Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe at a plenary meeting of the South African National Aids Council in Secunda, Mpumalanga. Picture: GCIS

By Samuel Mungadze

A NATIONAL Strategic Plan for HIV, tuberculous (TB) and sexually transmitted infections has been adopted on Friday, during South African National Aids Council (Sanac) meeting in Secunda, Mpumalanga, which was chaired by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

The National Strategic Plan has a target to have 3-million people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment by 2015. South Africa currently has 1.9-million people on treatment.

The plan also aims to eliminate the transmission of HIV infection from mother to child by 2015 and to reduce AIDS-related maternal deaths. The country has in the recent past seen significant changes in the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Between 2008 and 2012, the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission dropped from 8% to 2.7%. There was a leap in the percentage of HIV-infected women receiving ARV therapy between 2011 and 2012, from 87.3 % to 99%.

Similarly, 99 % of all infants born to HIV-infected women receive prophylactic ARV medication to reduce the risk of early mother-to-child HIV transmission in the first six weeks.

In this plan “Sanac aims to reduce TB incidence and mortality caused by TB in people living with HIV by 50 % in 2015″, read the statement from the council.

Sanac also approved plans to launch an HIV prevention programme aimed at sex workers. Details of the project were, however, not released with the council saying it would do so closer to the launch.

The National Strategic Plan is one of the many plans the government is implementing. Early, this month, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced the introduction of fixed-drug combination ARV therapy.

Patients living with both HIV and TB, have started being treated on the new therapy.

Fixed-drug combination therapy is a combination of three crucial antiretroviral medications in one tablet, taken only once a day.

This eliminates the need for patients to take three or more pills at various intervals per day.

19 April 2013

From the Business Day Live

http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/health/2013/04/19/aids-council-adopts-national-strategic-plan-for-hiv-tb

CLICK HERE to download the CCM Fast Facts e-Poster.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has recently published the 2012 CCM Composition data on its website. While AIDS Accountability International commends this transparency, the nature of the large Excel file-format does not make the data accessible or easy to interpret. This is a barrier to accountability. Responding to this need as urgently as possible, AAI has created a CCM Fast Facts e-Poster which highlights some of the more important statistics on CCM composition in Africa:

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The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Gender and Development (MoDG) in collaboration with the National AIDS Commission (NAC),UNAIDS and other institutional partners on Wednesday ended the joint reviewed of the Operational Plan for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV.

The Operational Plan sets the agenda for accelerated country action for women, girls, gender equality and HIV.

But giving an overview of the operational plan, Mr. Isaac Ahemesah, UNAIDS’Liberia Rights, Gender, Country Community Mobilization Adviser, noted that even though Liberia was amongst few countries to develop and launch the operational plan since 2011, but much was not achieved.

According to him, there has been insufficient data on impact of HIV epidemic on women and girls something he said was, “partly because of the limited coordination and sharing between the different ministries collecting relevant data, with limited systematic (cross) analysis.”

Making a PowerPoint presentation, Mr Ahemesah further expressed concern about women and girls limited access to integrated sexual and reproductive health and HIV services, resulting in unmet reproductive health needs, as reflected in the higher HIV prevalence among young women.

Quoiting the 2007 Demographic Health Survey, He emphasized that HIV prevalence was three times higher among girls age 15 to 19 years (1.3%) than for boys (0.4%) in the same age group. Similarly, among young women aged 20 to 22 years HIV have an HIV prevalence rate of 2.1% as against 1.6% for young men.

For his part, Mr. Hh Zaizay, National Programme Officer of Gender and HIV at the Ministry of Gender and Development indicated that even though the plan was develop and launch in 2011 by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, much of the activities in the plan were not implemented due to inadequate resources for the plan implementation. According to Mr.  Zaizay, the review will help in addressing the funding and other bottlenecks that have impeded the implementation of the plan.

Closing the workshop, Dr Ivan Carmanor, Chairman of the National AIDS Commission (NAC) urged participants to work together  with the Ministry of Gender to eliminate sexual and gender based violence, gender equality and other socio-economic and cultural factors that contribute to high HIV prevalence among women and girls in Liberia.

9 May 2013

By All Africa News

http://allafrica.com/stories/201305091173.html

Written by Sonke Gender Justice Network

ANNOUNCEMENT

Sonke Gender Justice Network, the MenEngage Africa Network and the Women’s Health Research Unit at the University of Cape Town are proud to host the second MenEngage Africa Training Initiative course: ‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa’, to be held from 16-26 September 2013 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. This follows the highly successful pilot course that took place in August 2012.

