GLOBAL: IRIN PlusNews Weekly Issue 350, 31 August 2007
JOHANNEBURG, 31 August 2007 (PlusNews) - NEWS:
PlusNews In-Depth In the wake of the LRA: HIV in Uganda and Sudan
ZIMBABWE: Disability is much more than a physical contraint
COLOMBIA: Giving youngsters an alternative to exploitation
KENYA: Paediatric care still facing major drawbacks
SOUTH AFRICA: Condom recall hurts prevention drive
SOUTH AFRICA: "I'm in danger" - public responds to condom scandal
COTE D'IVOIRE: Rural areas neglected by AIDS response
GUINEA-BISSAU: Two thousand girls a year suffer genital mutilation
INDONESIA: Female condom programme falters
NIGERIA: College slammed for HIV testing
UGANDA: Lack of rural health services keeps HIV-positive IDPs in camps
Resources/Events
1. Resource: We want birth control: Reproductive health findings in Northern Uganda
2. Conference: The Pan African Health Congress 2007, 18 to 19 September 2007, Johannesburg, South Africa
Vacancies
1. Technical Advisor in Obstetric Care, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Tanzania
2. Regional HIV and AIDS Advisor - East and Southern Africa – Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO, Johannesburg, South Africa
PlusNews In-Depth In the wake of the LRA: HIV in Uganda and Sudan
Out of the turbulence in northern Uganda in the late 1980s, a new rebel group emerged led by Joseph Kony, a former altar boy and spirit medium.
Full report
ZIMBABWE: Disability is much more than a physical contraint
The disabled are becoming increasingly marginalised, with the state and civil society neglecting their basic needs, says The forgotten tribe, people with disabilities in Zimbabwe, a new report.
Full report
COLOMBIA: Giving youngsters an alternative to exploitation
What do cards made of recycled paper, decorated with colourful fish, have to do with HIV prevention? At first glance, absolutely nothing. But at the Little Worker Foundation they are part of a project that aims for a better life in Bogota, capital of Colombia.
Full report
KENYA: Paediatric care still facing major drawbacks
Kenya's antiretroviral programme has grown by leaps and bounds since a presidential declaration made the drugs available free of charge in 2006, but infected children are still not accessing medication as easily as adults.
Full report
SOUTH AFRICA: Condom recall hurts prevention drive
The lives of millions of South Africans could be at risk, as South Africa's health department recalls 20 million government condoms and scrambles to do damage control after allegations of corruption in the country's quality-assurance and standards body
Full report
SOUTH AFRICA: "I'm in danger" - public responds to condom scandal
The recall of 20 million condoms by the South African Health Department due to safety concerns has dealt a blow to the country's prevention programme.
Full report
COTE D'IVOIRE: Rural areas neglected by AIDS response
Rural areas in Côte d'Ivoire seem to have fallen off the map in HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, and although the HIV prevalence rates are still lower than those found in cities, experts fear they could climb.
Full report
GUINEA-BISSAU: Two thousand girls a year suffer genital mutilation
The annual female genital mutilation season in Guinea-Bissau begins when schools close for the winter holidays from July to September. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that each year the parents of around 2,000 girls send them to "fanatecas" to be ritually circumcised.
Full report
INDONESIA: Female condom programme falters
Ningsih [not her real name], 22, was taken aback when she was handed a pack of two female condoms in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, but was even more surprised when she opened one. Measuring 17cm long and 7cm in diameter with a sponge attached inside, the female condom is indeed large compared to a male condom.
Full report
NIGERIA: College slammed for HIV testing
A private Christian university in Nigeria has come under fire from activists and health officials over its policy of compelling students to undergo HIV and pregnancy tests.
Full report
UGANDA: Lack of rural health services keeps HIV-positive IDPs in camps
After attacks by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda tailed off last year, the government said it would begin closing the camps housing more than one million people displaced by the 21-year conflict. But, despite continued calm, only a trickle of people has returned home.
Full report
Resources/Events
1. Resource: We want birth control: Reproductive health findings in Northern Uganda, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children and the United Nations Population Fund
The study found most participants had general knowledge about HIV and AIDS, however some men did not know how to use condoms and female condoms were unavailable. Additionally, significant gaps existed in health worker knowledge concerning methods to prevent sexually transmitted infections. The study also cited how war had increased levels of poverty and created an environment in which sexual abuse and exploitation had become accepted.
For the full findings, go to www.womenscommission.org
2. Conference: The Pan African Health Congress 2007, 18 to 19 September 2007, Johannesburg, South Africa
The conference will feature health officials from around the continent as they discuss issues such as ARV access, Uganda's HIV and AIDS projects, and malaria control. The conference seeks to facilitate networking between ministries, NGOs, procurement and funding agencies, and the local and global private sectors.
For more information, go to www.panafricanhealth.com
Vacancies
1. Technical Advisor in Obstetric Care, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, Iringa Region, Tanzania
Responsibilities
- Strengthening and improving use of family planning services, as well as antenatal care services including prevent mother-to-child transmission
- Upgrading referral system
- Improving district management, coordination and general advocacy for reproductive health while supervising staff and offering technical assistance where needed
- Participating in clinical work
- Developing planning, monitoring and evaluation systems as well as managing resulting information
Requirements
- University degree in medicine and surgery with specialisation in gynaecology.
- Previous experience in developing countries.
- Experience in organising and delivering training activities.
- Good knowledge of English.
- Ability to build constructive working relationships with colleagues of the project and the counterpart
Application deadline: 31 August 2007
Applications for the above positions should be addressed to the human resources department [email protected]. Please indicate in the message subject line the title of the position applied for.
2. Regional HIV and AIDS Adviser - East and Southern Africa – Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate support for HIV programming
- Develop strategies and policies for the region, identifying ways in which UNESCO can engage with HIV policy development at national levels
- Represent UNESCO in appropriate regional forums, such as UNAIDS regional support team meetings, inter-agency meetings and thematic meetings
- Develop partner relations with regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community, the UNAIDS secretariat and civil society
- Mobilise resources and take an active role in proposal formulation
Requirements:
- Ten years of progressively responsible relevant post-qualification experience, preferably 4 of which within developing countries
- Strong experiential regional understanding, especially regarding HIV
- Experience in programme development management, technical support, resource mobilisation and programme monitoring
- Excellent coordination and networking skills, organizational skills, tact and discretion
- Management/mentoring experience
- Fluency in English of French and the ability to communicate in the other is essential. Knowledge of Portuguese would be advantageous
Application deadline: 24 September 2007
To apply, please submit your CV, a cover letter supporting your application, and the names and contact details for three referees, to Ms. Nuria Chat at [email protected] or phone Tel. +33 1 45 68 14 38
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