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USAID HIV/AIDS E-Newsletter - June/July 2005
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of HIV/AIDS is proud to be a partner in The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. This e-newsletter is a regular update from USAID and its partners on programs that prevent and mitigate HIV/AIDS across the developing world.
We encourage you to circulate this publication to colleagues.
Table of Contents
- A. New Partner Spotlight
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
- B. News
- First Lady Laura Bush Rallies Support for Tanzanian HIV/AIDS Clinic
- HIV-Positive Children in Guyana Receive Life-Saving Medicines
- Delayed Sexual Debut Campaign Launches in Zimbabwe
- Multicountry Phase III Clinical Trials to Test Microbicides to Prevent HIV Infection
- Nigerian NGO First to Receive Direct U.S. Government Funding
- Newsletter Focuses on Psychosocial Support to AIDS-Affected Children
- New Documentary Examines Antiretroviral Therapy and Home-Based Care in Ethiopia
- Nepal Police Adopt HIV/AIDS Strategy and Curriculum
- C. Recent Events
- Seminar Examines Psychosocial Support Programs for Vulnerable Children
- D. Publications
- Guide Aids Planning and Action to Assist Orphans and Vulnerable Children
- Pocket Guides for Food Aid Practitioners Released
- Reports Assess Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS and Media Coverage in Nepal
- Bulletin Addresses Impact of Nonconsensual Sex on Reproductive Health
- Study on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission and Family Planning
- Two Publications on Home-Based Care Programs Released
- HIV Counseling and Testing for Youth: A Manual for Providers
- Newsletter Focuses on Range of Options in Combating HIV/AIDS
- CORE Initiative Releases Quarterly Newsletter
- Publication Discusses Antiretroviral Therapy in Kenya
- E. Online Resources
- HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Clinical Course Revised, Released Online
- Tanzania HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey Available Online
- Data Online for Population, Health and Nutrition (DOLPHN) Available
- HIV Prevalence Added to the HIV/AIDS Survey Indicators Database
- The Synergy HIV/AIDS Resource Center Highlights What’s New
- Newsletter Provides Resources for Work with Youth Affected by HIV/AIDS
A. New Partner Spotlight
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
CRS serves the poor in 99 countries on five continents, through programs in emergency relief, HIV/AIDS, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peace building. As part of the Emergency Plan, CRS' "Avoiding Risk, Affirming Life" project will work with faith- and community-based partners in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda to encourage abstinence until marriage, secondary abstinence, and fidelity in marriage. Drawing upon extensive prevention experience in more than 30 countries, CRS will enable a robust, locally-driven response, including parishes, parents, caregivers, church leaders, women’s groups and youth clubs. While youth will be the focus, adults (especially older males) will also be targeted with messages of fidelity and sexual responsibility as a means to protect vulnerable youth. The project will directly reach 957,125 youth and 395,360 adults with interactive messages on abstinence and mutual fidelity.
B. News
- First Lady Laura Bush Rallies Support for Tanzanian HIV/AIDS Clinic [PDF, 157KB]
Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna visited Pastoral Activities and Services for People with AIDS in Dar es Salaam Archdiocese (PASADA), a USAID-funded Tanzanian clinic that provides care and treatment for persons with HIV/AIDS and children orphaned by AIDS. Mrs. Bush commended the clinic’s work and affirmed support for working with faith-based organizations.
- HIV-Positive Children in Guyana Receive Life-Saving Medicines
Guyana, one of the priority countries under the Emergency Plan, recently received US$110,000 in pediatric antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) from the U.S. Government. The Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention (GHARP) project, supported by USAID, will distribute the ARVs. Currently 61 children with HIV are being monitored at clinics. Family Health International, Management Sciences for Health, Cicatelli Associates Incorporated, and Howard Delafield International are the implementing partners of the GHARP project.
