HIV/AIDS: IRIN/PlusNews weekly news and analysis round-up, Issue 514 for 3 December 2010
NAIROBI, 3 December 2010 (PlusNews) - CONTENTS:
SOMALIA: Baby steps towards a PMTCT programme
AFRICA: Straight Talk with Sheila Tlou, new UNAIDS head for Eastern and Southern Africa
SOUTH AFRICA: HIV prevention drugs raise more questions than answers
KENYA: HIV prevention jeopardized by PM's call for arrest of gays
HIV/AIDS: Looking forward to an AIDS-free generation
AFRICA: Mapping progress on universal access
UGANDA: Striving to provide first-, second- and third-line ARVs
CAMBODIA: Heroes of HIV: The Sex Worker (Film)
HIV/AIDS: Does the world need more AIDS targets?
ZAMBIA: How to make broad ARV access work
KENYA: Walking 26km for a condom
EVENTS/RESOURCES
1. Third National Conference on HIV/AIDS Therapy, 8-9 January 2011 - Mumbai, India
2. Guidelines for intensified tuberculosis case-finding and isoniazid preventive therapy for people living with HIV in resource-constrained settings - UN World Health Organization (WHO)
VACANCIES
1. HIV/AIDS Specialist, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - Bissau, Guinea Bissau
2. Senior Technical Advisor, HIV Prevention, Family Health International (FHI) - Nairobi, Kenya
SOMALIA: Baby steps towards a PMTCT programme
Many African countries are struggling to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission, a vital component of the universal access to HIV prevention target, but in Somalia a programme to prevent such infections is just getting started.
full report
AFRICA: Straight Talk with Sheila Tlou, new UNAIDS head for Eastern and Southern Africa
Sheila Tlou, former Minister of Health in Botswana, took over as UNAIDS director for East and southern Africa in November, just a month before the deadline for achieving universal access to treatment, prevention, care and support expires.
full report
SOUTH AFRICA: HIV prevention drugs raise more questions than answers
Recent studies have shown that antiretroviral [ARV] drugs can reduce the risk of HIV-infection but for researchers and governments - the research raises more questions than answers about its implementation.
full report
KENYA: HIV prevention jeopardized by PM's call for arrest of gays
Gay Kenyans will be driven further underground and away from HIV prevention, treatment and care services following a recent call by Prime Minister Raila Odinga for a nationwide crackdown on homosexuals, activists say.
full report
HIV/AIDS: Looking forward to an AIDS-free generation
Achieving an HIV-free generation by 2015 is feasible, but will require innovative approaches to reach marginalized populations, says the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
full report
AFRICA: Mapping progress on universal access
In sub-Saharan Africa, which shoulders nearly 70 percent of the global HIV burden, progress on the universal access targets for HIV/AIDS ranges from the good to the bad, and for most countries is somewhere in between.
full report
UGANDA: Striving to provide first-, second- and third-line ARVs
Life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) medication is reaching more HIV-positive Ugandans than ever before, but health workers are concerned about how they will deal with the inevitable rise in drug resistance.
full report
CAMBODIA: Heroes of HIV: The Sex Worker (Film)
Meet Sou Southevy - gay man, sex worker, counsellor, rights activist and hero of HIV.
full report
HIV/AIDS: Does the world need more AIDS targets?
With just a month to go before the deadline for achieving the targets of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care expires, it is clear very few countries will reach them.
full report
ZAMBIA: How to make broad ARV access work
Zambia is a poor country with a severe shortage of health workers, but it is closer to achieving universal access to antiretroviral treatment by the end of 2010 than many of its equally resource-limited neighbours.
full report
KENYA: Walking 26km for a condom
Correct and consistent condom use is one of the bedrocks of Kenya’s HIV/AIDS prevention programme but many people in rural areas have limited access to condoms.
full report
EVENTS/RESOURCES
1. Third National Conference on HIV/AIDS Therapy, 8-9 January, 2011 - Mumbai, India
The theme of the conference is "HIV Therapeutics - Translating Advances for Sustained Success". The programme will cover basic sciences, applied and clinical research and social and preventive aspects of HIV, placing emphasis on microbicides and vaccine trials.
For more information, visit: www.hhrfonline.com
2. Guidelines for intensified tuberculosis case-finding and isoniazid preventive therapy for people living with HIV in resource-constrained settings - UN World Health Organization (WHO)
The guidelines, aimed at resource-constrained settings, promote the use of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) as a simple and cost-effective method that stops TB bacteria becoming active. They advocate the delivery of WHO's 'three I's' - IPT, Intensified TB screening and Infection control - as part of comprehensive HIV services.
For more information, visit: www.who.int
VACANCIES
1. HIV/AIDS Specialist, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - Bissau, Guinea Bissau
Responsibilities:
- Ensure the preparation of the situation analysis and its periodic update
- Prepare HIV/AIDS input to the country programme recommendation and all related documents for assigned programmes/projects
- Participate in the formulation and development of HIV/AIDS programme goals, strategies and approaches for the UNICEF plan of cooperation
- Participate with UNICEF, government and other partners in the development of HIV/AIDS strategies, methodologies and identification of new approaches for improving programme delivery, with emphasis on advocacy, community participation and social mobilization
- Review and evaluate the technical, institutional and financial feasibility and constraints of programmes/projects in coordination and collaboration with government and other partners
- Provide technical support to government and non-government organizations at the national, regional and provincial levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the programmes/projects
- Plan, organize and conduct training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries for the purpose of capacity building at the central and regional levels, and expansion of coverage of HIV/AIDS services
Requirements:
- Advanced university degree in Medical, Social Sciences or Public Health with a strong emphasis on skills in communication for behaviour development and modification
- Eight years progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation, in a related field
- Fluency in English and French or Portuguese; knowledge of the local working language of the duty station is an asset
Application deadline: 10 December, 2010
To apply, visit: www.unicef.org
2. Senior Technical Advisor, HIV Prevention, Family Health International (FHI) - Nairobi, Kenya
Responsibilities:
- Advise on the design, development, implementation and evaluation of country- and context-specific HIV prevention programmes serving generalized and most-at-risk populations
- Assesses the state of HIV prevention programming and science
- Ensure that FHI evolves and adapts HIV prevention programmes in step with emerging evidence and programme experience
- Represent FHI as a global technical leader in HIV prevention science and programmes
- Build and sustain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders including in-country partners, local and international NGOs, local governments, and sponsors
Requirements:
- MD or PhD (or equivalent degree) in health-related field with seven to nine years relevant experience in HIV prevention programmes
- Excellent demonstrated knowledge of HIV prevention science, methods, and evidence for effectiveness in both generalized and concentrated epidemics, particularly in African and/or Asian settings
- Substantial experience working and providing technical assistance in developing countries
- Record of peer reviewed publications and presentations at scientific/technical meetings
- Proven track record of leading proposals and securing funding from multiple sources
- Capacity to mentor and transfer knowledge to staff.
- Fluent written and oral English; ability to speak French an asset
Application deadline: 19 January, 2011
To apply, visit: www.fhi.org
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