UNAIDS calls for a coordinated approach in supporting Haiti, the country most affected by HIV in the Caribbean, to rebuild its AIDS response in the wake of the 12 January earthquake. Following an initial rapid assessment of the situation with the Ministry of Public Health and Population, UNAIDS has released the concept note Helping Haiti rebuild its AIDS response. The report explains the current situation in Haiti and what may be required to meet the immediate and intermediate AIDS response needs. UNAIDS will continue to revise and update this assessment as new information becomes available.
"It is unprecedented to have such a huge natural disaster in a country with a high HIV prevalence," said Mr Michel Sidib?©, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
There were an estimated 120 000 people living with HIV in Haiti before the earthquake. Haiti's epidemic is mostly driven by heterosexual sex and an estimated 53% percent of people living with HIV are women.
Most of the structural damage happened in the three departments (Ouest, Sud-Est and les Nippes) that accounted for nearly 60% of the population of people living with HIV.
"Now, more than 1 million people are living in temporary shelters, putting them at greater risk of violence that includes sexual and gender based violence," added Mr Sidib?©. "Programmes are urgently needed to reduce vulnerabilities to HIV and ensure protection."
The three most affected areas also had more than half of all the antiretroviral treatment sites. Assessment teams have noted make-shift clinics under tents popping up to help increase treatment access, however, the Ministry of Health estimates that less than 40% of the 24 000 people living with HIV who were on treatment before the earthquake have accessed them.
Civil society networks of people living with HIV as well as many of the organizations providing HIV services have been affected by the earthquake and will need to be strengthened.
Currently Haiti is experiencing a critical interruption of HIV services and programmes and will need comprehensive and sustained support for the country to regain momentum towards universal access targets to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support.
Seven priority actions have been identified:
1. Rebuild health systems (including antiretroviral and PMTCT services);
2. Protect displaced people from HIV;
3. Rebuild the national and local network of people living with HIV;
4. Support social protection measures;
5. Revitalize HIV prevention programmes;
6. Re-establish comprehensive coordination mechanisms for the AIDS response; and
7. Develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
Source
UNAIDS
среда, 4 мая 2011 г.
вторник, 3 мая 2011 г.
VHA Health Foundation Convenes First Disaster Preparedness Conference Exclusively For Hospital Leaders
Leaders of American hospitals from
throughout the nation met here today for two days of talks with high-level
health care and government officials on better preparing American
communities to cope with the next inevitable disaster.
Admiral John O. Agwunobi, MD, MBA, MPH, Assistant Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services, told the nearly 200 leaders
attending the VHA Health Foundation forum that disaster planning should not
begin with the actual event. Instead, disaster plans should start with
recovery and considerations of what the situation will be like 30 days
after the catastrophe occurs.
"The greatest stress on hospitals ... is after the event rather than
during or before," he said. "Yet in disaster planning, we spend time
planning for the 30 minutes before the disaster hits but rarely get to the
recovery phase in our planning exercises."
The meeting was the first devoted exclusively to helping hospital CEOs
determine if their hospital has done everything necessary to assure they
are prepared to assist their communities through man-made or natural
disasters. The VHA Health Foundation, sponsor of the event, is a national
resource for senior hospital leaders seeking information on innovation in
health care and disaster readiness.
"People turn to hospitals in a crisis because they know hospitals deal
with emergencies every single day," said Linda DeWolf, President of the VHA
Health Foundation. "And hospitals know that to meet their responsibilities
they must be ready to deal with unanticipated disruptions in
communications, staffing, facilities and logistics. Most importantly,
hospitals need to recognize that the community relationships they build now
are crucial to their ability to weather a crisis."
Aaron Brown, former CNN NewsNight anchor highlighted the need for
leaders to be in control of their response to a crisis and demonstrate
unwavering "commitment to getting it done," even in the most desperate of
situations. Brown, over a career spanning 30 years, covered such disasters
as September 11, the shootings in Columbine and earthquakes in California.
James Lee Witt, former FEMA director, was expected to share insights later
in the day Thursday from more than 25 years of managing disasters.
Agwunobi said "true preparedness" has three levels:
-- The ability to understand the unique nuances in any given hazard;
-- The assurance of "modular general competencies"; and
-- The creation of a culture of preparedness.