To apply for this training course, complete the online application at:www.menengage.org/mati2013application.

For further information, please go towww.mengage.org/mati2013course or refer to the attached document.

About the course
‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa’ is a short, intensive, ten-day residential course which seeks to expand the skills and knowledge of women and men in the Sub-Saharan Africa region to scale up work on engaging men and boys in gender equality, and build a network of leaders and gender justice advocates. In so doing, it aims to strengthen existing work on the greater involvement of men and boys in the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS, fatherhood, LGBTI rights and other issues pertaining to gender equality.

The course will incorporate a mix of thematic and skills-building sessions – covering both theoretical and practical components – as well as a site visit and daily opportunity for reflection.  Thematic sessions will address the topics mentioned above, while the skills building sessions will specifically address leadership (including youth leadership), organisational development, research methods, advocacy, resource mobilisation and monitoring and evaluation.

As part of the training, participants are expected to submit a ‘Project for Change’ proposal, which will be refined during the course and, most importantly, implemented within their respective organisations once the course is completed. The Project for Change is a project or programme that is applicable to engaging men for gender equality. It can focus on sexual and gender based violence, HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health or, LGBTI rights to name a few potential thematic areas.  The project can be an existing one that needs to be expanded or strengthened, or a new initiative that must be implemented upon completion of the course. Through the implementation of the Project for Change, it is hoped that participants will be able to practically employ the additional skills and knowledge gained from this training.

To assist participants with the implementation of their Projects for Change, the course incorporates a six month Mentorship Programme. This mentorship component is a critical aspect of the training as it seeks to provide participants with ongoing support and guidance as they implement their projects at the conclusion of the training. Participants can elect their own mentor or have one appointed for them. Ultimately, certification for the MenEngage Africa Training Initiative (MATI) will be based on satisfactory implementation of the Project for Change and thorough engagement in the Mentorship Programme.

The organisers trust that this course will contribute to the strengthening of both individual and organisational capacities, and it is with great pleasure you are hereby invited to apply to attend.

Summary of the first course
From 20-30 August 2012, the first MenEngage Africa Training Initiative course ‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa’ took place at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. It brought together 23 participants (14 males and 9 females) from 13 African countries. Course content was delivered by global and regional experts and leaders in the fields of gender, human rights and social justice, for example, on topics such as ‘Why Engage Men?’ and ‘Gender, Culture, Tradition and Religion.’ Evaluations from the first course indicated that participants found the training very useful and it increased their knowledge and skills by 41 %. This is a positive outcome demonstrating that the modules on the course were effective in transferring knowledge and skills to participants on how to work with men and boys for gender equality.

Target Audience
The course is intended for gender activists, programme staff and project managers from women’s rights, children’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS, and LGBTI organisations, youth leaders, government officials, UN Agency representatives, donors, academics and media advocates.

Who is eligible?
The ideal candidate will:

• Work in a field where they can influence gender justice and gender equality through their positions within non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), government, UN agencies, donors, academic institutions, faith based organisations, juridical systems or other relevant organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Have a minimum of 3-5 years work experience in gender, advocacy, human rights, social justice and/or sexual and reproductive health and rights  issues
• Demonstrate commitment and interest in strategies and programmes aimed at engaging men for gender equality within Sub-Saharan Africa
• Have proven and demonstrable leadership experience/skills
• Have a basic understanding of gender issues, particularly around gender justice
• Demonstrate an understanding, commitment and willingness to be part of an intense ten day residential course
• Have an innovative proposal for a ‘Project for Change’, to be implemented on completion of the course
• Have the support of their organisation for both participation in the course and implementation of their Project for Change (where applicable)
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in international relations, human rights, health rights, gender or other relevant fields (practical experience will be taken into account in lieu of an educational background)
• Be fluent in English
• Have interest/experience in running training courses

Cost
There are no registration fees. Applicants are requested to cover all travel-related costs in full. Accommodation and course costs will be covered by the hosts.

A very limited number of scholarships to cover the full cost of participation are available. The hosts encourage ALL interested parties to apply.

Application Procedure
To apply, please go to http://www.menengage.org/mati2013application to fill out the on-line application form.

Applications are to be completed by no later than 31 May 2013. Once completed, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application. Successful candidates will be notified by no later than 1 July 2013.

