Bridging the Gap: Conference Record [Abstract book, International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1998: Geneva, Switzerland)]

990 Abstracts 44272-44277

12th World AIDS Conference

Official organisational policies that have been developed include Prisons and
Blood Borne Viruses, Drug Law Reform and Safe Injecting Rooms. NUAA often
contributes to Government documents and briefing papers, is represented on
Government bodies, and is at the forefront of the community debate on drug use,
law reform, harm reduction and disease transmission.
The development, dissemination and effectiveness of this unique community
response will be discussed and relevant policies elucidated.
44272 Access to AIDS treatment and care services using legal
means
German Ringon Perfetti. Carrera 10 #27-51 of 310, Bogota, Colombia
Project: In Colombia as in the rest of the workd, the social security system wasn't
administering medications like Anti-retroviral and Protease Inhibitors. At the same
time people living with HIV/AIDS were being denied access to care. For these
reasons, we made use of special legal mechanisms to defend the Human Rights
inscribed in International treaties which almost all countries have signed.
Results: We presented more than 30 cases before different judges and the
decisions were in our favor. Thanks to these actions, the social security system
is currently administering Anti-retrovirals, Protease Inhibitors, Viral Load tests,
Immunological Profile and other dental and health care services to people living
with HIV/AIDS.
Lessons Learned: As in Colombia, all countries of the world can make use of
legal mechanisms created by international treaties to obtain health care services
and access to medications by presenting lawsuits or other legal devices on a
National level. If no success is achieved at a National level, Global or Regional
systems can be used where there are international treaties. There, the cases
are studied and national governments are obliged to implement the sentences of
international organisms (UN, OAS, etc)
44273 Bridging the gap: US-based NGOs and ASOs and the
global epidemic
Helen Cornman1, P. Fleming2, R. Maclnnis2. 11701 K Street, NW Suite 600,
Washington DC; 2National Council for Int. Health, Washington, DC, USA
Issues: Urging US based NGOS, AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs), and AIDS
activists to become aware of, and participatory in, global AIDS advocacy and
education is vital in the fight against the epidemic.
Project: The basis of the National Council for International Health (NCIH)-Joint
United Nations AIDS Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) project is to raise
awareness and expand understanding of the complexities of global AIDS issues
amongst US-based domestic and regional AIDS Service Organizations, NGOs
and individuals residing in the US infected/affected by HIV. The project aims to
educate and inspire these organizations to focus their expertise and strengths
to become more involved in the global struggle of HIV/AIDS. These objectives
are attained through various activities including educational advocacy, media
communication, conference and meeting participation and outreach efforts. The
project thus far has sponsored workshops at six US-based AIDS conferences.
Results: (1) Representatives from US-based ASOs, NGOs, and activists are
more supportive and understanding of global AIDS issues and have expressed an
interest in participating in international HIV/AIDS initiatives and global advocacy
campaigns.
(2) Representatives that have participated in workshops sponsored by the
NCIH-UNAIDS collaborative project have gained a better understanding of the
roles multi-lateral organizations, such as UNAIDS, play in global advocacy and
the coordination of governmental organizations.
(3) Networking, through personal contact, is essential in the development of
"linkages" between US based NGOs and south based ASOs.
Lessons Learned: There is a tremendous interest on the part of US based
AIDS service organizations, NGOs and activists to become involved in the global
AIDS epidemic. However, basic information on international HIV/AIDS issues
must first be provided to raise the interest and commitment level of US-based
ASOs to become involved in global AIDS initiatives and advocacy efforts. The
information UNAIDS is able to provide, from global epidemiological indicators to
best practices documents and timely issues concerning ethics and political will, is
vital in allowing US-based organizations to be better tied into the global leadership
efforts of UNAIDS.
44274 Improve access to treatment and prevention by means of
community actions
Renate Koch. Av. Romulo Gallegos Edificio Maracay, Apto. 21 El Marques, 1071
Caracas, Venezuela
Issue: On the basis of insufficient and erroneous data provided by our government, and lack of interest and adequate infrastructure in the country, international
agencies and funders have not included Venezuela in the list of priority countries
for HIV prevention and Access to Treatment.

Project: Considering the high incidence in all societal structures, we have to
strengthen our capacity to advocate for full completement of governmental responsabilities with respect to Public Health issues. This advocacy includes: community
mobilization, promotion of networking, self-support-groups and ASO's, capacity
building on Human Rights and medical aspects, which motivate a larger range
of society to activily participate on lobbying which aims to obtain behavioural
changes in governmental and private politics.

