DAS ELEKTRONISCHE BULLETIN DER SCHWEIZERISCHEN FACHPLATTFORM HIV/AIDS UND INTERNATIONALE ZUSAMMENARBEIT

1. März 2011

Liebe Leserin, lieber Leser,

In Togo ist etwa die Hälfte der Bevölkerung unter 15 Jahren. HIV und Aids, frühe ungewollte Schwangerschaften (9 Jahre) und deren Folgen, sexuelle Gewalt und schädliche Praktiken wie Mädchenbeschneidung gefährden die Gesundheit und das Leben der jungen Leute. „Kinder und Jugendliche zwischen 10 und 24 Jahren sind neugierig und wollen wissen, was anderswo geschieht“, stellt Blaise Sedoh, nationaler HIV-Koordinator des togolesischen Roten Kreuzes fest. „Die Eltern und die Gemeinschaft werden von den Jungen und Adoleszenten als Unterdrücker wahrgenommen, die nicht auf die Jungen mit ihren Bedürfnissen hören. Sie brauchen Informationen, Beratung und Kommunikation mit Erwachsenen.“

UNFPA und verschiedene staatliche Institutionen haben in Zusammenarbeit mit lokalen NGOs jugendfreundliche Zentren zu sexueller und reproduktiver Gesundheit und HIV errichtet, welche den Bedürfnissen von Jugendlichen entsprechen, die sog „Centres Conviviaux et d’Écoute de Jeunes“. Diese Zentren sind Orte, wo Jugendliche zuverlässige Informationen bekommen zu Themen, welche sie verletzlich machen: HIV und Aids, sexuell übertragbare Krankheiten, ungewollte Schwangerschaften, Arbeitslosigkeit, Prostitution, Schulabbruch, etc. Jedes Zentrum hat auch eine Gesundheitsberaterin, welche sich mit den Jugendlichen zu sexuell übertragbaren Krankheiten, HIV und Aids unterhält und auf Wunsch der Jugendlichen Möglichkeiten zu einem HIV-Test vermittelt und sie begleitet.

Zu den Erfolgen dieser Zentren zählt Blaise Sedoh die konstruktive Zusammenarbeit internationaler und staatlicher Institutionen mit lokalen NGOs wie dem togolesischen Roten Kreuz. Die Jugendlichen treffen sich in den Zentren ungezwungen und haben gelernt, offen über ihre Gesundheitsprobleme zu reden. Sie lernen dabei, was „verantwortungsvolle Sexualität“ ist und viele wollen ihren HIV-Status wissen.

Togo hat die Forderungen internationaler Konferenzen zu Bevölkerungsfragen aufgenommen und bereits 2001 eine Politik zur reproduktiven Gesundheit formuliert. Togo ist zudem ein gutes Beispiel für die Notwendigkeit und Wirksamkeit jugendfreundlicher Zentren, die Fragen der HIV-Prävention und der sexuellen und reproduktiven Gesundheit miteinander verbinden. Leider sind solche Zentren heute eine Ausnahme - sei es mangels Bewusstsein, finanziellem Commitment oder politischem Willen. So sind heute weltweit fast die Hälfte aller Neuinfizierten Jugendliche zwischen 15 und 24 und Komplikationen bei Schwangerschaft, Geburt und illegaler Abtreibung sind Killer Nummer 1 von jungen Frauen zwischen 15 und 19 Jahren.

Für aidsfocus.ch ist die Förderung und Verknüpfung von HIV und reproduktiver Gesundheit ein wichtiges Anliegen. Die Fachtagung von aidsfocus.ch zu „HIV, sexuality and youth. Linking HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights“ vom 7. April 2011 in Bern ist ein Forum für den Austausch von Kenntnissen und Erfahrungen zum Thema und die Diskussion möglicher Strategien. Sie sind herzlich dazu eingeladen. Weitere Informationen und Anmeldetalon finden Sie auf http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Helena Zweifel Koordinatorin aidsfocus.ch Geschäftsführerin Medicus Mundi Schweiz

Bern: A young girl might want to prevent a pregnancy and protect herself from HIV. A woman living with HIV might be pregnant and at risk of dying during childbirth, she may have HIV and can't get contraception, and her child may die of HIV or malaria. Where does she get the necessary information on contraception and the prevention of sexually-transmitted infection, counselling, testing and treatment?

The interactions between sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV are widely recognized by international organisations such as UNAIDS, IPPF, WHO and SDC. Sexual and reproductive ill-health and HIV share root causes, including poverty, gender inequality, gender-based violence and the social marginalization of the most vulnerable populations. Human rights are key in the linking approach, in particular the right to health and life for all.

