Category Archives: Capacity building

SIGN-ON! Civil Society African Common Position Paper on The International Conference on Population Development.

6.    Key populations

This section provides recommendations that addresses key matters that affect gender equality, equity and empowerment for all

  1. Women,
  2. Persons with disabilities,
  3. Youth,
  4. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Persons (LGBTI),
  5. Persons living with HIV (PLHIV),
  6. Older persons,
  7. Orphans, and
  8. Migrant populations.

 

 

6.1.      Gender Equality, Equity and Empowerment of all women

6.1.1.   Ensure human rights based approach and that women’s and girl’s perspectives and rights are observed in all national SRHR policies and laws, and that all legal and institutional barriers to women realising full equality, equity and empowerment are removed as a matter of urgency,

6.1.2.   To advocate for comprehensive societal affirmative action that promotes gender equity and equality in all spheres of life, including in the labour market. This includes addressing all policies that do not favour the ability of women to engage successfully in socio-economic activities, as well as committing to and financing the economic, political and social empowerment of women and girls through deliberate national programs which also include increasing women’s access to capital, land and credit facilities,

6.1.3.   Continuous development and implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that aimed at evaluating progress toward national gender programmes, including but not limited to the improvement of data quality collection and analysis.

6.1.4.   Ensure that there is creation and implementation of the legal and institutional framework that protects the rights of woman and young girls from harmful traditional practices such as inability to inherit and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

6.1.5.   Commit to addressing the definition of gender which is currently limited to the binary of male and female which excludes different identities. Therefore, there must be the promotion of a comprehensive and all inclusive definition so as to support the equality of all women regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,

6.1.6.   Create platforms for continuous, comprehensive, consultative, capacity building for all stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on gender and its role within SRHR,

6.1.7.   Provide quality education, including comprehensive sexuality and life skills education at early levels for all children to promote empowerment of both girls and boys as a means to promoting equality, equity and empowerment and ensuring boys and men also play a role in realising equality for women,

6.1.8.   Expand decision-making opportunities for women by ensuring their meaningful participation in all stages of design, monitoring and implementation of sexual and reproductive rights policies and programs at national, regional and international levels.

 

6.2.      Persons with Disabilities

6.2.1.   Ensure the development, implementation and financing of policy and strategies that eradicate all discriminatory practices against persons with disabilities and protect the rights of persons living with disabilities;

6.2.2.   Meaningful engagement of persons with disabilities at policy and implementation level in order to develop non-discriminatory and comprehensive programs that are inclusive of their SRHR needs;

6.2.3.   Create deliberate policy and implementation plans that address the sexual and reproductive health needs of persons living with disabilities and ensure universal access to accessible, acceptable, affordable and quality SRHR services, information and commodities whilst ensuring respect for persons with disabilities privacy and confidentiality in accessing services, and their capacity to make free and informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive lives from childhood to old age in all their diversity;

6.2.4.   Continuous development and implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that aimed at evaluating progress toward national gender programmes, including but not limited to the improvement of data quality collection and analysis;

6.2.5.   Embark on awareness campaign programmes to dispel myths and misconceptions about the sexual and reproductive needs of people with disabilities and ensure that persons living with disabilities also enjoy healthy and fulfilling sexual lives;

6.2.6.   Ensure the empowerment of persons living with disabilities by creating opportunities for economic development and self- reliance. Provide more possibilities for employment, credit facilities and land;

6.2.7.   Create strategies that ensure the protection of women and girls living with disabilities against intimate partner violence and sexual violence;

6.2.8.   Engage private and public structures to ensure that implementation of the regulations on the rights of persons with disabilities are fully adhered to;

6.2.9.   Train health care workers on disability related health care, including service provision that is free from stigma, coercion, discrimination and violence, based on full and informed consent, and that affirms the right to pleasure.

 

6.3.      Youth (including pre-adolescents)

6.3.1.   Ensure that all aspects of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are recognised and implemented including the protection from child marriage and other forms of harmful practices as well as promote and implement laws, policies and programs that eliminate harmful practices such as early and forced marriage, rape, sexual and gender based violence, female genital mutilation, honor killings, and all other forms of violence against adolescents and youth;

6.3.2.   Ensure that investments in health (including sexual and reproductive health), jobs, education and skills in youth development are made to position Africa to reap the rewards from the imminent demographic dividend;

6.3.3.   Increase empirical evidence on how to address youth and pre-adolescent issues by strengthening research in academic institutions and greater inclusion of youth in the design, monitoring and implementation of policy, programming and implementation;

6.3.4.   Ensure that cultural and religious barriers such as parental and spousal consent, and early and forced marriages, should never prevent access to family planning, safe and legal abortion, and other reproductive health services – recognizing that young people have autonomy over their own bodies, pleasures, and desires.

6.3.5.   Provide quality education, including comprehensive sexuality and life skills education at early levels for all children to promote empowerment of both girls and boys as a means to promoting equality, equity and empowerment and ensuring boys also play a role in realising equality for girls; as well as remove any and all barriers to accessing quality education and ensure recognition, strengthening and utilisation of ICT in adolescents’ and youth  development;

6.3.6.   Create and sustain comprehensive, objective, and accurate sexuality education and information that is accessible and affirming for all children and youth in and out of schools, that includes but is not limited to the promotion of sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality, self-empowerment, knowledge of the body, bodily integrity and autonomy, and relationship skills development; are free of gender stereotypes, discrimination, and stigma; and are respectful of children’s and adolescents’ evolving capacities to make choices about their sexual and reproductive lives.