For further information, kindly contact Tanya Charles at mati2@menengage.org

9 May 2013

http://www.maravipost.com/scope/announcements/3726-menengage-africa-training-initiative-call-for-applications.html

Suspected sex workers leave for Luzira Prison after appearing before Kampala City Council Court in 2003

By New Vision

Uganda has been described as the Pearl of Africa. However, in this beautiful land, there are a number of harmful cultural practices that make it a place no child would want to live in. As the third series ofthe Tumaini Awards is launched, Shami lla Kara explores how Uganda Youth Development Link, a nongovernmental organisation, is helping youth find meaningful ways of earning a living as a means of fighting commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Commercial sexual exploitation of children is an insidious cancer that is stealthily spreading and eating deep into the fabric of our society. Cited in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention 1999 (No.182) that ILO member states must eliminate without delay, this practice violates the rights of the sexually exploited children, scarring their psychological, physical and social status, thereby relegating them to sub-human living.

ILO defines commercial sexual exploitation of children as “the exploitation by an adult with respect to a child or an adolescent, female or male, under 18 years; accompanied by a payment in money or in kind to the child or adolescent (male or female) or to one or more third parties.”

According to a 2011 study by the Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL), an organisation that is involved in fighting and increasing awareness about this practice, commercial sexual exploitation in Uganda is on the increase, with statistics revealing that there are 18,000 children affected, from 12,000 in 2004.

Another study, carried out by the Jinja Network for the Marginalised Child and Youth in 2011, revealed thatcommercial sexual exploitation in Jinja was rampant, with young girls being exploited by trailer drivers, tourists and businessmen, among other abusers.

The UYDEL report, titled, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Uganda, further shows that the helpless children, who fall in the 14-17 age bracket, endure sexual exploitation for a pittance and risk their lives to earn between sh2,500 and sh5,000 per client.

This exposes them to a high likelihood of unwanted pregnancies, being beaten by the clients or gang-raped and contracting sexually transmitted diseases that include HIV/AIDS.

According to ILO, victims of this practice include “runaways, children from dysfunctional families, children of sex workers, homeless children, AIDS orphans, migrant children, children from ethnic minorities and out-of-school children.”

In Uganda, the UYDEL 2011 report reveals that children, who did not attend school and were engaged in economic activities such as bartending and working in lodges were also vulnerable to being sexually exploited for money.

The report further discloses that the practice is prevalent in urban areas such as Kampala and it has even infiltrated schools.

It adds that victims of the practice are usually trafficked children, orphans, and children coming from economically underprivileged situations.

What the NGO does
Rescuing children from commercial sexual exploitation is one project under the child rights protection programme of the NGO. The programme also covers child trafficking and child labour.

The NGO is involved in other programmes that include HIV prevention among children and a youth programme; the alcohol and substance abuse programme and the adolescent, sexual and reproductive health programme.

It is also involved in social research and has published several publications covering childrelated topics.

Founded in 1993 by Rogers Kasirye, who is also its executive director, the NGO’s mission is “to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable youth with cognitive life and livelihood skills so as to make them useful citizens of Uganda.”

UYDEL’s areas of operation include Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso, Busia and Kalangala.

It employs 57 personnel that include psychologists, social workers, instructors and artisans.

UYDEL’s target beneficiaries are disadvantaged and vulnerable youth aged between 10 and 30 years found living on the streets, in slums, teenage mothers, youth who have dropped out of school and those from poor families.

The organisation also works with parents and other community members for the wellbeing of the youth. In 2011 alone, UYDEL admitted 1,812 vulnerable youth to its programmes

The programmes are implemented through the NGO’s outreach post in Bwaise and its five drop-in centres, four of which are in Kampala and include, Nakulabye, Nateete, Makindye and Kamwokya, as well as one in Mukono district.

Additionally, UYDEL also has a rehabilitation and vocational centre at Masooli parish in Wakiso district, where youth who have no where to live are given temporary accommodation

The centre also trains the youth in skills that include plumbing, hairdressing, catering, welding and metal fabrication and tailoring.

The NGO further finds field placements for at least six months for the youth.

This approach has supported strong and sustained behavioural change and helped withdraw adolescents and youth who were engaged in child labour and other exploitative activities to find meaningful ways of earning a living

Besides vocational skills training, the youth also access psycho-social support services, counselling services, medical care such as the testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and therapy at the centre in Masooli.

Through performance therapy, rehabilitated children are empowered to tell their stories, an initiative that has reached out to over 1,000 youth in eight slum communities.

UYDEL also engages the youth in behavioural change communication sessions, which aim at encouraging sustained behavioural change.