"Every hazard has its own unique characteristics," he said, reviewing
the nuances between preparing for an earthquake, which is a single event in
which many patients suffer crush injuries, and pandemics where half the
hospital staff could fall ill and the course of the disease could last
months or years. Planning requires that hospitals consider the unique
circumstances of each crisis and plan the appropriate response."
General competencies include planning for the basics like power, food,
water, staffing and supplies. "Almost all hospitals now have generators
that can supply power for two to seven days, but in Florida, the average
power outage was two weeks," he said.
"Have you asked yourself the question, 'What would break down if we
didn't have power for 30 days?'" he said. "What would happen if all the
workers who fix water mains were ill? Or, what would you do if it took
three times as long as usual for pharmaceuticals to be replenished?"
Agwunobi also reminded hospital executives that hospital disaster
planning should not happen in a vacuum but must be coordinated at the
community level with the government, other health care providers and other
hospitals. "You can be as prepared as you think you can be, but if your
community is not prepared, if you're the only one, then you'll be
overwhelmed in any crisis ... If you're the only light in the darkness,
you'll quickly get all the oxygen patients; if you're the only source of
water, you'll get all the dialysis patients."
Part of hospital planning must be to create a "culture of community
preparedness," including close cooperation with other hospitals, agencies
and community resources. He urged hospitals that might normally be
competitors to share their disaster preparedness plans, adding "in a true
crisis, there is no competition."
The meeting sought to address discrepancies in hospital preparedness.
Earlier this year, a report from the Trust for America's Health said the
nation's level of emergency preparedness warranted a D+ and hospitals
didn't rank much better.
The forum agenda included a scenario planning session and the
introduction of a new tool for measuring hospital CEO preparedness. Public
release of the results of the preparedness assessment is expected early
first quarter of 2007. Those at the conference saw first-hand the
rebuilding of New Orleans with local hospital executives who managed
through Hurricane Katrina. A media panel shed light on what the press
expects from hospitals as critical sources of information during a
disaster.
The VHA Health Foundation, located in Irving, Texas, is a public
foundation created by VHA Inc. to encourage leadership and innovation in
addressing health and health care issues. Efforts benefit VHA member health
care organizations as well as non-members. The VHA Health Foundation
supports programs that focus on new approaches to health and health care
that make a difference, generate synergies that bring resources to add
value and enhance outcomes, and diffuse knowledge and best practices. For
more information, visit vhahf.
VHA Health Foundation
vhahf
throughout the nation met here today for two days of talks with high-level
health care and government officials on better preparing American
communities to cope with the next inevitable disaster.
Admiral John O. Agwunobi, MD, MBA, MPH, Assistant Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services, told the nearly 200 leaders
attending the VHA Health Foundation forum that disaster planning should not
begin with the actual event. Instead, disaster plans should start with
recovery and considerations of what the situation will be like 30 days
after the catastrophe occurs.
"The greatest stress on hospitals ... is after the event rather than
during or before," he said. "Yet in disaster planning, we spend time
planning for the 30 minutes before the disaster hits but rarely get to the
recovery phase in our planning exercises."
The meeting was the first devoted exclusively to helping hospital CEOs
determine if their hospital has done everything necessary to assure they
are prepared to assist their communities through man-made or natural
disasters. The VHA Health Foundation, sponsor of the event, is a national
resource for senior hospital leaders seeking information on innovation in
health care and disaster readiness.
"People turn to hospitals in a crisis because they know hospitals deal
with emergencies every single day," said Linda DeWolf, President of the VHA
Health Foundation. "And hospitals know that to meet their responsibilities
they must be ready to deal with unanticipated disruptions in
communications, staffing, facilities and logistics. Most importantly,
hospitals need to recognize that the community relationships they build now
are crucial to their ability to weather a crisis."
Aaron Brown, former CNN NewsNight anchor highlighted the need for
leaders to be in control of their response to a crisis and demonstrate
unwavering "commitment to getting it done," even in the most desperate of
situations. Brown, over a career spanning 30 years, covered such disasters
as September 11, the shootings in Columbine and earthquakes in California.
James Lee Witt, former FEMA director, was expected to share insights later
in the day Thursday from more than 25 years of managing disasters.
Agwunobi said "true preparedness" has three levels:
-- The ability to understand the unique nuances in any given hazard;
-- The assurance of "modular general competencies"; and
-- The creation of a culture of preparedness.