6.3.7.   Prioritize sexual and reproductive rights issues in health systems strengthening and development programs so that integrated, high-quality services are available, accessible, and acceptable to all young people, particularly those most underserved. These services include but are not limited to comprehensive information on sexuality and contraception services and supplies (including emergency contraception, post exposure prophylaxis, male and female condoms); pregnancy care (antenatal and post natal care, skilled birth attendance, referral systems, and emergency obstetric care); safe abortion services and post-abortion care; access to assisted reproductive technologies; prevention, treatment, and care of sexually transmitted infections and HIV; prevention, treatment and care of reproductive cancers.

6.3.8.   Greater recognition on the need for psychosocial support for adolescents and youth especially those in conflict areas;

6.3.9.   Recognise and provide for the increased need for provision of SRH services and commodities in conflict and post conflict areas, where education of sexual and reproductive rights in post conflict regions must be aimed at reducing gender-based violence;

6.3.10.    Protect young people’s human rights in sexual and reproductive health programs by guaranteeing that services are designed to respond to individual’s health needs and overcome barriers faced by marginalized groups, including through service provision that is free from stigma, coercion, discrimination and violence, based on full and informed consent, and that affirms the right to pleasure.

6.3.11.    Ensure that programs show respect for adolescents’ and young peoples’ privacy and confidentiality in accessing services, and their capacity to make free and informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive lives including parenthood, from childhood to old age in all their diversity; and pay special attention to marginalized groups of adolescents and young people, including those with disabilities, living with HIV and AIDS, and of all sexual orientations and gender identities as well as those in conflict areas;

6.3.12.    Ensure routine monitoring of potential disparities in universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for adolescent and young people through regular collection and analysis of quality data;

6.3.13.    Decriminalize abortion, and create and implement policies and programs that ensure young women have access to safe and legal abortion, pre- and post-abortion services, without mandatory waiting periods, requirements for parental and spousal notification and/or consent or age of consent.

 

6.4.      Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) persons

6.4.1.   Ensure human rights based approach and that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons perspectives and rights are observed in all national SRHR policies and laws, and that all legal and institutional barriers to LGBTI realising full equality, equity and empowerment are removed as a matter of urgency;

6.4.2.   Ensure that the right to health, especially SRHR, is made available to all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and that services are provided by sensitized and trained health care workers who provide health care that is free from stigma, coercion, discrimination and violence, based on full and informed consent, and that affirms the right to pleasure and privacy and confidentiality;

6.4.3.   Increase empirical evidence on how to address LGBTI specific issues by strengthening research in academic institutions and greater inclusion of LGBTI in the design, monitoring and implementation of policy, programming and implementation;

6.4.4.   Create deliberate policy and implementation plans that address the needs of sexual minorities as a necessary element to ensure universal access to quality SRHR services and commodities that are affordable, accessible and acceptable;

6.4.5.   Ensure that there are national strategies and legislation to reduce stigma and discrimination toward LGBTI, and ensure the enforcement of these laws in accessing services and information;

6.4.6.   Continuous development and implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms that aimed at evaluating progress toward programmes aimed at providing human rights based equality, equity and empowerment of all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including but not limited to the improvement of data quality collection and analysis.

 

6.5.      Persons living with HIV (PLHIV)

6.5.1.   Ensure human rights based approach and that perspectives and rights of people living with HIV are observed in all national SRHR policies and laws, and that all legal and institutional barriers to PLHIV realising full equality, equity and empowerment are removed as a matter of urgency;

6.5.2.   Ensure that the right to health, especially SRHR, is made available to all people living with HIV and that services are provided by sensitized and trained health care workers who provide health care that is free from stigma, coercion, discrimination and violence, based on full and informed consent, and that affirms the right to pleasure and privacy and confidentiality;

6.5.3.   Ensure routine monitoring of potential disparities in universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for people living with HIV through regular collection and analysis of quality data;

6.5.4.   Create an enabling legal environment that will encourage pregnant women to under-go HIV testing, provide treatment care and support and ensure availability of antiretroviral therapy for all HIV pregnant women, especially those in rural areas;

6.5.5.   Urgently put in place policy, programming and implementation strategies to ensure prevention of mother to child transmission;

6.5.6.   Address HIV-related stigma and discrimination through education and awareness campaign programme;

6.5.7.   Promote voluntary HIV counselling and testing in all public hospitals, including primary health care services;

6.5.8.   Ensure that HIV prevention services form part of family planning services;

6.5.9.   Allocate funds targeted to HIV that protect and empower young people, especially young women. In particular, guarantee funding for the provision of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services that include comprehensive sexuality education; prevention, counselling, voluntary testing, treatment and care of HIV, as well as other sexually transmitted infections and reproductive cancers; and universal access to female and male condoms, microbicides and other female initiated prevention technologies and vaccines

 

6.6.      Other especially vulnerable persons, including older persons, orphans and vulnerable children and refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons and migrant populations.