These sessions cover topics such as drug abuse, children’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and life skills. These sessions are also conducted in the communities for youth, who cannot come to the centres through community outreach dialogues.

UYDEL is also involved in advocacy activities that include creating awareness about Article 33 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and work with parents, children and communities to support prevention programmes advocating for drug-free environments.

The NGO has, of recent, been included in a pilot campaign by the International Olympic Committee to help fight substance use in youth through sports.

Kisenyi slum in Kampala. Some of UYDEL’s target beneficiaries are those living in slums

7 May 2013

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/642428-helping-to-heal-wounds-of-sexually-exploited-children.html

senior chief kwataine

By Agnes Mizere

As midwives around the world celebrated the ‘International Day of the Midwife’ on Sunday, Malawian chiefs continued their daily campaign to save the lives of expectant mothers to further reduce the country’s maternal mortality rate.

Malawi’s maternal mortality rate has reduced from 675 out of 100,000 to 450 out of 100,000.

With the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) rapidly approaching in 2015, the message that “the world needs midwives more than ever” is becoming more urgent including in Malawian villages.

Previously many village women were relying on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) during labour and delivery until they were stopped from assisting them. Instead village women are being encouraged to deliver their babies in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of midwives.

Under the Presidential Initiative on Safe Motherhood and Maternal Health, Senior Chief Kwataine explained how chiefs are determined to make sure “no woman dies while giving birth” and that plans are underway for more women to graduate as community midwives to replace TBAs in different villages.

He was speaking after a sensitization meeting in Traditional Authority Mwambo’s area in Zomba where 19 traditional leaders exchanged notes on how best to tackle maternal health.

Among other things, the chiefs agreed to form village committees to target those at grass-root level and another one at T/A level. The idea was to encourage villagers to send expectant mothers to hospitals or clinics.

“If approached TBAs should tell the expectant woman to go to hospitals or clinics where there is trained personnel. The TBAs are not supposed to put their hands on any woman who is pregnant. Gone are those days, we don’t need them to deliver babies so TBAs should find another job.  We want young blood, women with a credit in MSCE to graduate as community midwives to replace TBAs in different villages,” stressed Kwataine when asked.

He emphasized the need for pregnant women to deliver safely as the main reason why the traditional leaders as owners and custodians of culture were now playing a leading role to ensure women do not die during childbirth.

According to Kwataine, the rate rose to 1120 per 100,000 some years back but with their Presidential Initiative on Safe Motherhood and Maternal Health, the messages are going down to Traditional Authorities, village heads and “those responsible for the pregnancies including their husbands.”

He also mentioned the need to stop girls under the age of 18 from getting married as statistics show them being vulnerable and facing potential complications during childbirth

5 May 2013

Source: http://www.bnltimes.com/index.php/sunday-times/headlines/national/14939-less-malawian-women-dying-during-childbirth

(Photo courtesy of MamaYe)

By Daniel Wasonga

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are not passed from person to person, and include those such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension. They may be of long duration and slow in progression, or in some instances, result in rapid death. NCDs are categorized mostly by their non-infectious causes and not their duration. Like all diseases that develop slowly and worsen over a long period of time, NCDs require chronic care management.

Expectant mothers, especially those beyond the first 42 days, are uniquely vulnerable to NCDs and require proper maternal care at home or in healthcare facilities. Exposure of these women to any disease is detrimental to their health and that of their unborn babies. Chronic diseases increase the health risks of expectant mothers and without adequate care, maternal mortality will rise beyond the current undesirable levels, especially in the developing economies.

NCDs disproportionately affect the low and middle income countries, where 80% (29 million) of deaths related to these diseases occur. Women in general already bear the burdens of NCDs, which are compounded by myths and misconceptions. Social and cultural taboos often prohibit women from opening up about issues such as family planning and unwanted pregnancies, which impairs the few efforts being made at improving these conditions. Furthermore, the constant “blame game” has not really helped in bringing stakeholders together in finding solutions for the specific issue of maternal mortality related to NCDs.

The cost of treatment is high. For expectant mothers who are the sole breadwinners in their households, getting proper care for NCDs may be difficult. This is especially the case in Africa, where cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes are leading causes of death in women. Worldwide, these diseases kill 18 million women yearly.

The impact of these diseases on society as a whole is enormous – maternal mortality goes beyond its consequences on individuals. The loss of women who are at their prime would leave an economic and social gap in society. Ignoring this aspect of the link between maternal mortality and NCDs is a mistake our decision makers and policy formulators should not make.