- Delayed Sexual Debut Campaign Launches in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is the first of 16 African nations to roll out a regional communication campaign to encourage young people to delay sexual relations as long as possible. Population Services International/Zimbabwe has partnered with numerous religious organizations to extend the reach and impact of the campaign, which was based on extensive research by PSI’s AIDSMark Project.
- Multicountry Phase III Clinical Trials to Test Microbicides to Prevent HIV Infection
The CONRAD program of Eastern Virginia Medical School has received a $12 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with $12 million in matching funds committed by USAID, to conduct Phase III clinical effectiveness trials of a product to prevent the transmission of HIV. CONRAD and Family Health International are the primary organizations involved in these trials.
- Nigerian NGO First to Receive Direct U.S. Government Funding [PDF, 267KB]
The Society for Family Health (SFH), Population Services International’s (PSI) affiliate in Nigeria, has become the first Nigerian NGO to be certified to receive direct U.S. government funding. PSI has worked with SFH since 1985 to build its capacity, resulting in an impressive health impact and prevention of more HIV infections than any PSI program in 2004.
- Newsletter Focuses on Psychosocial Support to AIDS-Affected Children
The latest issue of Horizons Report, produced by the Population Council and partners, presents findings from operations research in Zimbabwe and Rwanda. The research focused on the psychosocial well-being of AIDS-affected children and ways to increase their ability to adapt and cope with the challenges of AIDS.
- New Documentary Examines Antiretroviral Therapy and Home-Based Care in Ethiopia
A new film produced by Family Health International documents the work of volunteer caregivers in Ethiopia as they help clients initiate complex antiretroviral therapy regimens. Promoting adherence and helping families integrate treatment and care into daily life are among the issues discussed.
- Nepal Police Adopt HIV/AIDS Strategy and Curriculum
Technical assistance through the POLICY Project has produced a significant breakthrough in Nepal’s comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS. The Nepal Police recently developed and adopted a five-year HIV/AIDS strategy and work plan. In April 2005, Nepal’s Inspector General of Police, Mr. Shyam Bhakta Thapa, also launched a training curriculum for officers and peacekeepers of all ranks.
C. Recent Events
- Seminar Examines Psychosocial Support Programs for Vulnerable Children
The Population Council’s Horizons Program and InterAction held a seminar in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2005. The seminar examined different types of psychosocial support services, accomplishments and challenges, program impact, and lessons learned from disaster relief for the AIDS community and tsunami victims in meeting the needs of vulnerable children.
D. Publications
- Guide Aids Planning and Action to Assist Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Family Health International recently released a new tool to help gather and analyze information to guide planning and action to assist orphans and vulnerable children. The 210-page guide offers sample consent forms, baseline surveys, and interview guides that can be adapted for local use in participatory situational analyses.
- Pocket Guides for Food Aid Practitioners Released
The Consortium for Southern Africa Food Security Emergency (C-SAFE) released two handy pocket guides: "Targeted Food Assistance in the Context of HIV/AIDS" and "Food for Assets Programming through an HIV/AIDS Lens." The pocket guides, intended for use by field staff, summarize two recent studies and the new Food for Assets Manual, and provide guidance on adapting food aid programming in countries with high HIV prevalence.
- Reports Assess Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS and Media Coverage in Nepal
Two new studies by the POLICY Project and Nepal’s National Centre for AIDS and STD Control focus on perceptions of Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS and media coverage in Nepal.
- Bulletin Addresses Impact of Nonconsensual Sex on Reproductive Health
The latest issue of Family Health International's quarterly health bulletin "Network," describes the variety of means by which children, adolescents, and adults – males and females alike – are pressured to have sexual relations that they do not want. Nonconsensual sex may be a major contributing factor to reproductive health problems such as unintended pregnancy and its complications, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections.
- Study on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission and Family Planning [PDF, 291KB]
Family planning is an important component of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs. Population Council/Horizons and partners released a summary of baseline findings from an operations research study in Kenya related to increased uptake of PMTCT services. The report provides data on provider-client interactions on family planning and HIV-positive women’s fertility desires and demand for contraceptives.
