Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

XIV International AIDS Conference

Abstracts ThOrG1513-ThPpG2165 645

nomic status have delayed enrollment following an adult death, while wealthier
children do not. Children in households headed by grandparents are equally or
more likely to be enrolled as other children.
Among our tentative conclusions, we suggest that coping mechanisms may buffer
the short-run impacts. The role of extended families and support networks needs
to be considered in designing policies. Second, our study has shown factors that
are likely to reduce delayed enrollment and drop-out rates for all children such as
access to secondary schooling and better quality of physical facilities. Given the
low quality of school infrastructure, these interventions may prove as effective or
more effective for orphans as targeted assistance programs.
Presenting author: Kathleen Beegle, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433, United States, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThOrG1513 Creating linkages between the microfinance
industry and the HIV/AIDS sector
P.W. Luchtenburg. World Relief, PO.Box 126, Phnom Pehn, Cambodia
Issues: More than one in a hundred Cambodians live with HIV/AIDS and USAID
has declared Cambodia a rapid scale-up country Household women are increasingly at risk through their HIV-positive husbands, however, few resources are targeting these women. The Microfinance sector in Cambodia reaches more than
250,000 clients, primarily women, and more than a million indirect beneficiaries.
Tapping into this vast network is a means of reaching the underserved general
population.
Description: In cooperation with UNDP, we developed a strategic plan to promote
awareness and proactive dialogue between the microfinance and HIV/AIDS sectors. Activities encouraging strategic linkages and promoting cross-sectoral collaboration have been implemented at various levels: multisectoral forums for policy makers, officials and advocates at the national level, and conferences, workshops and networking opportunities for microfinance institutions and HIV/AIDS
NGOs. Pilot projects focusing on collaboration and integration were also implemented.
Lessons learned: The challenge of responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic needs
to include all sectors of society The microfinance industry can inform and assist
HIV/AIDS NGOs looking for sustainable answers for economic strengthening and
early coping strategies for affected households. HIV/AIDS NGOs can help the microfinance sector understand the complexities of AIDS and how best to address
prevention and stigma. However, HIV/AIDS organizations should not try to become financial institutions and microfinance institutions should not try to become
HIV/AIDS organizations. Both should focus on what they do well.
Recommendations: A plan to scale up successful efforts and build on the
groundwork for cross-sectoral collaboration includes promoting compliance with
national programs, facilitating preventative education through microfinance service delivery channels, building institutional capacity, and strengthening sectoral
linkages.
Presenting author: Paul Luchtenburg, PO.Box 126, Phnom Pehn, Cambodia,
Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPpG2163 Education networking on HIV/AIDS issues for
specialists from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus
E.I. Vesselovskaia1, D. Ostrovski2. 1NGO "Vozvrastcheniye", ul. Bolshaya
Monetnaya, 9A, 197101, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation; 2NGO,
St.Petersburg, Russian Federation
Issues: The particular feature of the swiftly developing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in
the East Europe is the gap between the epidemic rate and the education and
experience of specialists from both government and non-government structures.
The difference from the similar one in West countries is that it is spreading mainly
among injection drug users, usually very young. For instance, in St. Petersburg,
Russia, more than 98% of AIDS infected are injection drug users of the range
from 14 to 27 years old. The problem is to educate the specialists of government
and non-government structures in the innovation technologies of aid for young
drug using HIV/AIDS infected people.
Description: Two years ago, a non-government organization "Vozvrastcheniye"
(St.Petersburg, Russia), working more than 13 years in the area of aid for drug
users and from 1996 on HIV/AIDS issues, has created the network of nongovernment organizations in seven cities of Russia (Ekaterinburg, Kaliningrad,
Omsk, St.Petersburg), Ukraine (Odessa, Nikolaev) and Belarus (Minsk). All these
city participants of the network are at different levels of HIV/AIDS epidemic. The
latter fact gives the opportunity to share the regional expertise and professional
skills, to promote the exchange of ideas and insights, experience and knowledge.
These goals are reached by series of education seminars, traineeships, field and
monitoring visits to each site. For nearly 2 years, about 100 specialists from those
cities have been educated at "Vozvrastcheniye" in St.Petersburg.
Lessons learned: The project implementation has shown the importance of in
teraction between government and non-government structures to reduce a relative isolation of non-government organizations and to give an opportunity for the
exchange of experience and developing the strategies that would be optimal for
each site of project.
Recommendations: This project needs to be continued with the extension of
specialist profiles.