"Every hazard has its own unique characteristics," he said, reviewing
the nuances between preparing for an earthquake, which is a single event in
which many patients suffer crush injuries, and pandemics where half the
hospital staff could fall ill and the course of the disease could last
months or years. Planning requires that hospitals consider the unique
circumstances of each crisis and plan the appropriate response."
General competencies include planning for the basics like power, food,
water, staffing and supplies. "Almost all hospitals now have generators
that can supply power for two to seven days, but in Florida, the average
power outage was two weeks," he said.
"Have you asked yourself the question, 'What would break down if we
didn't have power for 30 days?'" he said. "What would happen if all the
workers who fix water mains were ill? Or, what would you do if it took
three times as long as usual for pharmaceuticals to be replenished?"
Agwunobi also reminded hospital executives that hospital disaster
planning should not happen in a vacuum but must be coordinated at the
community level with the government, other health care providers and other
hospitals. "You can be as prepared as you think you can be, but if your
community is not prepared, if you're the only one, then you'll be
overwhelmed in any crisis ... If you're the only light in the darkness,
you'll quickly get all the oxygen patients; if you're the only source of
water, you'll get all the dialysis patients."
Part of hospital planning must be to create a "culture of community
preparedness," including close cooperation with other hospitals, agencies
and community resources. He urged hospitals that might normally be
competitors to share their disaster preparedness plans, adding "in a true
crisis, there is no competition."
The meeting sought to address discrepancies in hospital preparedness.
Earlier this year, a report from the Trust for America's Health said the
nation's level of emergency preparedness warranted a D+ and hospitals
didn't rank much better.
The forum agenda included a scenario planning session and the
introduction of a new tool for measuring hospital CEO preparedness. Public
release of the results of the preparedness assessment is expected early
first quarter of 2007. Those at the conference saw first-hand the
rebuilding of New Orleans with local hospital executives who managed
through Hurricane Katrina. A media panel shed light on what the press
expects from hospitals as critical sources of information during a
disaster.
The VHA Health Foundation, located in Irving, Texas, is a public
foundation created by VHA Inc. to encourage leadership and innovation in
addressing health and health care issues. Efforts benefit VHA member health
care organizations as well as non-members. The VHA Health Foundation
supports programs that focus on new approaches to health and health care
that make a difference, generate synergies that bring resources to add
value and enhance outcomes, and diffuse knowledge and best practices. For
more information, visit vhahf.
VHA Health Foundation
vhahf
воскресенье, 1 мая 2011 г.
UNICEF Delivers Essential Supplies For Children And Families Hit By Floods In Hadhramout In Yemen
A UNICEF convoy carrying essential supplies has left Sana'a to deliver assistance to children and families devastated by flash floods in the Hadhramout Governorate of Yemen. Torrential rains culminating in flood water washed away scores of villages in the valley, forcing people from their homes. UN agencies started their joint relief operation with the Government of Yemen in the first 72 hours, and commissioned a rapid assessment to gauge the needs of the affected population.
In its aftermath, the floods have left 98 people dead and thousands displaced. Over 22,000 internally displaced persons have taken shelter in 65 schools. Around 3,264 households have been destroyed. Various sites are not yet accessible by road, and precise information on the emergency situation is lacking. Wadi Doan, Tarim and Sah in central Yemen are among the worst hit areas.
Children and women face a high risk of water borne diseases and exposure to the ravages of harsh winter weather. The initial assessment shows an urgent need for essential items such as safe drinking water, blankets, hygiene items and soap, food, and non-food items. UNICEF's life-saving supplies include water purification tablets, jerry cans for storing drinking waters, blankets, soap and daily items to help families survive in a time of severe distress.
"The size and complexity of the natural disaster, which caught local populations unprepared, is beyond the capacity of the government and civil society to handle," UNICEF Representative in Yemen Aboudou Karimou Adjibade remarked on the eve of the departure of UNICEF convoy of supplies.
UNICEF is airlifting another bulk supply of water purification tablets from its Copenhagen Office to ensure the threat of water borne diseases is averted. "UNICEF's major concern is to save children, who due to the elevated incidence of malnutrition are highly vulnerable to water-borne diseases in the aftermath of the floods. The supplies sent to Hadhramout include jerry cans, storage tanks for drinking water and essential hygiene items that children and families need in conditions of overcrowding in the temporary shelters," said Mr. Adjibade.
