GLOBAL: IRIN PlusNews Weekly Issue 364, 7 December 2007
JOHANNESBURG, 7 December 2007 (PlusNews) - NEWS:
AFRICA: The route to the end-game
SOUTH AFRICA: Risky sex on drugs a challenge for HIV prevention
TOGO: Haphazard ARV supplies threaten lives
GLOBAL: Positive fatwas - using religious rulings in the AIDS struggle
ANGOLA: To tell or not to tell, that is the tricky question
PAKISTAN: Dangerous traditions
SUDAN: HIV, sexual violence messages struggle to get across
GLOBAL: Doors of tolerance begin to open for gay Muslims
LESOTHO: Grassroots solutions flourish in hard times
Events/Resources
1. Mental health is integral for the achievement of several Millennium Development Goals
2. Leadership in Strategic Health Communication, 12 - 23 May 2008, South Africa
Vacancies
1. Grants Officer, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Juba Sudan
2. Regional Technical Advisor, Health & HIV/AIDS, Catholic Relief Services, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
AFRICA: The route to the end-game
Sub-Saharan Africa is an ideal transit area in the international drug trafficking network. Increasing volumes of illicit drugs, particularly heroin and cocaine, are being shipped through the region en route to their final destination: the thriving markets of Europe and North America.
full report
SOUTH AFRICA: Risky sex on drugs a challenge for HIV prevention
South Africa's status as the country with the highest number of HIV infections in the world is well known; its rapidly emerging roles as a major transit route for trafficking illegal drugs and the leading consumer in the region is less well documented.
full report
TOGO: Haphazard ARV supplies threaten lives
A desperate shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in the West African country of Togo has temporarily eased with the arrival of a two-month supply of the life-prolonging medication.
full report
GLOBAL: Positive fatwas - using religious rulings in the AIDS struggle
To most Westerners, a fatwa, or Islamic ruling, evokes the imposition of a death sentence on author Salman Rushdie and the wearing of head-to-toe coverings, or burkas, on women.
full report
ANGOLA: To tell or not to tell, that is the tricky question
Maria Antónia* began to wonder about her husband's frequent trips to neighbouring South Africa, especially when he was away for 15 days without contacting her on one occasion. She decided to investigate whether he was going to South Africa to see another woman, but discovered that he was going to get antiretroviral (ARV) medication because he was HIV positive.
full report
PAKISTAN: Dangerous traditions
Bound by 'watta satta', a cultural tradition of exchanged marriage between two families, Nuzhat (not her real name), 22, cannot disclose her HIV status.
full report
SUDAN: HIV, sexual violence messages struggle to get across
A short skit on HIV grips the attention of the audience; the HI virus, dressed in bright red and wearing what is intended to be a horrifying mask, warns of the doom that is sure to follow anyone who dares to take sexual risks.
full report
GLOBAL: Doors of tolerance begin to open for gay Muslims
Suhail Abu al-Sameed looked calm, yet he was shaking inside. He was seated before a row of ulama, distinguished Islamic scholars, from Afghanistan to Yemen at the International Consultation on Islam and HIV/AIDS, organised by the charity, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week.
full report
LESOTHO: Grassroots solutions flourish in hard times
The worst drought in 30 years, combined with one of the world's highest HIV rates, has left the mountain kingdom of Lesotho struggling to cope, but there are glimmers of hope as the government and aid agencies come up with innovative responses to the humanitarian crisis.
full report
Events/Resources
1. Mental health is integral for the achievement of several Millennium Development Goals
The paper concludes mental health affects the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals for gender equality, child survival, maternal health and reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS. The paper recommends that mental health awareness needs to be integrated into all aspects of health and social policy, health-system planning, and delivery of primary and secondary general health care. Health systems should be strengthened to improve delivery of mental health care by focusing on existing programmes and activities such as those which address the prevention and treatment of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, gender-based violence and antenatal care.
To read the article, go to www.thelancet.com.
Please note: To read this article, you will first need to register with The Lancet. This process and access to the article is free of charge.
2. Leadership in Strategic Health Communication, 12 - 23 May 2008, South Africa
A joint initiative between Johns Hopkins University and Stellenbosch University HIV Programme, the conference will explore health communication initiatives in Africa, showcasing best practice.
For more information, contact .
Vacancies
1. Grants Officer, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Juba Sudan
Responsibilities
- Financially manage sub-grants especially on ensuring sub grantees compliance with sub-grant agreements
- Conduct periodic audits of sub grantees, identify capacity building gaps and support partners and staff to develop and implement financial management capacity building plans
- Help build the budgetary, financial management, and reporting capacity of the sub grantees
- Monitor the financial management performance of the sub-grantees with regards to the financial reporting and compliance trends monitoring
- Maintain sub-grant files and grants database.
Requirements
- A University Degree in finance, business administration or accounting
- Three years grants management experience or related position
- Familiarity with USAID grants and contracts regulations
- Functional computer literacy and working knowledge of accounting packages will be an added advantage
- Ability to share knowledge and experience plus oral and written English skills
- Ability to work with others
For more information and to apply, please email
2. Regional Technical Advisor, Health & HIV/AIDS, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Responsibilities
- Ensure alignment of activities with stated goals and objectives, as well as with CRS standards and policies
- Adopt best practices and develop pilot procedures for testing new and innovative methods, including improving clinical systems and procedures
- Strengthen the capacity of CRS staff to evaluate programme performance and report and share results
- Mentor staff to strengthen the capacity of local partner organisations through training and other activities
- Identify funding opportunities
- Design projects that are appropriate, innovative, and based on proven methodologies, ensuring rigorous logic between proposed activities, outputs, results and indicators
- Develop and/or support the development of regional and country programme strategies
- Disseminate findings, including developing internal and external publications, as appropriate
Requirements
- Master's degrees in Nursing and Public Health or Master's in related field preferred
- Five years experience in international health development and/ or HIV programmes, preferably in Africa.
- Clinical work experience, with experience in community nursing, and/or HIV care and treatment preferred
- Demonstrated capacity to understand and advise on critical technical and operational issues related to international public health, including maternal and child health and nutrition, health care service delivery, and HIV prevention, care, treatment and support to orphans and vulnerable children
- Experience in both training and mentoring others, including field staff, in diverse, multi-cultural settings
- Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures, including local church partners
- Proven experience in developing appropriate recommendations and effectively advising others, including senior managers
- Fluency in spoken and written French and English required
Application deadline: Closing date: 5 March 2008
To apply for this position please visit the Catholic Relief Services website at www.crs.org. Regrettably, no emails can be accepted.
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