9 November, 2006November 2006
1 December is World AIDS Day
Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been commemorated around the world to raise awareness of the global AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.
The global theme this year is accountability with the slogan:
Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise
Workers and their organisations play an important role in making World AIDS Day a success, yet they are often not recognised for their efforts. Global leaders have promised to deliver Universal Access to HIV/AIDS services for prevention, care and support and treatment by 2010. For unions and workers, this promise needs to become a reality in every workplace.
ICEM affiliates are encouraged to join the campaign against stigma, discrimination and victimisation, and for prevention, care and support and treatment. Go to our website at /72-HIV-AIDS to find materials on HIV/AIDS.
The World AIDS Campaign has been working with the international trade union movement to develop a poster with the slogan Universal Access to HIV and AIDS services in the workplace. See www.worldaidscampaign.org for more information.
Please, report back to [email protected] on any actions you have taken.
Trade Unionists Focus on Fight against HIV/AIDS
A special meeting of the Global Union Programme on HIV/AIDS was held in Nairobi on 19 and 20 October. The meeting reviewed the lobbying activities of the international trade union movement at major conferences in 2006, such as UNGASS, the G8 Campaign and the International AIDS Conference – all aimed at emphasising the crucial role of trade unions in the fight against the pandemic.
The useful exchange of information and experience will enable unionists to develop effective strategies to prevent the spread of the disease, care for those living with it and combat stigma and discrimination associated with it. The meeting also considered new partnerships. The argument was made for a union involvement in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and for union representation on Country Coordinating Mechanisms.
The ICEM was represented by John Brimpong, Ghana Mineworkers’ Union, and Agnes Manowe, Botswana Mining Workers’ Union.
(Source: TUC e-bulletin International Development Matters, Issue 52 – October 2006)
Global Fund Fails to Choose New Executive Director – Approves Some Round 6 Grants
At its Board Meeting in Guatemala City, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria had to abandon its efforts to choose a new Executive Director from among the short-list of five candidates.
All important Board decisions require a double two-thirds majority, with votes in favour needed from at least seven of the ten board members from the donor group, and the same number from the recipient group. None of the candidates achieved that support. The Board decided to launch a new search and will try to make an appointment at a specially-convened Board Meeting by mid-February 2007.
In the meantime Richard Feachem, who announced that he will be leaving already eight months ago, will continue to serve as Executive Director.
The Board approved 85 Round 6 grants that will cost USD 846 million over the first two years and USD 2,519 million over the full five-year grant period. As a result of recent new pledges, the Global Fund now has sufficient money to pay for all grants that were recommended by the Technical Review Panel. In total 196 proposals were submitted, giving an approval rate of 43%. In all six rounds 1,184 proposals were submitted, of which 444, or 37.5%, were approved.
The Board also decided that a Call for Proposals for Round 7 will be made by 1 March 2007, with proposals to be submitted by early July 2007. Round 8 will follow the same pattern one year later. The early announcement is intended to encourage applicants to start the planning and development of proposals much earlier.
The board further approved the establishment of a “rolling continuation channel” that will, under certain circumstances, permit a Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) to apply for up to six years of further funding when a grant is coming to its end. However, only between a quarter and one-third of grants are expected to meet the eligibility criteria. The Fund’s “continuity of service” policy only provides for two years’ worth of funding for treatment-based services for people who have already been placed on treatment.
(Source: Global Fund Observer Issue 66, 2 November, Issue 67, 4 November and Issue 68, 6 November – GFO is a free service of Aidspan www.aidspan.org)
UNITAID Becomes Operational
The UNITAID International Drug Purchase Facility was officially established during the UN General Assembly in September. Its Board of Governors met for the first time on 9 October in Geneva. WHO will host the secretariat and administer the UNITAID fiduciary fund.
UNITAID generates money through an airline ticket levy first introduced by France on 1 July 2006. Founding members of the initiative are Brazil, Chile, France, Great Britain and Norway, with the Clinton Foundation facilitating bulk purchase of drugs at lowest prices. UNITAID contributed USD 69.5 million to the Global Fund, the bulk of which will go towards the cost of those Round 6 grants that will increase the number of patients on antiretroviral treatment.
(Source: Website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs – www.diplomatie.gouv.fr)
NUMSA Gives Credit to Carmaker on HIV/AIDS Programme
Automotive giants in the Eastern Cape have received the thumbs-up from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) for their effective HIV/AIDS wellness programmes. A workshop hosted by the South African Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS gave companies an opportunity to exchange ideas on how to improve their health and wellness programmes.
Daimler Chrysler SA stated that 96% of its employees had at least one HIV test in the last five years. Close to 10% of tested employees are living with the virus. The company’s health services manager said that retrenched workers are entitled to stay on the HIV/AIDS treatment programme.
The workshop also revealed, however, that especially small and medium size companies did not have any HIV/AIDS programmes because they did not understand the long-term negative impact of ignoring the disease.
(Source: The Herald, 23 October)
South Africa: New Directions for the Fight against HIV/AIDS?
In a statement, COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi welcomed the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the implementation of the government’s comprehensive plan against HIV/AIDS and the revitalisation the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). SANAC will be chaired by the Deputy President, with the Deputy Chair coming from civil society.
In a remarkable turn-around from earlier statements by the Minister of Health, the Deputy Minister of Health also clarified the government’s position on the role of nutrition and stated: “We need to do everything we can to remove all confusion. We cannot afford a single death more and it is very important that we get that message across to people who have been misinformed that eating specific kinds of food is a replacement for antiretroviral drugs.”
(Source: Star and Business Day, 1 November 2006)
Case Studies of Union Action
“Global Reach: How Trade Unions are Responding to AIDS” has now been published in the UNAIDS best practice collection jointly with the ILO and the Global Union Programme on HIV/AIDS.
The report shows how the power of working people and their organisations can be harnessed in responding to HIV/AIDS. Eleven case studies from different settings show how trade unions are mounting new responses to HIV in the workplace: challenging stigma and discrimination, addressing the factors that increase vulnerability and risk, educating their members on prevention, providing care and treatment and building worldwide coalitions that campaign for more to be done to tackle the disease.
The publication can be accessed at www.unaids.org.