|
Regional Sub-Saharan Africa Session |
MOSY04 |
|
|
| Organiser: |
|
| Type:
|
|
| Venue: |
SR 8 (450) |
| Interpretation: |
None |
| Time: |
11:00 - 13:00, 04.08.2008 |
| Code: |
MOSY04 |
|
Discussants: |
Daouda Diouf, Senegal
Bience Gawanas, (Co-Chair)
Elizabeth Mataka, Zambia (Chairperson)
|
|
|
|
Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. About 68% of adults and nearly 90% of children infected with HIV are located in this region. More than 76% of global deaths due to AIDS-related illnesses in 2007 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Women (who make up to 61% of people living with HIV in this region) and children are particularly affected by the pandemic.
Despite the fact that new surveys and calculation models show a decline in HIV prevalence rates from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2007, AIDS continues to be the single largest cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. This evidence calls for a strong partnership between Government, Private Sector and Civil Society Organisations to immediately implement and accelerate the political commitments (Abuja, Maputo, and Brazzaville) for universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services
|
|
|
Presentations in this session:
11:00
MOSY0400 | Opening remarks
Ali Mohamed, Tanzania, United Republic of
| 11:05
MOSY0401
Powerpoint (274 KB) | Status of the response in the region - regional overview
Lazare Kaptue, Cameroon
| 11:17
MOSY0402
Powerpoint (426 KB) | Key messages from recent conferences and key meetings over the past two years
Souleymane Mboup, Senegal
| 11:29
MOSY0403
Powerpoint (155 KB) | Key advocacy challenges
Lucy Nganga, Tanzania, United Republic of
| 11:41
MOSY0404
Powerpoint (1.5 MB) | Key learnings from South Africa
Vuyiseka Dubula, South Africa
|
|
|
Rapporteur reports
Leadership report by Rebecca Hodes
Speakers acknowledged positive advancements in the African HIV epidemic, and argued that the epidemic was stabilizing at a ‘morbid equilibrium’, and in some cases declining. More needs to be done to address the epidemic among vulnerable populations, including women, MSM and IDUs.
African leaders were praised for their efforts in rallying resources and support for HIV interventions, and for originating the Global Fund at the Abuja Conference in 2001. However, criticism of the failures of political leadership was absent except from the last two speakers, who represented the civil society organizations.
Speakers noted that effective leadership must initiate action at all levels of society for effective HIV interventions. Prevention approaches were praised, but there was a lack of acknowledgement of the epidemiological processes at work in the apparent ‘stabilization’ of the epidemic.
Speakers voiced concerns about health structures and the need for more integrated systems. It was emphasised that pills are useless in the absence of healthcare workers to dispense them. It is thus essential that Africa develop stronger health structures in addition to its own pharmaceuticals manufacturing in order to reverse its role as a ‘captive market’ of the West.
The importance of circumcision, microbicides and vaccines for averting millions of future infections was noted, but without any further depth.
The vital role of advocacy was highlighted, as was coalition-building between civil society and donors. Civil society actors must increase their knowledge on evidence-based information in order to strengthen advocacy claims and avert criticisms that they are like ‘hoodwinked horses’.
The vital role of activism in the case of South Africa was described, in which civil society was compelled to challenge the government for its failure to honour the human rights of HIV-positive citizens.
Additional notes added by Nathan Geffen, Head Rapporteur for Leadership Track:Several unacceptable things happened at this session:
- The session had two chairs, the lead being Elizabeth Mataka the UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa. Between the two chairs, they spoke, incoherently, for over 30 minutes. This had the effect of reducing the time for the remaining speakers.
- In the middle of the session the vice-President of Tanzania was brought onto stage and spoke for about 20 minutes. This was not on the programme and further reduced the amount of time for the speakers, particularly the two community speakers at the end.
- Two of the speakers had powerpoint presentations that were a pastiche of, mainly UNAIDS, statistics. The statistics were quoted wrongly in some critical ways.
- Although all the speakers went substantially over time, only Vuyiseka Dubula, the last and most outspoken of them was buzzed for doing so. By the time Vuyiseka began speaking, many in the originally large audience had already left and the session was almost out of time.
- There was no time for audience participation.
This was a potentially critical session. Africa bears the brunt of the HIV epidemic. The hall was full. Yet it was largely a wasted opportunity.
Official Hub report by Dr Ozayr Mahomed
These were indeed very dissappointing sessions. The co-chairs provided very little direction into this session as they opted to speak more than the presenters. The presenters except for the last 2 were very poorly selected as they do not represent Sub-Saharan Africa. It seems the political agenda overshadowed the programme as the Vice President of Tanzania was allowed to speak, although not on the official programme.
The co-ordinators were unmindful of the fact that preparations and money was spent in providing the AIDs Conference with a World fisrt in terms of a direct linkage to the conference with a distant audience. The official Hub was given very little respect and time. This is very unfortunate.
The official Hub will like the organizers of the conference to produce an official apology to the participants and organizers of the Hub.
|
|
|