US ban on visitors with HIV could end soon

I have completed a draft of the AIDS Museum's strategic plan for the next three years, which will be submitted to the board of trustees for review.  In the meantime, I will post some of the sections.

 

Needs Statement

 

The AIDS Museum addresses the problem of AIDS in Newark, New Jersey.  Newark has a high number of AIDS cases, rate of infection, and proportion of deaths due to AIDS.  156 deaths in Newark were due to HIV in 2003 out of 2,335 total deaths.  This followed only cancer and heart disease (Center for Health Statistics).  Newark also has a high number of AIDS cases when compared to other cities within the state and the country as a whole.  In Newark, there were 13,284 cumulative HIV/AIDS cases as of June 2007.  This was more than double that of the next highest number of cases in New Jersey, which was in Jersey City: 6,288 (Epidemiological Services Unit 1).  In metropolitan areas of 500,000 or more, Newark ranked in the top ten cities in the nation in the number of newly reported AIDS cases per 100,000 people (State of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic 1).

           

Current resources in Newark include organizations serving the needs of people with AIDS, such as Broadway House for Continuing care, and organizations providing education to help prevent the spread of HIV, such as the American Red Cross.  These organizations are part of an AIDS Vision Council hosted by the United Way of Essex and West Hudson.  Many organizations that participate also offer services to clients who are not HIV positive, such as shelter for the homeless.  Some of the organizations do not serve Newark alone but rather broader areas such as the entire county.  The ideal niche for the AIDS Museum, therefore, would be to focus on AIDS education specifically in Newark.

 

In addition to fulfilling a need for AIDS education in Newark, the AIDS Museum will provide an artistic attraction to a neighborhood lacking other cultural organizations.  Most of the museums, galleries, and arts organizations in Newark are in the downtown area. A perusal of the City of Newark website shows that none of the arts and culture organizations listed are located in the West Ward.  Residents of the West Ward’s neighborhoods such as Vailsburg do not benefit from easy access to the arts or the economic benefits the arts can generate.  The AIDS Museum will seek a permanent location in the West Ward of Newark, ideally in the Vailsburg community.  The AIDS Museum is a member of the Arts and Culture Workgroup of the West Ward Collective, a group started by Newark City Councilman Ron Rice and composed of community members and nonprofit organizations.  The Workgroup’s charge is “To coordinate arts and cultural offerings of the West Ward year round and to promote a cultural program for public consumption” (Committee to Elect Ronald C. Rice).  Even among this group, many participant organizations do not have a space in the West Ward.  Some, like the Newark Symphony Orchestra, are located downtown and trying to reach out to this neighborhood.  Others, like a theater group, do not have a space but conduct traveling shows.  One joint event by this Workgroup was held, but it was in the downtown section of Newark.  The fact that even arts organizations in the West Ward Workgroup are not actually located or doing programming in the West Ward illustrates the great deficiency in the arts in this neighborhood and the community’s interest in improving access to the arts.

 

The combination of a need for both education about AIDS and arts and culture organizations in the AIDS Museum’s catchment area demonstrates the potential usefulness of the AIDS Museum to this community.

 

I completed a paper about Sudan which might be of interest.  It is for my AIDS and the International Community

class at The New School.  We were expected to create a hypothetical proposal to the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security for an AIDS prevention program in a low-income country.  In conjunction with this proposal, we had to create a matrix assessing the current situation in the country in sectors such as education, health, and sanitation, and outline what needs to be done based on established minimum standards.   Below are my proposal and matrix.

 

Date of submission	1 May 2008
Benefiting country and location	Sudan
Title of the project	HIV Education in and out of School Settings
Duration of project	June 2009-June 2011
Executing UN organization(s) (including contacts in the field offices)	UNICEF, UNAIDS
Non-UN executing partners	Ministry of Education
Project budget including PSC (in US$)	N/A

 

 

Introduction

 

Human Security Context

 

Sudan faces human security challenges as both a Least Developed Country and a country in conflict.  Gross National Income per capita is $1,870 (UNAIDS 2006, 458).  Amongst problems in sectors such as water, sanitation and food security, two areas of need stand out: education and health.

 

Education is a crucial issue in Sudan in part because more than 50% of the total population of Sudan is in the 0-17 age group (CCA 23).  School attendance is low, with at least half of primary school-age children in northern Sudan not attending school (CCA 21).  Only half of those who enroll complete primary school.  Even when children have the opportunity to go to school, they are often inadequately prepared due to their circumstances.  For example, children in Internally Displaced camps and from the poor and nomadic communities lack stimulation and preparation for basic schooling (CCA 21).  This lack of education for children affects the country as these children become adults: in 2000, adult literacy was estimated to be only 57.2% (CCA 23).

