ICEM HIV/AIDS e-bulletin - No. 11/12

Time to Deliver – XVI International AIDS Conference

The 16th International AIDS Conference was held in Toronto from 14 to 18 August. Over 20,000 scientists, politicians and activists participated in the event. The labour movement was well represented, highlighting the impact of HIV and AIDS on the workplace and outlining the role of workers in fighting the pandemic.

Prior to the Conference, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) organised a two-day labour forum with the support of the ILO. The forum convened union representatives from all over the world who expressed their support for intensifying the involvement of trade unionists and unions and to build strong coalitions with civil society organisations. On the occasion of the labour forum the CLC released a new report “Labour Fights AIDS” which demonstrates that unions are at the fore in the global fight against AIDS

Apart from its involvement in satellite meetings, skills-building workshops and other activities, the ILO also set up a workplace action centre for advice and information exchange. The main purpose of the centre was to offer practical help in developing policies and setting up programmes related to the workplace.

The ICEM abstract written for the Conference was accepted for a poster exhibition. The ICEM was also invited to speak on “The importance of social dialogue and workers’ participation in public/private partnerships” at a Satellite Meeting Session with the theme “From the workplace to the community – Co-investment to access prevention, treatment and care in public/private partnerships”.

Several broader trends emerged from the Conference. Although still inadequate, treatment is becoming more available. However, those on antiretrovirals (ARVs) remain infected and require treatment indefinitely. This requires a re-emphasis on prevention. Despite many years of research at huge cost, a vaccine has not yet been found.

Also noted is that prevention techniques away from consent-requiring condom use focus on female protection to empower women to take control.

(Sources: EI Newsletter on EFA and HIV/AIDS, ILO Press Release, CLC Press Release, The Economist, 19 August 2006)

2nd Global Fund Partnership Forum

More than 400 participants from 118 countries attended a lively Global Fund Partnership Forum in Durban, South Africa, 1 - 3 July. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is the major source of assistance in the worldwide fight against these diseases.

The Global Fund Partnership Forum meets every two years and brings together a broad group of stakeholders. While its purpose is to inform stakeholders about progress and challenges, its major aim is to provide those who do not have a direct voice on the Global Fund Board the opportunity to give their opinions. The Forum was preceded by ten skills-building workshops.

While a wide range of organisations attended, unfortunately labour presence was low with only the ICEM sending a representative. Representation of the business sector was also proportionately low.

A wide range of issues were discussed. The hottest debates were centred on the operations of the Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs). Issues raised included the following:

• Need for the independence of the CCM from any specific stakeholder, including government, and possible creation of an independent secretariat for the CCM.
• Constitutions and by-laws developed by stakeholders should guide the operations of the CCM. These should include mechanisms to improve feedback and support constituency consultations.
• The Chairperson of the CCM and principle recipient of funding from the Global Fund should preferably not be from the same constituency. There should be a conflict of interest policy in place to deal with this situation.
• The chair of the CCM should be rotated among the stakeholders.
• Concerns were also raised about the utilisation of Technical Assistance from other countries and regions which could undermine the ownership and leadership of the national stakeholders.
• The Global Fund should explore the potential for the consolidation and harmonisation of CCMs and National AIDS Commissions in each individual country.
• Problems with Local Fund Agents (LFA) were also identified.
• The current LFA model does not accommodate different situations that countries have.
• The LFAs were often seen as spies rather than partners to assist projects.
• Quality of work of LFAs has not been good across the board and sometime their skills were inadequate for the roles they had to play.

Overall assessments of the operations were that often proposals were very ambitious, but work plans were weak; recipients lacked capacity to implement the programmes. There are very different levels of human and technical resources available in countries. CCMs were often weak and delays in procurement and suppliers weakened the projects. Overall, the status of the national health system was an integral factor in the success of the projects.

The operations and dimensions of Global Fund grants are potentially huge in national AIDS initiatives. Currently, the voice of the Labour Movement is not being heard in the CCMs, which determine the application for funds and the way in which the funds are used. More information on the Global Fund is available at http://www.theglobalfund.org. Reports from the Partnership Meeting will soon be available at http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/about/forum/2006.