6.6.1.   Ensure human rights based approach and that perspectives and rights of vulnerable people are observed in all national SRHR policies and laws, and that all legal and institutional barriers to vulnerable people realising full equality, equity and empowerment are removed as a matter of urgency;

6.6.2.   Ensure that the right to health, especially SRHR, is made available to all vulnerable people and that services are provided by sensitized and trained health care workers who provide health care that is free from stigma, coercion, discrimination and violence, based on full and informed consent, and that affirms the right to pleasure and privacy and confidentiality;

6.6.3.   Ensure routine monitoring of potential disparities in universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for vulnrable people through regular collection and analysis of quality data;

6.6.4.   Create awareness of the SRHR needs of older persons and develop policies and programmes that respect the sexual and reproductive health needs of older persons and include them in the process of decision-making as well as train health care providers to provide sexual and reproductive health services that are appropriate and acceptable to the needs of older persons;

6.6.5.   Create national structures and laws that adequately evaluate andaddress pension payments and other support to older persons, especially those who are abandoned by their families and communities, and streamline the payment of pensions to retirees;

6.6.6.   Assist African States interested in establishing support structures for abandoned old persons especially those who are also victims of discrimination (accused of witchcraft or other).

6.6.7.   Create and support existing systems and structures which care for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), ensuring quality services, education and other provisions are made to ensure their human rights are respected;

6.6.8.   Ensure the provision of AAAQ SRH services, information and commodities in a timely manner including mental health treatment, care and support for all orphans and vulnerable children;

6.6.9.   Facilitate the enactment and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in all countries to protect children and young people, especially orphans, from all forms of violence and harmful practices including early and forced marriages.

6.6.10.    Ensure the provision of comprehensive sexuality education for orphans that promote sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality, self-empowerment, knowledge of the body, bodily integrity and autonomy, and relationship skills development; are free of gender stereotypes discrimination, and stigma; and are respectful of children’s and adolescents’ evolving capacities to make choices about their sexual and reproductive lives;

6.6.11.    Guarantee universal access to comprehensive essential sexual and reproductive health services by providing sufficient and sustainable financing to achieve the training, deployment, and retention of necessary health workers; ensure equitable access and good quality services;

6.6.12.    Ensure universal access to free (eliminating all forms of levies & user fees at all levels), quality, and comprehensive education at all levels in a safe and participatory environment.

6.6.13.    Commit to researching and better understanding the health needs and SRHR needs of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons and migrant populations and ensure their inclusion in the development of policies, programming and implementation of health care.

6.6.14.    Ensure that there are national strategies and legislation to reduce stigma and discrimination toward refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons and migrant populations, and ensure the enforcement of these laws in accessing services and information.

To download the full document click here: AAI AUC Ford Civil Society African Common Position Paper on ICPD 2013 April

SIGN-ON! Civil Society African Common Position Paper on The International Conference on Population Development.

5. Health morbidity & mortality

5.1. Women’s health and safe motherhood

5.1.1. Renew commitment to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity as a matter of urgency and allocating financial resources to ensure the development and implementation of policy and clear policy guidelines that guarantee universal access to the provision of family planning and contraceptive services , with free or subsidized care for those in need and those most marginalised;

5.1.2. Understand and demonstrate that safe motherhood is a human rights issue and as such needs to be positioned as a key concern in national dialogue on sexual and reproductive health and requires a strong rights approach at all levels of the ministry of health;

5.1.3. Ensure the development and implementation of policy and clear policy guidelines that guarantee universal access to an integrated service package, including but not limited to: mental health care; the provision of SRH services and commodities, improved ante-natal care, and response and care for obstetric emergencies;

5.1.4. Incorporate evidence-based clinical protocols that improve the referral system, strengthen transport and communication networks, promote community mobilization, build bridges between health care providers and social networks, improving the clinical and communication skills of providers at the health care level, improving access to skilled health providers, increasing access to referral services, and prevention of unwanted pregnancy and care of post abortion complications;

5.1.5. Educate and empower women and men to present at health care provider for pre-natal care at an earlier stage of pregnancy and more regularly, as well as to adhere to medical advice to ensure a healthy pregnancy;

5.1.6. Provide, without fear of prosecution, criminalisation, discrimination or intimidation, quality and prompt post abortion care and counselling to women who have undergone unlicensed, incomplete and/or illegal abortions and who require medical attention;

5.1.7. Remove all obstacles, including payment of fees, for women seeking medical attention during pregnancy and ensure free or subsidized care for those in need and those most marginalised especially rural based women;

5.1.8. Research and better understand the role and knowledge of traditional birth attendants and traditional or indigenous medicine and ensure that where applicable the benefits can be maximised and the dangers minimised.

 

5.2. Child survival and health

5.2.1. Mobilize political leadership to end preventable child deaths as a matter of urgency;

5.2.2. Implement evidence based country plans that sharpen government led action plans, track and sustain progress against 5 year milestones and align development support with national strategies;

5.2.3. Build on mechanisms to monitor and report progress, compile and disseminate annual progress reports, and promote transparency and accountability through regional and global forums;

5.2.4. Ensure the availability and accessibility of immunization services for all children;

5.2.5. Build capacity of parents and caregivers on health issues for children and babies including but not limited to when to seek medical attention, which foods are most nutritious, needs of sero-discordant families, the strengths and weaknesses of breast and bottle feeding, and accessing uncontaminated water for drinking and protecting children from infectious diseases like malaria and pneumonia with vaccines, bed nets, and antibiotics.