It is important for the initial supplies to get to the families during the first week of the crisis. More aid is on the way to help Governorate authorities render water schemes and schools functional as soon as possible. A UNICEF team of professionals has been dispatched to Hadhramout Government and is working closely with local authorities to make sure that the priority needs of children and women are addressed effectively.
A UNICEF package of life-saving supplies includes water purification tablets, water containers, storage tanks, blankets, soap and hygiene kits for families and children.
UNICEF Yemen Representative seeing off a convoy of essential supplies for children
and families affected by the floods in Hadhramout
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
UNICEF
In its aftermath, the floods have left 98 people dead and thousands displaced. Over 22,000 internally displaced persons have taken shelter in 65 schools. Around 3,264 households have been destroyed. Various sites are not yet accessible by road, and precise information on the emergency situation is lacking. Wadi Doan, Tarim and Sah in central Yemen are among the worst hit areas.
Children and women face a high risk of water borne diseases and exposure to the ravages of harsh winter weather. The initial assessment shows an urgent need for essential items such as safe drinking water, blankets, hygiene items and soap, food, and non-food items. UNICEF's life-saving supplies include water purification tablets, jerry cans for storing drinking waters, blankets, soap and daily items to help families survive in a time of severe distress.
"The size and complexity of the natural disaster, which caught local populations unprepared, is beyond the capacity of the government and civil society to handle," UNICEF Representative in Yemen Aboudou Karimou Adjibade remarked on the eve of the departure of UNICEF convoy of supplies.
UNICEF is airlifting another bulk supply of water purification tablets from its Copenhagen Office to ensure the threat of water borne diseases is averted. "UNICEF's major concern is to save children, who due to the elevated incidence of malnutrition are highly vulnerable to water-borne diseases in the aftermath of the floods. The supplies sent to Hadhramout include jerry cans, storage tanks for drinking water and essential hygiene items that children and families need in conditions of overcrowding in the temporary shelters," said Mr. Adjibade.
It is important for the initial supplies to get to the families during the first week of the crisis. More aid is on the way to help Governorate authorities render water schemes and schools functional as soon as possible. A UNICEF team of professionals has been dispatched to Hadhramout Government and is working closely with local authorities to make sure that the priority needs of children and women are addressed effectively.
A UNICEF package of life-saving supplies includes water purification tablets, water containers, storage tanks, blankets, soap and hygiene kits for families and children.
UNICEF Yemen Representative seeing off a convoy of essential supplies for children
and families affected by the floods in Hadhramout
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
UNICEF
суббота, 30 апреля 2011 г.
American Red Cross Response to Hurricane Katrina as at September 19, 2005
The American Red Cross is responding to an unprecedented natural catastrophe and devoting every resource to this humanitarian relief effort. The American people can be confident the Red Cross will spare no effort to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors.
Sheltering Operations
Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross has provided more than 2.3 million overnight stays in 902 shelters across 26 states and the District of Columbia. On Sunday night, the Red Cross housed more than 36,000 Hurricane Katrina survivors in 236 shelters.
Relief Workers
More than 138,000 Red Cross workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to Katrina. During this effort, the Red Cross has trained an additional 74,000 people in specialized disaster relief skills.
Feeding Operations
The Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, has served nearly 12 million hot meals and more than 8.2 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Financial Assistance
The American Red Cross is expanding the variety of its efforts to provide financial assistance to upwards of three quarters of a million Hurricane Katrina victims who are dispersed across the nation. Assistance is provided in a variety of ways, including client assistance cards, vouchers, checks and cash. This program has reached more than 350,000 families to date.
Survivors can register for emergency financial assistance, 24 hours a day, by calling toll-free 1-800-975-7585. Due to the large number of survivors, phone lines may be overwhelmed.
Reuniting Families
Persons looking for loved ones can call 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317),
or go to wwwredcross and click on "Family Links Registry" to:
-- Register yourself
-- Register a loved one, or
-- View the existing list of registrants
Family Links Registrants
More than 206,000 have been registered online.
Health & Preventative Care
Visit The Red Cross or The CDC for information about health strategies and preventative measures for those in affected areas.
Disaster Mental Health
To date, almost 282,000 people have received Red Cross Disaster Mental Health services.
How to Help
To Volunteer
Contact your local Red Cross chapter to become a volunteer. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas.
