How many times have you started to have a conversation with someone about Hepatitis C only to have it blow up in your face? Have you ever heard someone say something about Hep C that didn't seem quite right to you? You were probably right something was amiss. A discussion about Hepatitis C can...
As per Wikipedia, the definition of a stigma is as follows: "Stigma is a word that originally means a "sign", "point", or "branding mark"." Wikipedia goes on to call stigma "A badge of shame, a physical mark of infamy or disgrace." Damn that w...
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Buyer Beware! There are several snake oil salesmen out there who are claiming to have cured their own Hepatitis C with herbs, supplements and parking lot gravel. Okay, maybe not the parking lot gravel but it might as well be. What you need to remember is that there are two different types of...
Most every adult woman (and an occasional man) has enjoyed a manicure and a pedicure at a nail salon or spa. That 30 minute pedicure can be so relaxing but are you aware of the danger lurking in that nail salon? Although few individuals recognize the medical risks associated with this common pr...
Under the new structure at the Secretariat, civil society has many entry points to the Global Fund despite the breakup of the Civil Society Team, says Christoph Benn, Director of Resource Mobilisation and Donor Relations. Civil society organisations have expressed concerns about the restructuring.
CSOs write to Jaramillo about their concerns.
The Global Fund will uphold its crucial relationship with civil society organisations (CSOs) even after the dismantling of the Civil Society (CS) Team at its Secretariat, the Director of Resource Mobilisation and Donor Relations, Christoph Benn, told GFO in a telephone interview. "Civil society engagement has made the Fund what it is today. We cannot afford to lose this element," Mr Benn said.
With the restructuring of the Global Fund's Secretariat, a team of six officers that handled civil society issues was dissolved. The tasks have been divided up between three different divisions: Resource Mobilisation and Donor Relations; Strategy, Investment and Impact; and Grant Management. CSOs have expressed concern about the changes (see below).
Mr Benn explained that under the new structure, the fund portfolio managers (FPMs) in the Secretariat will also become civil society and partnership managers for the countries they are responsible for. "This implies that every FPM has some knowledge of the partnership environment, has the willingness to work with them, and recognises the importance of civil society and other partners, he said." In addition, Mr Benn said, a political and civil society advocacy team in the Resource Mobilisation and Donor Relations Division will be dealing with advocacy globally. "Only if civil society at all levels, from the Board to the implementers and beneficiaries, feels that its voice is being heard, and that it is taken seriously as a very important partner, can we ask it to do advocacy for the Global Fund," Mr Benn said.
Further, Mr Benn said, there will now be a senior officer in charge of community systems strengthening, one aspect of civil society involvement at country level. This position has been created in the Department for Strategic Investment and Partnerships, which falls under the Strategy, Investment and Impact Division. As previously, there will also be officers in the Governance Department liaising with the CSO delegations to the Global Fund Board.
Letter from CSOs
The Civil Society Action Team (CSAT) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), which provides technical assistance to Global Fund-financed programmes, voiced its concerns about the restructuring in a letter to General Manager Gabriel Jaramillo. CSAT warned that the changes "could weaken civil society communication and cooperation with the Secretariat and thereby will hinder the effectiveness, risk management and sustainability of programs supported by the Fund."
CSAT asked Mr Jaramillo to consider re-instituting the CS Team. It also asked him to explain how civil society involvement - as well as the issues of sexual orientation, gender, most-at-risk populations and human rights - will be addressed within the new structure. In addition, CSAT asked for clarification about how civil society will be involved in the grant processes and CCMs.
Please sign the ATC Salvage Therapy Petition Join us in asking Congressman Alcee Hastings and Congresswomen Maxine Waters to send a ‘Dear Colleague’ letter to Anthony Fauci, Director of NIAID, asking for the federal facilitation of apricitabine (ATC). ATC is a phase III nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that has been shown to be safe and effective in treating people with HIV. It works against viruses that are resistant to several other nukes and could ...
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts Medical School announced today at CROI2013 the discovery of the first infant functionally cured of HIV. The baby, a female now two and a half years old, received 3 HIV medications when brought to the hospital at 30 hours old. Viral load tests were performed during the first few weeks that showed a rapidly decreasing viral load which reached ...
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At HIV Haven we wish to provide our readers with vital cutting edge information to help expand HIV knowledge and promote activism, particularly that which works towards an end to the HIV pandemic. It is our desire to bring to you the scientific, medical and social advances that given the appropriate attention and support, could change the course of the HIV pandemic, lessen the devastating effects of HIV and AIDS, better the quality and quantity of life for people living with HIV and even yield an eventual end to the HIV pandemic. We also provide the basics of HIV transmission and treatment.
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