With universal access one of the hot topics at this year’s International AIDS Conference, an afternoon breakout session at the multi-faith pre-conference explored opportunities for faith-based advocacy.
Dr. Christoph Benn, Director of External Relations and Partnerships at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, spoke about universal access, FBOs and the outlook for future funding. Benn provided a historical perspective on universal access, noting at the 2000 International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, “at that point no one in Africa had access to treatment.”
As the two leading providers of antiretroviral therapy in the world, the Global Fund was established in 2002, and the United States’ PEPFAR initiative began in 2003. At the 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles, world leaders signed a declaration calling for universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment by the end of 2010. We have come a long way since 2000, with over 5 million people now on treatment, the majority in sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite recent achievements in putting people on treatment, Benn cited recent concerns that funding for HIV is flat-lining, and people in need of treatment are turned away. “While the funding is flat, the need is going up,” Benn expressed. Although the Global Fund’s resources have increased each year of their existence, the resources are “not sufficient to cover the need.”
On 5 October 2010, the Global Fund will hold a replenishment conference in New York, which will serve as a key opportunity for the Global Fund to receive donor commitments for new resources. FBOs can serve as advocates in the build up to replenishment, acknowledged Benn, as they are both program implementers at the grassroots level and voices at the international level.
Beatrice Moyo of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) spoke of the link between HIV and food security. “Malnutrition and food shortages have been a problem in Africa for decades,” Moyo noted. She spoke about the LUCSA response in the 10 countries of southern Africa where they work. Programs to address food security include small scale farming, provision of food baskets, basic income grants, income-generating projects, provision of prepared meals for people living with HIV (PLHIV), nutrition education and counseling. Moyo stated that FBOs can be involved as advocates for basic needs, such as sustainable food security, improved health services, and a human rights-based approach.
Irene Kurz from Caritas Austria provided a case study of the “HAART for Children” advocacy campaign her organization was involved with in the build up to this year’s International AIDS Conference in Vienna. Kurz cited statistics from UNAIDS, noting that 800 children die every day of AIDS-related complications. Likewise, 62% of HIV-positive children do not have access to anti-retroviral therapy.
From December 2009 to July 2010, Caritas Austria operated an advocacy and fundraising campaign to raise awareness within the Austrian community about this reality. The campaign contained four key points: better access to ARVs for children, improved access to testing for young children, reducing mother-to-children transmission of HIV, and requesting that a minimum of 10% of global AIDS funds should be designated for pediatric AIDS and orphans. Over 21,000 Austrian people signed on to these commitments.
With these three speakers re-affirming the important role people of faith can play in terms of treatment advocacy, Christoph Benn ended with this call. “Political leaders are listening to you,” he declared, “but you have to raise your voice.” (by Becky A. Johnson)