(Source: own report)

Global Fund Donors Meet

After the Forum, representatives of more than twenty donor countries met in Durban for a mid-term review of the first replenishment period 2006-7. Governments are the major source of funding and constant replenishment is required to finance the grants approved in the different funding rounds. The Fund has, so far, received sufficient pledges to cover the costs of Phase 2 renewals for Rounds 1 to 5, but is short of funding for the cost of Round 6 for which proposals were submitted by 3 August, and for Round 7, which is anticipated to be launched next year.

(Source: Global Fund Observer Issue 61, 5 July 2006 – GFO is a free service of Aidspan www.aidspan.org)

Top Pharma Companies Fail to Address Industry Best Practices on HIV/AIDS

In the spotlight of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto, the Interfaith Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) released a comprehensive study evaluating the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the neglected diseases that often accompany the virus.

The ICCR report “Benchmarking AIDS: Evaluating pharmaceutical company responses to the public health crisis in emerging markets” highlights the large disparities between industry best practice and the actions of 15 leading pharmaceutical companies. Two major problems were identified: a failure to develop new medicines that also address neglected diseases and a lack of access for poor patients to the existing medicines.

(Source: ICCR Press Release, 14 August – www.iccr.org)

G8 HIV/AIDS Renewing its Commitment to Tackle HIV/AIDS

Trade unions welcomed the renewed commitment made by the G8 meeting in St. Petersburg to tackle HIV/AIDS and to create a regular monitoring of its work. This reflects a call made during a year-long campaign by trade unions for Summit leaders to create a reporting framework to ensure progress on fighting the pandemic.

Fulfilling existing promises is more important than making new ones because the G8 has, so far, failed to review any progress on its own promise, made in 2005 at Gleneagles, for universal access to treatment by 2010.

According to a report published by the World AIDS Campaign (WAC – www.worldaidscampaign.org) ahead of the Summit, only a fraction of the G8’s commitments on health have been taken up over the past five years by the leading economies of the world. According to WAC, accountability on past promises must top the agenda.

(Sources: Global Unions Press Release, 19 July 2006 and WAC Press Release, 14 July 2006)

Ghana: Business Joins the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

The Ghana Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS was launched in Accra on 25 July. The private sector in Ghana has been slow in responding to HIV/AIDS.

At the launch in Accra, the country’s Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, stated that the price of doing nothing at workplaces can be significantly higher than the cost of addressing the epidemic and managing it through workplace programmes, education, advocacy and peer counselling. The Business Coalition will serve as a coordinating body for the private sector response to the epidemic.

(Source: Accra Mail, 26 July)

News from GUFs: HIV/AIDS Workshops during the ITF Congress

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has intensified its commitment to fight the pandemic, especially among transport workers who, due to their working conditions and mobility, are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection.

The ITF’s new HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Dr Asif Altaf, runs the international’s global programme. During the 41st ITF Congress in Durban, two workshops on HIV/AIDS and transport workers were organised. The high attendance and active participation was a good reflection of the commitment and dedication of ITF affiliates to protect transport workers and their families. Without the active involvement of transport workers, and their unions, it is impossible to develop an effective response to the pandemic.

At the Congress, the documentary “Highway of Hope” was launched. It highlights the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS crisis affecting transport workers on the Northern Corridor – the strategic highway connecting Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

(Source: ITF HIV/AIDS update 4, 15 August)

Kenya HIV/AIDS Patients to Get New ARV Drug

Kenya is to receive the first shipment of a new HIV/AIDS drug that could help patients whose treatment with first-line ARVs has failed. Abbott Laboratories manufactures the drug, Kaletra, which is available in the US for USD 9,000 per patient per year. The cost in Kenya will be USD 500, following price concessions by Abbott.

Unlike other ARVs, Kaletra does not require refrigeration, which means it can easily be transported to remote areas. The international humanitarian organisation Medicins sans Frontières is importing the initial shipment.