAIDS co-sponsor UNICEF, for example, has
made tackling children and AIDS one of its top priorities.

In 2005, UNAIDS joined UNICEF to launch "Unite For Children, Unite
Against AIDS", which sets targets for scaling up "The Four Ps":
prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child, paediatric
treatment for HIV, prevention of HIV among adolescents and young
people, and protection and support for children affected by HIV.

And as Peter mentioned earlier, civil society groups –the Elizabeth
Glaser Paediatric Foundation, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and,
of course, the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Association – are doing
tremendous work.

But most importantly of all, communities are responding and adapting
to the new realities around children and AIDS – often with tremendous
resilience.

So how do we build on this progress and intensify its impact?

We're here today because there are no simple answers to these
questions.

AIDS, as many of you have heard me say before, is an exceptional
issue – in terms of its threat to humanity and its complexity. The
Joint Learning Initiative was itself born out of recognition that the
issue of children and AIDS is immensely complex – and that it
requires a complex response.

I would like to suggest seven elements that I regard as key to making
that response effective.

First, it must be firmly grounded in human rights principles – in
line with the 2003 Comment on the Convention on the Rights of the
Child that "the child should be placed at the centre of the response
to the pandemic, and strategies should be adapted to children's
rights and needs". To be effective, those strategies have to
work equally well for seven-year-olds as seventeen-year-olds.

Second, it must involve a wide range of actors – not least the
children concerned, their parents, grandparents, and members of the
communities they live in. This means bringing children and family
members – including those living with HIV - to the table when
programmes are designed.

Third, it must prevent new HIV infections – for example by scaling up
access to services to prevent mother to child transmission and by
making HIV prevention more available and accessible to adolescents.
By addressing vulnerability and – though I know this is
controversial – by preventing sexual transmission. Universal Access to
HIV prevention, treatment, care and support is not only for adults!

Fourth, it must provide treatment for children. This will mean
scaling up testing and counseling, and making antiretroviral drugs
and cotrimoxazole more easily available.

Fifth, it must provide adequate levels of social welfare to children
infected and affected by HIV, and to their families and communities –
for example through cash transfers.

Sixth, it must be fully funded at international and national level.
This means more money for children and AIDS from international donors
and a higher priority for children in national development plans. At
UNAIDS, we estimate that $2.7 billion will be needed for programmes
for orphans and vulnerable children in 2008.


And finally, as I mentioned earlier, it must be based on more
accurate information.

This means not just improving surveillance but also clarifying how
children become vulnerable, looking more closely at socio-economic
contexts, and intensifying research into psychosocial impacts and
responses. It means looking at children in the contexts of their
families and communities, improving monitoring and evaluation
systems, studying how households cope and what local care-giving
practices involve.

To turn this wish-list into reality, high levels of political will
and commitment will be required. To inform and drive the process
forward, we will need a growing body of knowledge about children and
AIDS. We will need evidence from successful

interventions to show what can be done. And we will need sustained
activism to make sure the right action is taken – now and in the
years to come.

This brings me to my conclusion: it is time now to bite the bullet
and start thinking and acting in the context of the longer term –
something we have repeatedly failed to do up to now. Here, children
clearly have a major role to play.

We need to be confident that what we are doing now works on two
levels – both now and in the years to come. We must take steps now so
a girl born today doesn't grow up to produce an HIV positive baby and
so children born with HIV get anti-retroviral treatment and live
longer, healthier lives.

This means doing what you are doing in the Joint Initiative: taking a
long, hard look at what we are doing, identifying what works and
coming up with new approaches and new research to address new trends.

It means working together in a coherent fashion, on long-term,
integrated programmes: the day of the short-term, ad-hoc project is
over.

And it means ensuring that our response is comprehensive, flexible
and anticipatory - tailored to different epidemics and ready to
change as epidemics evolve: AIDS doesn't stand still, and the world
around it is not standing still - nor can we.

Thank you.

http://www.jlica.shuttlepod.org/Default.aspx?pageId=27417

INVITATION  AIDS ASIA e FORUM.

Hi,

If you are already a member of this FOURM please forward this message to your
colleagues who may find this FORUM useful.

[AIDS ASIA eFORUM] is an e- forum committed to the development of an Asian
perspective on AIDS prevention and care issues. HIV/AIDS does not recognize
national boundaries. As Asia- pacific countries are increasingly interconnected
through migration and trade, it is imperative to generate a regional perspective
on HIV/AIDS related issues.

A forum for critical analysis of issues, events and programs, which has
implications on, our ability to address HIV/AIDS prevention and care issues
across the region. More than 7,600 subscribers are using this FORUM.

Strategic HIV information and communication support to promote the capacity of
Asian leaders, activists and people living with HIV/AIDS, to facilitate their
engagement and networking, to highlight their experiences and the solutions they
are offering to address HIV/AIDS issues in this region.

A cross cultural discourse on issues and concerns of Asia- Pacific countries
(regions): Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China,
East Timor, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall
Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North Korea,
Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon
Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and
Viet Nam will be presented and promoted on this forum.

Please review the archived messages on the following url

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/

Dr. Joe Thomas
Editor
AIDS ASIA e FORUM
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/

Dear all,

This is to let you all know the blog created for posting comments on the UN
guidance note on HIV and Sexwork. Do please write in.

The Global Working Group on HIV and Sex Work Policy was convened by the Global
Network of Sex Work Projects to formulate sex workers’ and civil society groups
response to the new UNAIDS Guidance note on Sex Work.

The group is a broad based coalition that believes in evidence informed, rights
based programming in relation to HIV.

This website contains the first draft of our reworked Guidance Note. We hope
that this reworking is the start of a dialogue between sex worker organisations,
HIV organisations, programme implemeters, governments UNAIDS, UNFPA and the
other cosponsors.

http://sexworkpolicy.wordpress.com/

In Solidarity,

Meena Saraswathi Seshu.
e-mail: <meenaseshu@...>

Dear Friends,

Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS_ASIA/message/1051

Its really a  great move.  Indian Insurance co introduces policy for HIV+

At the same time, the concern raised by Dr Ajithkumar is also justified. I was
wondering, if there is some provision of and for the nominees also. In that
case, the children of HIV+ parents(either of them or both) can be benifitted out
of this sum assured.

Hope these points are discussed and taken up by the Insurance Companies.

Tsmita.
Durbar
e-mail: <dmsc_taah@...>