Based on the experience of the partner organisations of aidsfocus.ch, and following up on discussions held at a global level, the conference will discuss challenges and strategies of linking HIV and reproductive health and rights in policy and practice. Information and registration:

Time and venue: 9.00 - 17.00 Uhr, kornhausforum, Kornhausplatz 18, Bern. Information and registration:

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Die Aidsepidemie ist engstens verknüpft mit der Frage der sexuellen und reproduktiven Gesundheit. Die meisten HIV-Infektionen werden beim Sex übertragen oder im Zusammenhang mit Schwangerschaft, Geburt und Stillen. Dieselben Ursachen treiben die Aidsepidemie als auch sexuelle und reproduktive Gesundheitsprobleme an, nämlich Armut, Ungleichheiten insbesondere zwischen Frau und Mann, gesellschaftliche Normen und Tabus, Diskriminierung und soziale Ausgrenzung von vulnerablen Bevölkerungsgruppen.(MMS Bulletin, Februar 2011)

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

1. February 2011 - As the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day approaches on 8 March, the HIV/AIDS Alliance is renewing its call for greater integration of HIV and sexual and reproduction health services. With only four years left until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), it will be critical into ensure political and financial commitments are in place to strengthen healthcare systems so they can support a continuum of care and support for women and children. The Alliance published a Good Practice Guide on the integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

http://www.aidsalliance.org
http://www.aidsalliance.org

Worldwide, the reproductive rights of people living with HIV, continue to be denied and violated, including by policy makers and legislative bodies, and other authorities as well as health service providers and community members. During the April 2011 session of the Commission on Population and Development at the UN in New York, the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) will endorse a civil society session that will focus on the reproductive rights of women living with HIV. WGNRR is calling on all women living with HIV to share their experiences by sending them written testimonials, audio clips and video recordings (in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese)

http://www.wgnrr.org
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

1. February 2011 - HIV is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age worldwide. For this to change, the global HIV response must fully recognize the significant role that gender inequality plays in increasing women and girls’ vulnerability to HIV. At a high-level consultation, jointly organized by UNAIDS, UNFPA and UN Women, influential experts, leaders and advocates came together to discuss how sexual and reproductive health, and the rights of women and girls living with HIV can be enhanced and protected.

http://www.unaids.org

New York, 1 February 2011 — Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, the new Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, put forth his vision as the Fund’s leader, focusing on the challenges and the needs of the largest generation of young people. “Investing in youth, their reproductive health and gender equality can help put countries on a path to accelerated economic growth and equitable development,” he said. Advancing the right to sexual and reproductive health remains at the heart of UNFPA. (UNFPA)

http://www.unfpa.org

Kakamega, 24 February 2011 - The bold branding of HIV care centres in Kenyan hospitals stops many HIV-positive pregnant women from accessing vital HIV treatment that could protect their children from infection for fear of stigma. "The idea is to make the maternal and child health clinics a one-stop shop for the family - even fathers are provided these services should they need it," Hadija Naliya said. The clinics provide counselling, testing, reproductive health services, nutritional support and initiation on treatment and care to parents and children. (PlusNews)

http://www.plusnews.org

Basel, 22. Februar 2011 - An der Generalversammlung von Novartis appellierte die Erklärung von Bern (EvB) an die Verantwortlichen des Basler Konzerns nicht weiter für ein Patent auf das Antikrebsmittel Glivec zu prozessieren. Ein offener Brief von einem internationalen NGO-Bündnis unterstreicht die schlimmen Folgen dieses Vorgehens für den Zugang benachteiligter Patienten in Indien und anderswo zu lebensrettenden Medikamenten.

http://www.evb.ch

HIV and AIDS are a hard reality in a number of countries involved in International Cooperation (IC). It affects not only every aspect of the lives of the people concerned, but also considerably impacts the life and work of IC expatriate personnel. This seminar taking place on the 5 Mai 2011 in Biel has the objective of working with participants so that they can better manage this challenge.

http://www.cinfo.ch

Erstmals werden nebst HIV auch andere sexuell übertragbare Infektionen (STI) ins nationale Programm zu HIV integriert. Das wichtigste Ziel lautet, die Anzahl Neuinfektionen von HIV und anderen STI deutlich zu senken und gesundheitsschädigende Spätfolgen zu vermeiden. In den nächsten Jahren wird ein kultureller Wandel angestrebt; nach einer positiven Diagnose soll die freiwillige Partnerinformation „aus Einsicht“ selbstverständlich werden. Das Bundesamt für Gesundheit BAG organisiert am 21. September in Biel das Schweizer Aids-Forum 2011 zur Umsetzung des Nationalen Programms HIV und anderer sexuell übertragbarer Infektionen durch die verschiedenen Stakeholder.