Presenting author: Elena Vesselovskaia, ul. Bolshaya Monetnaya, 9A, 197101,
St.Petersburg, Russian Federation, Tel.: +7 - 812 -325 44 35, Fax: +7 - 812 - 233
53 17, E-mail: [email protected]
ThPpG2164 NGO support and resource development for
HIV/AIDS prevention
B. Uspensky1, S. Patel2. 1USAID, USAID/EE/EEST/HRHA, 1300 Pennsylvania
Ave (5.10-94), Washington, DC, Ukraine; 2USAID, Washington, DC, United
States
Issues: Ukraine is experiencing one of the fastest rates of increase in new HIV
cases in the world. Official government data in 1997 showed that about 83% of
documented infections were due to intravenous drug use. By 1998 and 1999,
these proportions had decreased to 77% and 65% respectively, indicative of the
transition of the epidemic from injection drug users to the general population.
NGO capacity to implement effective HIV/AIDS prevention activities poses significant potential to curb an epidemic.
Description: Recognizing the importance of early prevention and control of
HIV/AIDS in Ukraine, USAID and the European Union (EU) have established a
joint HIV/AIDS Prevention and Awareness Program focused on the provision of
modern information and supporting NGOs in their leadership community-based
HIV preventive activities. Since December 2000, USAID has supported 25 organizations in 20 regions of Ukraine to implement projects targeting high-risk behaviors. The joint partnership between USAID and the European Union strives to:
Reduce the level of sexual transmission of HIV; Mitigate the harmful effects of the
virus on people living with HIV; Reduce the level of HIV amongst injection drug
users; Increase national capacity for well targeted, evidence based, and coordinated community action; and Reduce social and political obstacles to effective
community action. Establishment of a National HIV/AIDS Information Clearinghouse and EU support to target vulnerable youth has strengthened local NGO
capacity to respond to the epidemic.
Lessons learned: Building local capacity and establishing a Resource Center
to collect and disseminate best practices, provide consultant resources, track
HIV/AIDS epidemiology, and serve as a base to support local NGO's is critical.
Recommendations: Maximize the comparative advantage of using available incountry resources and establishing partnerships with donors to reach vulnerable
youth populations.
Presenting author: Sangita Patel, USAID/EE/EEST/HRHA, 1300 Pennsylvania
Ave (5.10-94), Washington, DC, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPpG2165 The strategy of networking: the experience of a
Latin American Work Group on Women and AIDS
(GLAMS)
L. Campero, C. Herrera. National Institute of Public Health, Av Universidad 655,
3er piso, Col Santa Marfa Ahuacatitldn, C.P 62508 Cuernavaca, Morelos,
Mexico, Mexico
Issues: Gender inequity is reflected in the way that women are able to deal with
the problem of HIV/AIDS. In Latin America, women's initiatives towards AIDS are
isolated, thus hindering efforts to obtain financial support, weakening the sustainability of efforts developed, and preventing the problem of women and AIDS to
reach the public agenda.
Description: In 1994 GLAMS (Grupo Latinoamericano de Trabajo en Mujeres y
Sida) was created, financed by the MacArthur Foundation. GLAMS is a working
group that operates at the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico (INSP).
Currently, GLAMS belongs to a UNAIDS Collaborative Center created for two
years as an affiliate to the INSP's Health Systems Research Center. The main
goal of GLAMS is to serve as a network for the exchange and the dissemination of
information on women and AIDS in Mexico and Latin-America and to strengthen
NGO's initiatives through financial and technical support. Promoted by GLAMS,
a network was created two years ago in Mexico, with representatives from 12
organizations and institutions working on Women and AIDS in this country. The
main objectives of this network are: a) to make the women's problems in dealing
with HIV/AIDS more visible through participation in different public events and by
contacting and uniting efforts with other women's networks, and b) to promote
women's empowerment and sensitization of social sectors, through networking
and capacity building.
Lessons learned: Even though networking is not an easy task in Mexico and
there are tasks to improve. This network has made important progress and has
gained presence in the fight against AIDS in Mexico.
Recommendations: It is important to reinforce the work exchange experiences
with other women's networks, and to share agendas, strategies, lessons learned
and achievements.
Presenting author: Lourdes Campero, Av. Universidad 655, 3er piso, Col
Santa Maria Ahuacatitlan, C.P 62508 Cuernavaca, Morelos, M6xico, Mexico, Tel.:

+52+7773293002, Fax: +52+7773293082, E-mail: [email protected]