March 22, 2012 (Cape Town) – This week, activists working in health (HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria) from all over Africa convened to tackle some of the difficult issues facing Africa’s health landscape, with a goal to develop strategies and action steps following the Global Fund’s cancellation of Round 11. The Global Fund’s announcement that it would not be funding new grants till 2014 created a growing concern about how organizations on the ground will be able to offer adequate health services in a region which is struggling to keep these life-threatening diseases under control. Furthermore, the decision comes at a time when increased investment could actually help Africa see a significant decrease (a sea change even) in the threat of these diseases, while a reduction in health funding (at this critical period) could lead to a fast reversal of the gains made over the past decade.
The Global Fund was amongst the participants at this meeting. The discussions were deep and solution-oriented. A significant amount of time was given to breakout working groups where there was a focus by one group on how to replenish the Global Fund by June of this year, while the other two groups focused on strategies and actions for how to increase domestic support of and accountability in health by African governments. Government Corruption, Prevention as Treatment, Accountability (of donor countries, Global Fund, African governments, and NGOs), Strategies for Replenishing the Global Fund in the Short-Term, and Resource Mobilization were amongst the topics discussed.
A number of innovative ideas and actions came out of these discussions – these OUTCOMES will be presented at today’s press conference.
This week’s health financing meeting also set the stage for a new way of looking at health and health financing in Africa. Integration was a key topic as HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria activists talked about how to “hunt in a pack” and advocate jointly from a common platform so as to compliment and not compete with each other. One participant reminded the group of the tragedy of saving someone from one disease just so they can die from another. Discussions also looked at regional versus country-based activism and coordination, and also about the need to develop country-based health strategies while still coordinating region-wide.
Much time was spent discussing integration and coordination of health efforts (across diseases) so as to create efficiencies, better health management, stronger health baselines and an overall holistic approach to disease prevention and management.
The press release (below) gives more information about the meeting and participants. Please also go to http://www.who.int/research/en/ http://www.rbm.who.int/ http://www.stoptb.org/resources/ and http://www.unaids.org for statistics on the diseases and prevention/treatment results.
The following is a brief outline of today’s HEALTH FINANCING press conference:
Moderator:
Daniel Molokele, Civil Society Coordinator for the Southern Africa Regional Programme on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics (SARPAM)
Panelists:
Jefter Mxotshwa, Executive Director, Network of African People Living With HIV/AIDS – Southern Africa Region (NAPSAR)
Discussing the State of HIV/AIDS & HIV/AIDS Financing in Africa, Impact of Global Fund Cuts on HIV/AIDS, Domestic Financing Models in Kenya, National Health Insurance in Africa
Lucy Chesire, Executive Director, TB ACTION Group
Discussing the State of TB & TB Financing in Africa, XDR TB in South Africa and Challenges Around Community Systems
Ntombozuko Kraai, TB Survivor and HIV/AIDS Activist
Sharing A Personal Story of How Access to Treatment Saved Her Life and What That Meant for Her, Her Family and Her Community*
Edward Mwangi Wangenya, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya NGOs Alliance Against Malaria (KeNAAM)
Discussing the State of Malaria (including childhood mortality) & Malaria Financing in Africa, Sustainability Issues, Drug Resistance in the Context of Unpredictable Funding and Inconsistent Coverage in Treatment
Linda Mafu, Executive Director, World AIDS Campaign
Sharing the OUTCOMES of the Health Financing Meeting This Week – Strategies and Action Steps Developed by Coalition of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Activists Including Innovative Ideas Proposed and Next Steps to Put Pressure on Both African Governments and Donor Countries to Fill the Global Fund Budget Shortfall and the Future of Integrated Advocacy/Health Networks in Africa.
*Saturday March 24, 2012 is World TB Day
Media Contact:
Czerina Patel
Health Financing Communications Officer
WORLD AIDS CAMPAIGN
+27-79-867-4439
yenza@yenza.org
HIV & Health Africa Financing Campaign 