5.2.6. Research and better understand the role and knowledge of traditional or indigenous medicine for child survival and health and ensure that where applicable the benefits can be maximised and the dangers minimised.

5.2.7. Provide accessible, affordable, acceptable quality health services and information and support, including mental health services to HIV positive mothers and fathers before, during and after the birth process to ensure the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV.

5.2.8. Urgently put in place policy, programming and implementation strategies to ensure prevention of mother to child transmission, especially by designing and implementing PMTCT programmes that are directed at community level in terms of applicability, language, local traditions and misconceptions;

5.2.9. Create an enabling legal environment that will encourage pregnant women to under-go HIV testing, provide treatment care and support and ensure availability of antiretroviral therapy for all HIV pregnant women, especially those in rural areas;

 

5.3. Non-Communicable Diseases

5.3.1. Improve information and research on non-communicable diseases (NCDS) and develop policies and programmes that are up to date and will address the challenges posed by non-communicable disease;

5.3.2. Increase public awareness and education of non-communicable diseases, including life-style, environmental and occupational related NCDs, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), and cancer and to implement campaigns to use prevention methods as much as possible.

5.3.3. Ensure the better screening and proper management and control of non-communicable diseases by providing timely and AAAQ diagnosis, treatment and information;

5.3.4. Equip health care centres and train health care workers to provide services for complications arising from non-communicable diseases;

5.3.5. Allocate appropriate resources towards address the challenges pose by non-communicable diseases;

5.3.6. Create awareness among people especially those in rural communities on environmental cleanliness.

 

To download the full document click here: AAI AUC Ford Civil Society African Common Position Paper on ICPD 2013 April

لقد انتهينا للتو من تحديد الموقف العام للمجتمعات المدنية الإفريقية بشأن المؤتمر الدولي للسكان والتنمية!

الزملاء الأعزاء,

لقد انتهينا للتو من تحديد الموقف العام للمجتمعات المدنية الإفريقية بشأن المؤتمر الدولي للسكان والتنمية!

كما هو معروف لدى العديد منكم، اعترفت المسائلة الدولية بشأن الإيدز ومفوضية الاتحاد الإفريقي في عام 2012 بالحاجة لتمثيل أكبر لمنظمات المجتمع المدني الإفريقية في المؤتمر الدولي حول عملية التنمية السكانية.

وقد تقرر  وضع ورقة تحديد للموقف العام من المؤتمر الدولي بشأن التنمية السكانية لكي تعكس وتشمل وجهات النظر والتوصيات والخبرات من أصحاب الشأن في إفريقيا.

يتضمن الموقف الإفريقي العام من المؤتمر الدولي بشأن التنمية السكانية مجموعة من التوصيات الموجهة للحكومات الوطنية لكي تعالج قضايا السكان والتنمية. وسوف تشكل هذه الورقة جزءاً من المؤتمر الإقليمي حول السكان والتنمية في شهر أيلول/ سبتمبر في أديس أبابا، حيث سيتبنى الوزراء المكلفون بقضايا السكان التقرير  القاري حول المؤتمر الإفريقي بشأن التنمية السكانية في 20 موقف إفريقي عام حالما يتم تقييمه من قبل مفوضية الاتحاد الإفريقي ووزراء الاتحاد الإفريقي المكلفين بقضايا السكان.

وعند التصديق على هذه المواقف، سوف تؤخذ النسخة النهائية لورقة تحديد الموقف العام إلى الجمعية العمومية في عام 2014 في استعراض المؤتمر الدولي بشأن التنمية السكانية بصفتها الوثيقة الرئيسية التي تعكس الموقف الإفريقي من المؤتمر الدولي بشأن التنمية الإفريقية.

نتقدم بالشكر الجزيل لمؤسسة فورد في جنوب إفريقيا على ما قدمته من مساندة في هذا العمل.

التسجيل

للتسجيل والموافقة على الموقف العام للمجتمعات المدنية الإفريقية، الرجاء ألضغط على أيقونة الرد أو إرسال رسالة بريد إلكتروني إلى info at aidsaccountability dot org

سوف يتم تضمين الموافقات من جميع أنحاء العالم، مع أنه سيتم إدراج الأفراد والمنظمات في إفريقيا في قائمة منفصلة عن تلك القائمة المخصصة للدول غير الإفريقية.

الاسم:

المنصب/ المسمى الوظيفي:

المنظمة:

الجنسية

البلد:

البريد الإلكتروني:

الموقع الإلكتروني:

رقم الهاتف:

نتقدم بالشكر الجزيل لكل من ساهم في  صنع هذا التوجه الحقيقي للأصوات الإفريقية.

نوجه عنايتكم لما يلي: قد تتضمن الأوراق أخطاء بسيطة أو أخطاء غير مقصودة. الرجاء إرسال بريد إلكتروني إلى

info at aidsaccountability dot org

مع خالص التقدير والاحترام

فيليبا

فيليبا تاكر

المدير التنفيذي

المسئولية الدولية عن الإيدز

102 Greenmarket Place, 54 Shortmarket Street
Cape Town 8000
South Africa

البريد الإلكتروني: info at aidsaccountability dot org

SIGN-ON! Civil Society African Common Position Paper on The International Conference on Population Development.

4. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)


4.1. General

4.1.1. Prioritize sexual and reproductive rights in health systems strengthening and development programs so that integrated, high-quality services are available, accessible, and acceptable to all people, especially women and youths, and other marginalised groups as indicated below and particularly those most underserved.

4.1.2. Protect the population’s human rights in sexual and reproductive health programs by guaranteeing that services are designed to respond to individual’s health needs and overcome barriers faced by marginalized groups, including through service provision that is free from stigma, coercion, discrimination and violence, based on full and informed consent, and that affirms the right to pleasure.

4.1.3. Programs must ensure respect for privacy and confidentiality of people in accessing services, and the capacity to make free and informed choices regarding their sexual and reproductive lives from childhood to old age in all their diversity; and pay special attention to marginalized groups.

4.1.4. These services include but are not limited to: comprehensive information on sexuality and contraception services and supplies (including emergency contraception, post exposure prophylaxis, male and female condoms); pregnancy care (antenatal and post natal care, skilled birth attendance, referral systems, and emergency obstetric care); safe abortion services and post-abortion care; access to assisted reproductive technologies; prevention, treatment, and care of sexually transmitted infections and HIV; prevention, treatment and care of reproductive cancers.

 

4.2. Safe & Legal Abortion

4.2.1. To make evidence based policy changes that recognise the cost-benefits surrounding providing women with access to safe and legal abortions on demand.

4.2.2. To immediately repeal all laws criminalizing, penalizing and/or restricting access to abortion services whilst formulating new laws and policies as a means to allow better access.

4.2.3. To specifically repeal laws that restrict young women from accessing safe abortion services on ground of requiring parental or spousal consent, age of consent or mandatory waiting periods.

4.2.4. To ensure women seeking abortion care are not subjected judicial and non-judicial persecution, including imprisonment or even harassment and degrading treatment in the health systems or by state authorities and institutions.

4.2.5. To implement right based laws and public policies that guarantee and uphold women’s access to safe abortion services without restriction.

4.2.6. To remove all non-legal and non-policy barriers to women gaining access to safe abortions on demand.

4.2.7. To ensure that healthcare workers and the health system are trained, sensitized and equipped with the necessary knowledge, equipment and resources to provide safe abortion services, including pre and post abortion services.

 

4.3. Freedom from forced sterilisation

4.3.1. Develop, promote and implement policies and clear policy guidelines with regard to sterilisation that protect the rights of women and men, including LGBTI men and women, based on a human rights framework and ensuring informed consent and free choice.

4.3.2. Monitor and document state and non-state violations around SRHR, and especially with regard to forced sterilisation.

4.3.3. Develop laws and policies that are be based on the right to health including freedom from non-consensual medical treatment or experimentation and develop laws and policies that will protect patients from non-consensual medical treatment

4.3.4. Provide on-going human rights training for health care providers, particularly in the context of forced medical treatment.

4.3.5. Establish accountability systems to monitor and ensure adherence of health care workers to human rights based laws on forced sterilisation, experimentation and non-consensual or non-informed medical treatments.

 

4.4. Accessibility, Acceptability and Affordability and Quality of SRHR services and commodities

4.4.1. Ensure the development and implementation of policy and clear policy guidelines that guarantee universal access to the provision of SRH services and commodities, with free or subsidized care for those in need and those most marginalised;

4.4.2. Inclusion and allocation of a specific SRH commodities budget within the country health budget;

4.4.3. Commit to and conduct effective monitoring and documentation of implementation strategies to minimise potential disparities and ensure universal access;

4.4.4. Support and promote an enabling environment that allows for continuous consultation, meaningful engagement and development across different and relevant sectors;

4.4.5. Commit to set up systems and structures for management, supply and timely distribution of SRH commodities so as to ensure no stock outs and no expired stock.

4.4.6. Commit to and finance the training, deployment, and retention of necessary health workers;

4.4.7. Ensure Inter and Multi-sector collaboration, learning and sharing within regional and sub-regional mechanisms of best practices and lessons learned on SRH commodity management;

4.4.8. Educate and inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities, so that they are better able to make informed decisions on their health choices, and better able to demand accessible, acceptable, affordable and quality SRHR services and commodities;

4.4.9. Recognise the role of the female condom as the only female initiated tool to prevent HIV, STI’s and unplanned pregnancies, and ensure access to quality and affordable female condoms are a reality for all women, as well as commit to funding for training and support for Female Condom Programming;

4.4.10. Recognise the need for further research into the role of anal and vaginal sexual lubricants for use as a tool to prevent HIV, STI’s and unplanned pregnancies, as well as its safety for users and compatibility with various other ingredients and condom varieties. Commit to making access to quality and affordable lubricants a reality for all people, as well as commit to funding for training and support for condom compatible lubricant use;

4.4.11. Train all health care workers, as well as procurement and head office ministry staff on new and evolving SRHR commodities especially with regard to HIV treatment and prevention technologies, this includes but is not limited to understanding the current vaginal and rectal micro-biocide and pre exposure prophylaxis fields in general and their specific programming implications for women and girls.

 

To download the full full document click here: AAI AUC Ford Civil Society African Common Position Paper on ICPD 2013 April

AAI attends African Union Accountability on Africa-G8 Commitments Meeting, hosted by UNAIDS in Geneva.