To Donate
Making a financial contribution is the best way to help, to donate:
Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
Make at secure, online donation at The Red Cross
Visit an Official Red Cross (Cash) Donation Site (retailer locations or online)
Contact your local Red Cross chapter
View additional Red Cross Donation Tips
Funds Received
As of Sept. 19, 2005, the Red Cross has received $764.7 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, of which an estimated $337 million has been received online.
The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims.
Additional Resources & Information - To learn more about the coordination of efforts among the many organizations and agencies helping hurricane survivors and for additional resources, visit usafreedomcorps.
redcross
Sheltering Operations
Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Red Cross has provided more than 2.3 million overnight stays in 902 shelters across 26 states and the District of Columbia. On Sunday night, the Red Cross housed more than 36,000 Hurricane Katrina survivors in 236 shelters.
Relief Workers
More than 138,000 Red Cross workers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to Katrina. During this effort, the Red Cross has trained an additional 74,000 people in specialized disaster relief skills.
Feeding Operations
The Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, has served nearly 12 million hot meals and more than 8.2 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Financial Assistance
The American Red Cross is expanding the variety of its efforts to provide financial assistance to upwards of three quarters of a million Hurricane Katrina victims who are dispersed across the nation. Assistance is provided in a variety of ways, including client assistance cards, vouchers, checks and cash. This program has reached more than 350,000 families to date.
Survivors can register for emergency financial assistance, 24 hours a day, by calling toll-free 1-800-975-7585. Due to the large number of survivors, phone lines may be overwhelmed.
Reuniting Families
Persons looking for loved ones can call 1-877-LOVED 1S (1-877-568-3317),
or go to wwwredcross and click on "Family Links Registry" to:
-- Register yourself
-- Register a loved one, or
-- View the existing list of registrants
Family Links Registrants
More than 206,000 have been registered online.
Health & Preventative Care
Visit The Red Cross or The CDC for information about health strategies and preventative measures for those in affected areas.
Disaster Mental Health
To date, almost 282,000 people have received Red Cross Disaster Mental Health services.
How to Help
To Volunteer
Contact your local Red Cross chapter to become a volunteer. Well-meaning individuals are urged not to report directly to the affected areas.
To Donate
Making a financial contribution is the best way to help, to donate:
Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
Make at secure, online donation at The Red Cross
Visit an Official Red Cross (Cash) Donation Site (retailer locations or online)
Contact your local Red Cross chapter
View additional Red Cross Donation Tips
Funds Received
As of Sept. 19, 2005, the Red Cross has received $764.7 million in gifts and pledges for the hurricane relief effort, of which an estimated $337 million has been received online.
The Red Cross has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective use of donations. At least 91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross goes directly to assist disaster victims.
Additional Resources & Information - To learn more about the coordination of efforts among the many organizations and agencies helping hurricane survivors and for additional resources, visit usafreedomcorps.
redcross
пятница, 29 апреля 2011 г.
Pitt researchers simulate urban rescue environment at RoboCup 2005 in Osaka, Japan
As the July 7 bombings in London have so devastatingly illustrated, disaster relief is an arduous task, one that is carried out mainly by humans (and trained dogs), communicating face-to-face or by phones and walkie-talkies. Robots may provide limited support for search and rescue activities and are typically remotely operated by a separate team of humans, but such robots can be difficult to control.
To help robots become more helpful to humans during rescue operations, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University have developed virtual hazardous environments that they are demonstrating at the International RoboCup Federation's RoboCup 2005 competition at the INTEX Exhibition Center in Osaka, Japan, through July 19. The goal of the annual RoboCup competitions, which have been in existence since 1997, is to produce a team of soccer-playing robots that can beat the human world champion soccer team by the year 2050. As part of that program, teams of robots also compete in a search-and-rescue category.
Michael Lewis, associate professor in Pitt's Department of Information Science and Telecommunications; Jijun Wang, a graduate student in the department; and Carnegie Mellon researchers Illah Nourbakhsh and Katia Sycara will demonstrate their virtual environments in the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) competition, which takes place in portable disaster arenas designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to replicate the hazards and difficulties encountered by robots in real disaster environments. The demonstration will use exact models of these arenas as well as models of NIST's Nike silo robotic test site and an office building damaged in the Kobe earthquake to provide a range of environments.
Based on the Unreal game engine, the Pitt simulation provides realistic graphics and accurate physics to duplicate the problems and challenges faced by operators of real search and rescue robots. The operator's interface and overhead views of the arena will be displayed next to an immersive cave where the audience can follow the robots as they search for victims.
