GLOBAL: IRIN/PlusNews Weekly Issue 479, 2 April 2010
JOHANNESBURG, 2 April 2010 (PlusNews) - CONTENTS:
KENYA: Mobile phones monitor HIV patients
SOUTH AFRICA: Traditional healers extend healthcare
AFRICA: Antibiotic plus ARVs could halve HIV mortality - study
EAST AFRICA: The military as "agents for change"
SOUTH AFRICA: Low HIV prevalence rates on campus
ZIMBABWE: Men take a hands-on approach to pregnancy
EAST AFRICA: One region, one HIV law
KENYA: HIV funding begins at home
EVENTS/RESOURCES
1. The HIV/Culture Confluence: Changing the River's Flow - Possibilities and Challenges, SAfAIDS, 12-13 April 2010 - Johannesburg, South Africa
2. HIV Prevalence and Related Factors: Higher Education Sector Study - South Africa, Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme
VACANCIES
1. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Specialist, Government of Timor-Leste - Dili, Timor-Leste
2. HIV and AIDS Programme Manager, Tshwane Leadership Foundation (TLF) - Pretoria, South Africa
KENYA: Mobile phones monitor HIV patients
Phoebe Mapelu's job as a community health worker in Kenya's Kajiado District always meant going from door to door - sometimes with long distances between homes - to check up on patients on life-prolonging antiretroviral therapy.
full report
SOUTH AFRICA: Traditional healers extend healthcare
South Africa's traditional healing profession has often been mired in controversy over treating HIV/AIDS, with dodgy traditional remedies promoted as alternatives to antiretroviral (ARV) medication, and some groups of traditional healers being associated with AIDS denialists.
full report
AFRICA: Antibiotic plus ARVs could halve HIV mortality - study
A cheap, widely available antibiotic given to patients when they start taking life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) drugs could reduce HIV mortality in resource-limited settings by up to 50 percent says a new study published in the scientific journal, The Lancet.
full report
EAST AFRICA: The military as "agents for change"
East African armies should be used as a resource to fight HIV/AIDS in the general population, a workshop on HIV/AIDS in the peace and security sectors heard in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
full report
SOUTH AFRICA: Low HIV prevalence rates on campus
HIV prevalence rates among South Africa's university students remain low, but risk is never far off according to one of the largest surveys ever conducted in the country
full report
ZIMBABWE: Men take a hands-on approach to pregnancy
Men in rural Zimbabwean are taking a hands-on approach to pregnancy - and to preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.
full report
EAST AFRICA: One region, one HIV law
As the East African Community (EAC) becomes more integrated, countries in the region are developing a common HIV Prevention and Management Bill that will establish minimum standards for HIV services in the five states - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
full report
KENYA: HIV funding begins at home
Smarting from two consecutive Global Fund rejections and declining donor interest, the Kenyan government is considering ways to fund its own national treatment programme.
full report
EVENTS/RESOURCES
1. The HIV/Culture Confluence: Changing the River's Flow - Possibilities and Challenges, SAfAIDS, 12-13 April 2010 - Johannesburg, South Africa
SAfAIDS' regional conference aims to create a platform for the exchange of knowledge, ideas and challenges around ensuring effective programmes to address HIV and gender-based violence. The conference centres on four themes, including community participation, leadership, children, and policy and legal reforms.
For more information, go to www.safaids.net
2. HIV Prevalence and Related Factors: Higher Education Sector Study - South Africa, Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programme
This study tested almost 24,000 students and staff throughout South African universities to examine HIV prevalence rates and related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. The first study of its kind, the report shows that while HIV prevalence rates remains low amongst South African students, students are engaging in risky behaviour. The authors also note that HIV prevalence rates among the low level university staff continue to be high.
To access the report, go to www.irinnews.org
VACANCIES
1. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Specialist, Government of Timor-Leste - Dili, Timor-Leste
Responsibilities:
- Participate in the planning and implementation of National HIV/AIDS and STI Programme
- Review and revise national guidelines for STI management, prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) and antiretroviral treatment (ARV)
- Ensure necessary drugs, equipment and trained personnel are in place for guideline implementation
- Assess STI, PMTCT and ARV service facilities and train service providers to ensure minimum service standards are met
- Support effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
- Perform any other tasks consistent as assigned by supervisor.
Qualifications:
- Medical degree and/or Master of Public Health with HIV expertise
- Demonstrated experience in the delivery of technical Assistance in STI and HIV/AIDS
- Demonstrated experience in programme management, capacity-building and technical assistance ins similar developing country context
- Fluent English, both written and spoken; language skills in Tetun, Bahasa Indonesia and Portuguese will be added advantage
Application deadline: 19 April
Please send your cover letter and CV to [email protected], cc'ing [email protected]
2. HIV and AIDS Programme Manager, Tshwane Leadership Foundation (TLF) - Pretoria, South Africa
Responsibilities:
- Manage programme implementation according to the approved TLF plan and in compliance with donor requirements
- Provide strategic input on programme work plans, procedures and priorities
- Manage relationships with partners and funders, and ensure effective reporting systems are in place
- Craft the programme budget
- Coordinating M&E plan development and implementation via the M&E Officer and
- Facilitate partner training, workshops and meetings to allow for the peer review of programme outputs
- Maintain an up-to-date database on all PEPFAR activities for all partners;
- Collecting Human Interest Stories (HIS) for publication in the organizational media like annual newsletter and TLF website on a monthly basis
Qualifications:
- Degree in development, social sciences, health management or a related field; a advanced certificate in health management systems or training in project management will be added advantages
- At least 5 years experience in managing multi-partner HIV/AIDS projects; experience with US funders and faith-based organizations a plus
- Knowledge of the South African health sector as well as South Africa's HIV epidemic
- Familiarity with spreadsheets, budgets and financial reports as well as Excel
- Willingness to work beyond the normal call of duty if the programme so requires
- Demonstrated capacity in critical thinking and attention to detail
Application deadline: Rolling
To apply, submit a CV and motivational letter to [email protected]. Please include the job title in your subject line
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