Delivering results toward an Africa free of AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria

On 18 April 2013, AIDS Accountability International participated in the technical validation exercise and working session on the draft report entitled “Delivering results toward an Africa free of AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria: African Union accountability on Africa-G8 commitments.” The meeting was convened by the African Union Commission and NEPAD agencies and hosted by UNAIDS in Geneva, Switzerland.

The high-level partnership between African and G8 over the past decade under the auspices of the African Union and its NEPAD Programme identifies mutual accountability as a core principal. To this effect, the AU and G8 have regularly published counterpart reports on key areas of cooperation. The 2013 accountability report, which is a follow-up to the 2011 accountability report by Africa, focuses on monitoring and evaluating the delivery of major commitments on AIDS, Tuburculosis and Malaria by both sides.

Accordingly, the main purpose of the session was to obtain the aggregated views and insights of practitioners in the field at the technical level towards validating the draft accountability report pit together by the core team comprising AUC, NEPAD and UNAIDS. Further, the sesion will help identify gaps to be addressed and proffer policy actions towards realizing the continent’s health strategy and human development. The policy-level validation will be undertaken by the NEPAD Steering Committee in April 2013 before submission for endorsement by the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee during the 21st AU Summit in May 2013.

Participants included from regional, bilateral and multilateral institutions as well as civil society groups/practitioners working in the fields of AIDS, TB and Malaria.

At the meeting, AAI stressed the importance of also focusing on non-financial elements of accountability, such as leadership, policy and data reporting. AAI also pushed for a more balanced approach to the way the report assessed accountability of African versus G8 countries.

 

17 April 2013

SIGN-ON: Civil Society African Common Position Paper on The International Conference on Population Development: 3. Population Growth and Structure

3.1. Fertility, mortality and population growth

3.1.1. Ensure that population growth and structure, and demographic work is approached with a human rights and gender responsive lens;

3.1.2. Guarantee that policies to address high fertility and rapid population growth, focus on enlarging, not restricting, individual choices and opportunities;

3.1.3. Ensure that clear policy guidelines are developed and shared and implemented so as to ensure that human rights and gender responsive lens is implemented through to clinic level and that abuse and misinterpretation is impossible.

3.1.4. Improve data collection, quality and analysis to ensure that targeted and evidence based policies are developed, implemented and then closely monitored and evaluated for necessary adjustments.

 

3.2. Demographic Dividends

3.2.1. To commit to researching, understanding, and investing in the possible dividends to be gained from the pending youth bulge;

3.2.2. To ensure that the population is able to contribute and benefit from potential gains of the demographic dividend by ensuring the following criteria are met:

3.2.2.1. Youth have universal access to quality education, including but not limited to alphabetical and numerical literacy, secondary and tertiary education, comprehensive sexuality education and citizenship and human rights education. This must be equally provided to all, without gender or geographical, religious or other discrimination.

3.2.2.2. Youth have access to programmes which provide entrepreneurship and profit-generating activities training and provided with structural support to implement business ideas;3

.2.2.3. Youth are enabled to make informed and educated decisions on their health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, and able to access quality health services and information;

3.2.3. Reinforce universal and country specific policies with proven results to spur future job creation and economic growth.

3.2.4. Ensure accountable and transparent leadership to manage demographic change.

 

DOWNLOAD THE AFRICAN COMMON POSITION PAPER HERE: AAI AUC Ford Civil Society African Common Position Paper on ICPD 2013 April

South Africa: Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to Launch the Fixed Dose Combination Pill.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has described the launch of the new triple combination antiretrovirals as a revolution.

Johannesburg — The Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says the roll-out of the Fixed Dose Combination (ARV) during the 2013/14 financial year as announced last year is on track.

The Minister will formally launch the programme on the 8th of April 2013 at Phedisong 4 Clinic – Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria.

“We will be starting with newly diagnosed HIV positive persons eligible for treatment, HIV positive pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers” said Motsoaledi.

Other Patients currently on ARV’s will be switched to the Fixed Dose Combination after clinical assessment by their health care providers.

There are about 1.9 million patients on ARV treatment in South Africa.

5 April 2013

By South African Departmment of  Health

http://www.info.gov.za/speech/DynamicAction?pageid=461&sid=35530&tid=103764

 

AIDS Accountability International invited to join International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Scorecard

Diabetes Scorecard – Tracking Progress for Action

A. Introduction

The International Diabetes Federation has secured funding from the healthcare company, Bupa, for the “Diabetes Scorecard” Project. The Diabetes Scorecard will be a unique advocacy tool through which to measure progress on political commitments for diabetes, most notably the UN Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Prevention and Control, global NCD targets, and other important diabetes priorities.1 The Scorecard aims to track government progress and build accountability on diabetes and NCD prevention, treatment and care.

The Scorecard will be designed for use by IDF’s 220 Member Associations (MAs) at the national level, enabling MAs to hold national governments accountable for progress on diabetes and NCD prevention, treatment and care. IDF, with the support of Bupa, plan to convene a capacity building workshop for Member Associations at the 2013 World Diabetes Congress in December 2013 to ensure the Scorecard can be effectively used and implemented at the national level.