The simulation is available at - CLICK HERE - and more information about the demonstration is available at isd.mel.nist/projects/USAR. For more information on the RoboCup competition, visit robocup.
University of Pittsburgh
pitt
To help robots become more helpful to humans during rescue operations, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University have developed virtual hazardous environments that they are demonstrating at the International RoboCup Federation's RoboCup 2005 competition at the INTEX Exhibition Center in Osaka, Japan, through July 19. The goal of the annual RoboCup competitions, which have been in existence since 1997, is to produce a team of soccer-playing robots that can beat the human world champion soccer team by the year 2050. As part of that program, teams of robots also compete in a search-and-rescue category.
Michael Lewis, associate professor in Pitt's Department of Information Science and Telecommunications; Jijun Wang, a graduate student in the department; and Carnegie Mellon researchers Illah Nourbakhsh and Katia Sycara will demonstrate their virtual environments in the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) competition, which takes place in portable disaster arenas designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to replicate the hazards and difficulties encountered by robots in real disaster environments. The demonstration will use exact models of these arenas as well as models of NIST's Nike silo robotic test site and an office building damaged in the Kobe earthquake to provide a range of environments.
Based on the Unreal game engine, the Pitt simulation provides realistic graphics and accurate physics to duplicate the problems and challenges faced by operators of real search and rescue robots. The operator's interface and overhead views of the arena will be displayed next to an immersive cave where the audience can follow the robots as they search for victims.
The simulation is available at - CLICK HERE - and more information about the demonstration is available at isd.mel.nist/projects/USAR. For more information on the RoboCup competition, visit robocup.
University of Pittsburgh
pitt
четверг, 28 апреля 2011 г.
World Food Programme To Phase Out Aid In Uganda, Including HIV/AIDS Support
The United Nations World Food Programme will phase out food aid and HIV/AIDS support to Uganda, a United Nations official said on Thursday, Xinhua/ChinaView.cn reports. The plan could affect more than 1.5 million people. Uganda's WFP representative Stanlake Samkange said, "WFP's new global strategic direction reiterates that the WFP will always support the priorities of the governments of the countries where it operates. In Uganda's case, the government is more focused on upstream activities as compared to food aid and support to people affected by HIV/AIDS."
Samkange said because there are many groups dealing with HIV/AIDS aid in the country, WFP will focus only on the needs of people affected by HIV/AIDS within its new and ongoing programs. He said that a school feeding program in northern Uganda will continue and that other programs will be retargeted to ensure that they are effectively responding to changing needs. The phase out reportedly will end by December, Xinhua/ChinaView.cn reports.
WFP said that in 2008 its HIV/AIDS support reached an estimated 173,000 people (Xinhua/ChinaView.cn, 9/18).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Samkange said because there are many groups dealing with HIV/AIDS aid in the country, WFP will focus only on the needs of people affected by HIV/AIDS within its new and ongoing programs. He said that a school feeding program in northern Uganda will continue and that other programs will be retargeted to ensure that they are effectively responding to changing needs. The phase out reportedly will end by December, Xinhua/ChinaView.cn reports.
WFP said that in 2008 its HIV/AIDS support reached an estimated 173,000 people (Xinhua/ChinaView.cn, 9/18).
Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
<
среда, 27 апреля 2011 г.
Some Congressional Democrats Appear Reluctant To Enter Debate Over PEPFAR's Abstinence Funding Requirements, Wall Street Journal Reports
Some Democratic leaders in Congress are showing "signs" that they are reluctant to enter the debate over the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief's abstinence spending requirements, the Wall Street Journal reports (Phillips, Wall Street Journal, 5/21). By law, at least one-third of HIV prevention funds that focus countries receive through PEPFAR must be used for abstinence-until-marriage programs (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/2).
Some HIV/AIDS advocates are calling on Democratic lawmakers to repeal the abstinence requirement in the upcoming foreign-aid spending bill, while supporters of the requirements are lobbying against the change, the Journal reports. According to the Journal, Democratic lawmakers "seem likely to push the issue off until later this year or even next year," when Congress is scheduled to reauthorize PEPFAR. The delay could mean that "any relaxation" in HIV/AIDS funding requirements might not take effect until 2009 or 2010, the Journal reports.