http://www.bag.admin.ch

1. February 2011 - The President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly Mr Joseph Deiss convened the first formal meeting on the preparations for the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and the event co-facilitators. Mr Deiss has urged countries to participate in the event. “I call on all nations to unite at the High Level Meeting on AIDS. Together we can chart the future of the AIDS response,” wrote Mr Joseph Deiss.

http://www.unaids.org

Geneva, 23 February 2011 - Three decades into the AIDS pandemic it has become clear that churches, non-governmental agencies and governments need to redouble their efforts to combat the disease and its effects, said the central governing body of the World Council of Churches (WCC) during its meeting in February 2011. In one of its most effective programme initiatives, the WCC has created and distributed an estimated 50,000 copies of books aimed at tackling the steep pastoral and theological challenges of AIDS in Africa.

http://www.oikoumene.org

1. February 2011 - Information about the spread of HIV in the Middle East and North Africa region has been extremely limited. As a major contribution to increasing knowledge of AIDS in the region, the World Bank recently convened a discussion to highlight the first ever comprehensive scientific analysis of the epidemic. HIV infection has already reached all corners of North Africa and the Middle East. There are substantial differences in the way the virus is spread across the region and various risk contexts are present. The epidemic has become generalized in Djibouti and Sudan, though prevalence in the general population in most other countries is low. (2011)

http://www.unaids.org

1. February 2011 - The themes and preoccupations of stories submitted by young people in six African countries should be looked at to inform HIV prevention programmes, researchers write in the journal Social Science and Medicine. With rates of condom use being low in these populations, programmes need to better understand barriers and facilitators of condom use, information needs and appropriate communication strategies. (2011)

http://www.aidsmap.com

London, 9 February 2011 - Fear of infection and mass social change have driven a huge decline in HIV rates in Zimbabwe, offering important lessons on how to fight the Aids pandemic in the rest of Africa, scientists said on Tuesday. In a study in the journal PLoS Medicine, British researchers said Zimbabwe's pandemic was one of the biggest in the world until the rate of people infected with HIV almost halved, from 29% of the population in 1997 to 16% in 2007.

http://www.mg.co.za
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Johannesburg, 7 February 2011 - South Africa is preparing to take HIV testing into the classroom as part of its national voluntary HIV testing and counselling (VCT) campaign, but testing kids is controversial and implementing the programme is fraught with challenges – just ask those already doing it. Activists from the Durban-based Yezingane Network of children's organizations met with national Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and identified consent and confidentiality as two of the main challenges. (PlusNews)

http://www.plusnews.org

Gender and sexuality have long been recognised as key factors affecting the dynamics of the HIV epidemic. There are a growing number of HIV and broader health initiatives that not only highlight gender issues, but also aim to change harmful norms and practices. However, there are few approaches to achieve gender transformation, and many organisations have struggled to overcome the controversies, sensitivities and structural barriers that impede progress, concludes the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in its study. (2011)

http://www.aidsalliance.org

Advocacy and investment on behalf of children affected by AIDS have had an impact, and the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015 appears within reach. But for every problem solved or advance made, new challenges and constraints have arisen. It is estimated that more than 1,000 babies continue to be born with HIV every day, many of them destined to die before age two if they do not receive medication. (2010)

http://www.unicef.org

These guidelines to UNAIDS’ preferred terminology have been developed for use by staff members, colleagues in the Programme’s 10 Cosponsoring organizations, and other partners working in the global response to HIV. Language shapes beliefs and may influence behaviours. Considered use of appropriate language has the power to strengthen the global response to the epidemic. These guidelines is a living, evolving document that is reviewed on a regular basis. (2011)

http://data.unaids.org

This paper examines the potential of community health worker (CHW) programmes, as proposed by the 2008 World Health Organisation (WHO) document Task Shifting to tackle health worker shortages, to contribute to HIV prevention and treatment and various Millennium Development Goals in low-income countries. The WHO, however, has neglected to emphasise the importance of the community embeddedness of CHWs, found to be of critical importance to the success of past CHW programmes, states the report. (2010)

http://www.informaworld.com

Partner von aidsfocus.ch sind: Afro-European Medical and Research Network, Aids-Hilfe Schweiz, Aids & Kind, Caritas Schweiz, cinfo, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, Fastenopfer, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, FEPA, Gemeinschaft der St. Anna-Schwestern, HEKS, IAMANEH Schweiz, Interteam, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, medico international schweiz, mediCuba, missio, mission21, SolidarMed, Schweizer MIVA, Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz, Schweizerische Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Stiftung Terre des hommes, Swiss Aids Care International, TearFund, terre des hommes schweiz und World Vision Schweiz.

http://www.aidsfocus.c