At the international level, IDF will establish a global monitoring cycle to review MA results, report on progress and drive action. IDF plans to produce biennial (two yearly) global progress reports, that will summarise and analyse results to support national, regional and global diabetes advocacy. This cycle will be aligned to official United Nations (UN) and World Health Organisation (WHO) review processes on the Political Declaration and targets, enabling IDF to monitor and review progress on diabetes at the global level. IDF will also select a number of ‘champion countries’ in which to focus the implementation of the Scorecard and drive government action.

The Diabetes Scorecard is a major IDF project which aims to be both globally relevant and nationally adaptable. The principal beneficiaries are IDF Member Associations (MAs), with indirect beneficiaries including those living with, or at risk of, diabetes and the related NCDs. The governance structure therefore has two components: an IDF Project Team who will coordinate the project from the Executive Office in Brussels, and an Informal Advisory Group (AG) of IDF’s Regional Chairs, additional MA Representatives, and external experts in advocacy and accountability in NCDs, health and development.

B. Purpose

The primary purpose of the IAG is to provide expert input to the IDF Project Team during the development of the Scorecard. National insight and advocacy expertise is needed to ensure the Scorecard is a relevant, useable and effective tool which enables MAs successfully monitor progress on diabetes at the country level. The IAG will provide input on a number of issues within the Scorecard, including the scope and content; usability across different regional and national contexts; and the final content of the Summary Report of the Scorecard. The Report will be launched at a capacity building workshop for MAs at the World Diabetes Congress in Melbourne in December 2013.

The IAG will also serve to ensure that IDF MAs – who are the primary audience of the Scorecard – are involved in the development of the Scorecard throughout the process. Involving IDF MA and regional representatives into the project’s governance structure is crucial to achieve one the principal aims of the Project – mobilising the diabetes community to engage with diabetes monitoring and accountability. Bringing a ‘diabetes voice’ into the Scorecard project through the IAG will ensure that IDF develops a tool which is usable and valuable in the global diabetes community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION IDF DIABETES SCORECARD

Join these 70 Endorsements! SIGN-ON to the African Common Position on ICPD

SIGN-ON to the African Common Position on ICPD

We have finally completed the Civil Society African Common Position on the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD)!

As many of you know in 2012, AIDS Accountability International (AAI) and The African Union Commission (AUC) recognised the need for greater African civil society organisation (CSO) representation in the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) process.

It was decided to create the African Common Position (ACP) on ICPD to reflect and include the perspectives, recommendations and expertise of African stakeholders.

To sign on and endorse the Civil Society African Common Position please click here

DOWNLOAD THE AFRICAN COMMON POSITION PAPER HERE: AAI AUC Ford Civil Society African Common Position Paper on ICPD 2013 April

Join these organisations who have already endorsed the African Common Position on ICPD:

 

 

List of Organizational Endorsements

1.  Action Health Incorporated (Nigeria )

2.  Action Visant l’Education et Valorisation des Enfants Non Assistés (Congo)

3.  African Council of AIDS Service Organizations (Senegal)

4.  Alliance Of Solidarity For the Family (Seychelles )

5.  Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (Malaysia)

6.  Associação Angolana para o Bem Estar da Familia (Angola)

7.  Associação Caboverdiana para a Proteção da Familia (Cape Verde)

8.  Associação Mocambicana para o Desenvolvimento da Familia (Mozambique)

9.  Associação Santomense para a Promoção Familiar (Sao Time & Principe)

10.  Association Beninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (Benin)

11.  Association Burkinabe pour le Bien etre Familial (Bukina Faso)

12.  Association Centraficaine pour le Bien-etre Familial (Central African Republic)

13.  Association Central Africa Against AIDS (Central African Republic)

14.  Association Comorienne pour le Bien etre de la Famille (Comoros)

15.  Association Conogolaise pour te Bien-etre Familial (Congo)

16.  Association Guineenne pour le Bien-etre Familial (Guinea)

17.  Association Ivoirienne pour le Bien-etre Familial (Ivory Coast)

18.  Association Malienne Pour La Promotion Et La Protection De La Famille (Mali)

19.  Association Nigerienne pour le Bien-etre Familial (Niger)

20.  Association pour le Bien-etre Familial/Naissances Desirables (Democratic Republic of Congo)

21.  Association Rwandaise pour le Bien-etre Familial (Rwanda)

22.  Association Senegalaise pour le Bien-étre Familial (Senegal)

23.  Association Togolaise pour le Bien-etre Familial (Togo)

24.  Association Burundaise pour le Bien-etre Familial (Burundi)

25.  Association Tchadienne pour le Bien-etre Familial (Chad)

26.  Botswana Family Welfare Association (Botswana)

27.  Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare (Cameroon)

28.  Chama cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (Tanzania)

29.  Chargée de mission International (France)

30.  Communication for Development Centre (Nigeria)

31.  Community and Family AID Foundation (Ghana)

32.  FAMEDEV-Inter Africa Network for Women, Media ,Gender and Development (Senegal )

33.  Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (Ethiopia)

34.  Family Life Association of Swaziland (Swaziland)

35.  Family Planning Association of Liberia (Liberia)

36.  Family Planning Assoication of Malawi (Malawi)

37.  Femmes et Droits Humains (Mali)

38.  Fianakaviana Sambatra (Madagascar)

39.  Gender Equality Watch / Center for Media Studies (Mozambique)

40.  Generation Initiative For Women and Youth Network (Nigeria)

41.  HEDECS (Cameroon)

42.  ICHANGE CI (Cote D’Ivoire)

43.  Kids & Teens Resource Centre (Nigeria)

44.  Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (Lesotho)