Results: A strategic action plan has been developed and executed. AIDS has
been included in the draft of law to establish a fund for special illnesses; and in
the governmental Human Rights' Agenda. The private sector has been motivated
to establish a fund that provides drugs and medicine to about 30 PWA during one
year. The Social Security Systems recognizes AIDS as a Public Health issue,
and covers adequate treatment for all PWA affiliated. The Activists-Network has
been extended from 5 to 12 federal entities; and the Human Rights Network to
20; and members have been capacitated on HR issues and activism strategies.
The Ministry of Health has improved its services, and covers cost for AIDS related
drugs. Government has recognized AIDS as a Public Health problem.
Lessons learned: NGOs alone cannot cope with the complexity of AIDS prevention and treatment. Government has to be convinced to understand the social
and economic impact and the benefits of early treatment.
144275 Mobilizing intersectoral collaboration in the Philippines
Eduardo Nierras1, C.A. Aquino1, E. Borromeo2. 1PATH Philippines, 3/F 395 Sen.
Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati; 2National AIDS/STD Prevention and Control
Program, Manila, Philippines
Issue: The Philippines' national response to AIDS has been characterized as
generally successful in the area of intersectoral collaboration. After decentralization of health services in the early 90s however, a key challenge has been to
mobilize support for efforts at the local level - regions, provinces, and cities.
Project: In the initial years (1994-6) of the AIDS Surveillance and Education Project (ASEP) in cooperation with the Philippine health department, PATH
supported a variety of local NGOs to implement community outreach education
projects in urban groups at risk. While continuing this work, PATH has recently
(1996-7) emphasized NGO collaboration with local governments and the public
health sector. A national media campaign supporting these community projects
has also strengthened links with the private sector.
Results: An external evaluation (1997) said that "ASEP has produced working
models of local government-NGO collaboration." For example, two city governments have supported local associations of sex establishments for STD/AIDS
prevention - one with funds, another through material support. One NGO manages a downtown STD clinic in cooperation with its city STD clinic. The national
media campaign leveraged US$4 million in free media values in 1997.
Lessons Learned: Local intersectoral collaboration increases resource mobilization and potential long-term sustainability. This must be supported at the
national level, for example through strategic planning, technical exchange, and
documentation.
S44276 Statutory and voluntary sector involvement in the
development of strategies for HIV prevention with African
communities
Christopher Annus, J. Odongo. Elcha, 81-91 Commercial Rd, London El IRD,
England
Issue: An approach to bring together the range of African communities, many
recently arrived refugees from African countries with high prevalence of HIV,
together with statutory sector health workers to develop and implement a strategy
for the prevention of HIV and raise the profile of the needs of these communities.
Project: Given the fact that East London has a high rate of HIV within its African
population and works with a diversity of African voluntary sector groups where
there is often competition for limited resources, a forum was constituted with key
HIV prevention personnel within the health and local authorities together with key
representatives from the African voluntary sector to define priority areas for HIV
prevention, increase access to local sexual health and HIV services and to act
as a forum to highlight and lobby for appropriate resources to execute this work.
The project would explore how best to access communities and how the services
provided by the African voluntary sector could compliment those of the statutory
health services and address the issue of equity.
Results: The idea of the joint forum was well received with the African groups
acknowledging a sense of inclusion. The forum brought groups to work together to
define priorities and agree joint project proposals and through collective lobbying
the forum resulted in the formation of a national HIV steering group for African
communities resulting in increased national funding for HIV prevention for African
communities and which meets regularly now with the Department of Health.
Conclusion: Joint fora which actively engage African voluntary sector organisations can enhance the strategic direction of HIV health promotion work,
empower disadvantaged communities and be successful vehicles for enhancing
the profile of the work at local and national level.
{44277 | "Sea Star" - International sex workers assistance project
Juri Kalikov1, Kristina Mand2, K. Tallinn Elooio3, N. Kalikova2. 1Palniski MNT
227/229-921, Talinn EE0035; 2AIDS Prevention Center, Estonia; 3Diakoonia
Instituutti, Finland

Sex workers in Estonia have been advised since 1994 by a nonprofit AIDS
Information and Support Center. First research showed that several hundreds of
young women, half of them adolescents, had become involved in the sex-business without prior information and education about safe sex. Finnish-Estonian
co-project "Sea Star" was launched in November 1996 and financially supported
by the EU. The aim of the project was to provide help to sex workers on safe sex,
and medical and psycho-social assistance.