- Two Publications on Home-Based Care Programs Released
As more households are affected by HIV/AIDS, the need for home-based care (HBC) programs grows. To help program managers and policymakers make decisions about service delivery, Population Council/Horizons and partners studied six HBC programs in South Africa. Two publications focus on HBC programs’ cost, coverage, and effectiveness:
- HIV Counseling and Testing for Youth: A Manual for Providers
This easy-to-use, spiral-bound booklet produced by Family Health International is designed to help service providers and counselors improve their skills and assist youth.
- Newsletter Focuses on Range of Options in Combating HIV/AIDS
The American International Health Alliance released its latest issue of CommonHealth. With the theme "Building Capacity to Fight HIV/AIDS," this issue explores topics such as pediatric antiretroviral drugs; psychosocial support for people living with HIV/AIDS and children orphaned by HIV/AIDS; absorptive capacity; and palliative care.
- CORE Initiative Releases Quarterly Newsletter
The CORE Initiative released its Quarterly Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 3. This new edition focuses on the CORE Initiative’s new partnerships, and the progress made through partner networking and sharing.
- Publication Discusses Antiretroviral Therapy in Kenya
This issue of Snapshots from the Field, published by Family Health International, examines how comprehensive care centers that offer antiretroviral drug therapy are changing the lives of Kenyans with HIV.
E. Online Resources
- HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Clinical Course Revised, Released Online
Family Health International recently updated "HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment: A Clinical Course for People Caring for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS." The course presents the most up-to-date knowledge and skills for delivering clinical care and treatment services for people living with HIV/AIDS, including the latest WHO antiretroviral drug treatment guidelines.
- Tanzania HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey Available Online
The 2003-2004 Tanzania HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey (THIS) is the first population-based, comprehensive survey on HIV/AIDS to be carried out in Tanzania. Initiated by the Tanzania Commission for AIDS to gather national baseline data on HIV prevalence, the survey provides a basis for monitoring the national HIV/AIDS response and equips program managers and policymakers to effectively plan future interventions. This is the first AIDS indicator survey to be completed by the Demographic and Health Surveys project under MEASURE DHS.
- Data Online for Population, Health and Nutrition (DOLPHN) Available
DOLPHN is an online statistical data resource of selected demographic and health indicators gathered from various sources for several countries of the world. Recently updated Country Health Statistical Reports contain data on health conditions, population dynamics, health and family planning behavior, and health and population trends in developing countries. The Population, Health and Nutrition Information (PHNI) Project developed and maintained the database.
- HIV Prevalence Added to the HIV/AIDS Survey Indicators Database
Users of the HIV/AIDS Survey Indicators Database can now access HIV-prevalence data from the following Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS): Mali 2001, Dominican Republic 2002, Zambia 2002, Burkina Faso 2003, Kenya 2003, Ghana 2003, and Tanzania 2003-04. HIV-prevalence data from the Cameroon 2004 DHS will be added soon. Within the next year, about 15 DHS surveys or AIDS Indicator Surveys will be added to the database. In addition to prevalence, HIV/AIDS knowledge, practices, and behavior data are included in these surveys.
- The Synergy HIV/AIDS Resource Center Highlights What’s New
The Synergy HIV/AIDS Resource Center, implemented by Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., currently contains more than 3,700 documents on HIV/AIDS project management, research, and reproductive health issues, most of which are available for download. Users can refer to "What’s New in the Synergy Resource Center," which provides links to new publications, or search the entire online database.
- Newsletter Provides Resources for Work with Youth Affected by HIV/AIDS
Family Health International/YouthNet's newsletter is a one-stop electronic source for new publications and information on youth reproductive health and HIV prevention. The latest issue contains links to program resources and research articles on topics such as early marriage, youth-friendly services, education, and the effects of war on reproductive health.
The Synergy Project, implemented by Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., publishes this newsletter on behalf of USAID's Office of HIV/AIDS.
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