45.  Malawi Network of AIDS Service Organisations (Malawi)

46.  Mauritius Family Planning Assoication (Mauritius)

47.  Mouvement Gabonais pour le Bien-etre Familial (Gabon)

48.  Namibia Planned Parenthood Association (Nambia)

49.  Namibia Planned Parenthoodd Association (Namibia)

50.  Nelson Mandela Metropolotan University (Lesotho)

51.  ONG Femmes-Santé-Développement (Cameroon)

52.  People for Peace and Defense of Rights (Uganda)

53.  Planned Parenthood Association of Seirra Leone (Sierra Leone)

54.  Planned Parenthood Assoication of Ghana (Ghana)

55.  Planned Parenthood Assoication of Nigeria Nigeria

56.  Planned Parenthood Assoication of Zambia (Zambia)

57.  Queer African Youth Networking (Burkina Faso)

58.  Reproductive Health Uganda (Uganda)

59.  Responsible Programmes Femmes (Cameroun)

60.  Rwandese Association for Familiy Welfare (Rwanda)

61.  SAFAIDS (Zambia)

62.  Sahayogi Samaj/Blue Diamond Society (Nepal)

63.  The Family Health Options of Kenya (Kenya)

64.  Uganda young positives (Uganda)

65.  Unité de gestion de coordination des programmes gouvernement-Système des Nations Unies (Togo)

66.  Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (Tanzania)

67.  Women’s Promotion Centre (Tanzania)

68.  Young Beninese Leaders Association (Benin)

69.  Zimbabwe National Family Planning Committee (Zimbabwe)


List of Individual Endorsements

1. Madzikanga Maxwell (United Kingdom)

 

 

 

Fewer South Africans dying of HIV/AIDS, but more of diabetes.

Government’s annual death report has confirmed the trend that fewer South Africans have been dying of HIV/AIDS-related diseases. However, more people are dying of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.

Released in the Free State yesterday morning (THURSDAY), the Statistics SA report Mortality and causes of death in South Africa, 2010: Findings from death notification, records and analyses deaths reported in 2010 as it is written on death certificates completed by doctors and others certified to do so. The findings were released in Thabo Mofutsanyane district in Phuthaditjhaba, which recorded the highest death rate in the country. KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng had the highest overall number of deaths in 2010.

In summary, the number of deaths processed by Stats SA in 2010 was 543 856, a 6.2% decline from the year before with the highest number of deaths among those aged 35-39 and 30-34. Overall, there were slightly more male than female deaths.

In 2010, the average age at death was estimated at around 48 years, which has increased by about five years since 2004.

Tuberculosis was the leading cause of death (11.6%), a spot it has held for a number of years. Influenza and pneumonia is in second spot followed by intestinal infectious diseases. However, the number of deaths attributed to these three conditions has consistently and significantly decreased, while those due to diabetes are increasing – 3,8% in 2010.

Looking at the report from an HIV point-of-view, University of Cape Town (UCT) actuary and epidemiologist Leigh Johnson, says the report shows evidence of continued declines in HIV-related mortality, which is likely to be a reflection of the success of the antiretroviral treatment programme.

“Although there has been a slight increase in the number of deaths that are recorded as being due to HIV when comparing 2010 to 2009, there have been very substantial reductions in deaths reported as being due to TB, pneumonia, influenza and intestinal infectious diseases,” says Johnson.

These three diseases are causes to which HIV deaths are most frequently mis-attributed, in other words they are recorded as such on death certificates instead of being noted as HIV deaths.

Johnson notes that there have also been relatively large reductions in mortality in young adults (roughly 30% reduction in overall mortality rates in the 30-39 age group between 2006 and 2010). “All of this is consistent with what we would expect with declining AIDS mortality,” Johnson adds. Rob Dorrington, Professor of Actuarial Science at UCT says it is “good” that the report has been released because mortality rates and patterns are changing quite rapidly, particularly due to the huge increase in the provision of antiretrovirals.

In addition estimates of mortality rates are important for checking the sensibleness of the 2011 census results.

However, he expressed concern that the report is almost five months late. “This is only acknowledged deep within the report and the explanation for the delay (as “improvements in data processing methodology and processing systems”) leaves one worrying about when future reports will become available.”

Dorrington agrees with Johnson that it is “hugely apparent” that HIV/AIDS deaths are hidden as a cause of death, which distorts the interpretation of rankings of the causes of deaths hugely – not only contributing to the ranking of TB at the top of the causes, but also contributing to the high ranking of some other causes.

Dorrington said that although the total number of deaths has fallen, much as expected, the numbers of deaths have increased in the 1-14 age range and the 80-84 age group (particularly for females).

“Although the report acknowledges that not all deaths in South Africa are captured by the system, the estimate of 93% completeness that they cite applies only to adults. A higher percentage of child deaths, particularly those under age 5 go unregistered,” Dorrington points out.

The report also reveals that almost half of the deaths took place in health facilities. Free States and North West had the highest proportion of children dying in infancy while Western Cape and Eastern Cape had the highest proportions of deaths occurring in old ages. – Health-e News Service

By Anso Thom
11 April 2013
http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20034152