Some advocates who oppose the abstinence spending requirements say that the rule diverts money from programs that promote condom use and provide access to antiretroviral drugs and HIV/AIDS care. Although "Democrats have the power to do the right thing," they "don't seem to be willing to do it," Jodi Jacobson -- executive director of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, a group that is leading efforts to repeal the spending requirements -- said, adding, "What is the point in being in the majority if you can't take action?"
Opponents of the spending requirement also have pointed to recent studies, including an Institute of Medicine report that found congressional provisions about how to spend HIV/AIDS money hinders health professionals in the field. Another study, commissioned by HHS, found that abstinence-only programs in the U.S. have not impacted young people's sexual behavior.
Supporters of the spending requirement say that without it, programs promoting abstinence until marriage and fidelity would not receive adequate resources. "Over time, we probably won't need (the provision), but for now, we still do," Ambassador Mark Dybul, who serves as the U.S. global AIDS coordinator and administers PEPFAR, said. Other supporters have cited Uganda as an example of a country that has successfully reduced its HIV/AIDS prevalence by promoting abstinence and fidelity. Stephen Colecchi -- director of the Office of International Justice and Peace at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which supports abstinence programs -- said that in this case, "the morally right thing is also the efficacious approach."
According to the Journal, HIV/AIDS advocates have some "well-placed allies" in Congress, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and House Appropriations Committee, respectively. Feinstein has said that the requirement is "squeezing out" available funding for other HIV prevention efforts, such as those aimed at preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and maintaining a healthy blood supply. Lee also has introduced a bill that would eliminate the abstinence requirement.
An unnamed White House spokesperson declined to say whether President Bush would veto legislation that relaxes abstinence spending requirements but added that the administration would "certainly fight to maintain a balanced approach" to HIV prevention funds. Some advocates also are calling for the repeal of a U.S. policy that requires recipients of federal HIV/AIDS service grants to pledge to oppose commercial sex work, the Journal reports (Wall Street Journal, 5/21).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Some HIV/AIDS advocates are calling on Democratic lawmakers to repeal the abstinence requirement in the upcoming foreign-aid spending bill, while supporters of the requirements are lobbying against the change, the Journal reports. According to the Journal, Democratic lawmakers "seem likely to push the issue off until later this year or even next year," when Congress is scheduled to reauthorize PEPFAR. The delay could mean that "any relaxation" in HIV/AIDS funding requirements might not take effect until 2009 or 2010, the Journal reports.
Some advocates who oppose the abstinence spending requirements say that the rule diverts money from programs that promote condom use and provide access to antiretroviral drugs and HIV/AIDS care. Although "Democrats have the power to do the right thing," they "don't seem to be willing to do it," Jodi Jacobson -- executive director of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, a group that is leading efforts to repeal the spending requirements -- said, adding, "What is the point in being in the majority if you can't take action?"
Opponents of the spending requirement also have pointed to recent studies, including an Institute of Medicine report that found congressional provisions about how to spend HIV/AIDS money hinders health professionals in the field. Another study, commissioned by HHS, found that abstinence-only programs in the U.S. have not impacted young people's sexual behavior.
Supporters of the spending requirement say that without it, programs promoting abstinence until marriage and fidelity would not receive adequate resources. "Over time, we probably won't need (the provision), but for now, we still do," Ambassador Mark Dybul, who serves as the U.S. global AIDS coordinator and administers PEPFAR, said. Other supporters have cited Uganda as an example of a country that has successfully reduced its HIV/AIDS prevalence by promoting abstinence and fidelity. Stephen Colecchi -- director of the Office of International Justice and Peace at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which supports abstinence programs -- said that in this case, "the morally right thing is also the efficacious approach."
According to the Journal, HIV/AIDS advocates have some "well-placed allies" in Congress, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and House Appropriations Committee, respectively. Feinstein has said that the requirement is "squeezing out" available funding for other HIV prevention efforts, such as those aimed at preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and maintaining a healthy blood supply. Lee also has introduced a bill that would eliminate the abstinence requirement.
An unnamed White House spokesperson declined to say whether President Bush would veto legislation that relaxes abstinence spending requirements but added that the administration would "certainly fight to maintain a balanced approach" to HIV prevention funds. Some advocates also are calling for the repeal of a U.S. policy that requires recipients of federal HIV/AIDS service grants to pledge to oppose commercial sex work, the Journal reports (Wall Street Journal, 5/21).
"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
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