The overwhelming emphasis on reproductive and maternal health has pushed the special focus on NCDs to the periphery, an approach that is not effective. Maternal mortality remains the least achieved of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and multi-faceted solutions promise better returns. A comprehensive approach to women’s health that goes beyond the maternal focus is essential and much more sensible. The current interventions are too rigid and limited to the MDGs with little or no focus on post-MDG initiatives.

Although some achievements have been made in Africa on reversing maternal mortality, the progress has been limited and unequally distributed within and among countries. The upcoming Conference of African Ministers of Health should focus on compounding the gains made within countries and ensuring there is no disconnect between government and initiatives taken at the grassroots level. In the push towards achieving the MDGs, Africa needs renewed commitments from the governments and feasible, effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Best interventions should also be shared between countries to underline the collective efforts in eradicating maternal mortality.

23 April 2013

http://www.carmma.org/update/inextricable-link-between-non-communicable-diseases-ncds-and-maternal-mortality?utm_source=CARMMA+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=b8294967dc-CARMMA_Newsletter_April_20135_2_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9e3fb35732-b8294967dc-113587333

Complications from Unsafe Abortion Harm Women and Drain Health Resources

Findings from the first national study on the incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion in Rwanda show that nearly half (47%) of all pregnancies in the country are unintended. The report, Unintended Pregnancy and Induced Abortion in Rwanda: Causes and Consequences, was issued by the National University of Rwanda School of Public Health (NURSPH) and the Guttmacher Institute, which jointly conducted the study.

These unintended pregnancies are occurring despite the county’s remarkable progress in increasing contraceptive use over the last decade. In 2010, 44% of married or cohabiting Rwandan women were using a modern method of contraception, compared with just 4% in 2000. However, the increase in contraceptive use has not kept pace with the growing desire for smaller families and does not extend to the increasing proportion of unmarried young women who are sexually active.

In 2010, an estimated 19% of married women (250,000) and 56% of unmarried sexually active women 15-29 years old (40,000) had an unmet need for contraception—they wanted to avoid pregnancy but were not using a contraceptive method.

The findings were presented in Kigali on March 23 at a Family Planning Day event organized by NURSPH. The event brought together key stakeholders, including Ministry of Health officials, UN representatives, leading NGOs working on health issues and reproductive health advocates, who reviewed the most recent evidence on unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion and developed a set of policy recommendations to better address the reproductive health needs of Rwandan women. Among these recommendations were expanding provision of postabortion care; making emergency contraception widely available throughout the country; better integrating family planning services and postabortion care; and educating women and medical and law-enforcement professionals about the conditions under which abortion is legal in Rwanda.

“The study’s findings indicate that Rwanda must build on the strong progress made over the last decade and further strengthen its family planning policies and programs,” said Paulin Basinga, formerly with NURSPH and lead author of the report. “Expanding the range of contraceptive options available to women and targeting those women who are at highest risk of unintended pregnancy are especially important if we are to reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancies in the country.”

The researchers found that approximately 22% of all unintended pregnancies end in induced abortion. Rwanda’s abortion rate—25 per 1,000 women of reproductive age—is significantly lower than that of Eastern Africa (38 per 1,000), and lower than that for the African continent as a whole (29 per 1000). Although the abortion rate is relatively low, abortion still places a heavy burden on Rwandan women and the health care system because virtually all abortions occur outside of the formal health system where safety cannot be assured.

In 2009, 24,000 of the approximately 60,000 women who had an abortion suffered complications that required medical treatment. Of these, just 17,000 received adequate treatment in a health facility; thus, 30% of the women who needed care did not receive it. According to the study, this was most likely a result of insufficient access to postabortion care and reluctance on the part of women to seek treatment, which could potentially expose them to harsh judgment or even prosecution for engaging in a stigmatized and illegal act.

Poor Rwandan women, in urban and rural areas, are far more likely to experience complications (54–55%) than wealthier women in both rural (38%) and urban areas (20%). According to experts surveyed, poor women are most likely to self-induce or rely on untrained providers such as traditional healers. Abortions from these sources have the highest estimated rate of complications—61–67%.

“The Rwandan government has already started to take action to improve access to postabortion care and we hope these findings provide further guidance on how to strengthen efforts to ensure that all Rwandan women receive the care they need,” said co-author Ann Moore of the Guttmacher Institute.

For more information:

Click here for the full report Unintended Pregnancy and Induced Abortion in Rwanda: Causes and Consequences, also available in French

Click here for the fact sheet Abortion in Rwanda, also available in French