 

In addition to the educational challenges in Sudan, the quality of the health sector is low and inconsistent across the country.  For example, there is a regional skewing of distribution of health workers.  The ratio of doctors to population ranges from 1 per 700,000 people in West Darfur to 1 for every 5,000 people in Gezira State.  One possible explanation for low numbers of health workers is inadequate pay (CCA 13).

 

The failings of both the education and health sectors have compounded the problem of HIV in Sudan.  Sudan accounts for 350,000 out of 440,000 people living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa.  Since Sudan shares extensive borders with countries having high HIV prevalence, the situation is most severe in southern areas and border towns (UNAIDS 2006, 48).  95% of HIV cases in Sudan are sexually transmitted, with some mother to child transmission and infection by blood transfusions (CCA 18).

 

One facet of the HIV problem in Sudan is lack of information.  For instance, in 1999, only 13.6% of married women aged 15-49 knew about condoms as a family planning method (CCA 16). 75% of women do not know how to protect themselves against HIV infection (CCA 19). HIV-related services for youth are limited, as HIV prevention is presently not dealt with in schools (CCA 21).  By devoting more attention to life skills and peace building, the Sudanese educational system could address many of the country’s human security challenges (CCA 21).

 

Current Complementary Initiatives

 

Those working in Sudan have tried to address the lack of information about AIDS through Behavior Change Communications (BCC) and Information, Education and Communications (IEC).  For example, the National Telecommunication Corporation is establishing an

information hotline for HIV and AIDS (SNAP 13).  In addition, standard guidelines were developed for pre-testing IEC materials at national and state levels.  Artists produced materials in different formats, from which 15 posters were selected for field testing in 9 locations in Northern Sudan (SNAP 13).

 

Priorities: National Authorities and UN Country Team

According to the national authorities and UN country team in Sudan, “The highest priorities should be to raise the awareness of the entire Sudanese population, with particular attention to high risk and vulnerable groups. Such efforts should specifically counter stigma and discrimination, while promoting preventive measures in an effective but culturally sensitive manner” (Government of Sudan 29).

 

Rationale for Funding from the UNTFHS

 

The UNTFHS Guidelines place priority on countries and regions where the insecurities of people are most critical and pervasive, such as the least developed countries and countries in conflict.  Sudan meets both these priorities.  In addition, UNTFHS asks that particular attention be paid to the special needs and vulnerabilities of women and children.  This project has already assessed need for knowledge among women in particular about HIV.  By focusing on education, the project will address the needs of children and adolescents.  The project will also support and empower internally displaced persons through mobile educational programs.  Furthermore, this project meets the key funding criteria of improving educational opportunities and realizing minimum living standards.  To ensure minimum standards are met, this project will follow the Inter-Agency Standing Committee guidelines for HIV/AIDS in emergency settings.  Finally, by focusing on both northern and southern Sudan, this project will meet the UNTFHS Guidelines by empowering people in transition from war to peace.

 

Funds are urgently needed for HIV educational programs in Sudan. Donors have provided some resources for blood screening, advocacy and awareness raising, condoms promotion and for supporting people living with HIV, but this falls far short of what is needed (Government of Sudan 27).  The Global Fund to Fight TB, AIDS and Malaria generously gave a grant of $7.8 million to expand program interventions, but this focuses mainly on higher-risk target populations in only two states in northern Sudan (Government of Sudan 28).  However, we need funds from the UNTFHS to ensure access to HIV education for children and those in the conflict-affected zones of Southern Sudan and Darfur.  The funding priorities of UNTFHS will allow these vulnerable populations in need to be served.

 

Project Details

 

Goal: The goal of this project is to increase the human security of the target beneficiaries-young people who are at risk of contracting HIV in Darfur and Southern Sudan- through HIV education in and out of school settings.

 

Objective 1: Provide lifeskills-based HIV education (IASC 19).

 

Activities

• Train teachers 


• Use role playing  to personalize issues


• Develop a resource book of where to go for services and help

 

Expected Outputs

• Teachers are trained and implement the lifeskills-based HIV education


• Young people gain knowledge and change their attitudes and behaviors


• Knowledgeable young people will postpone intercourse or, if they do have sex, use condoms (UNAIDS 2008).

 

Objective 2: Educate girls and boys (formal and non-formal) (IASC 19).

 

Activities

• Train representatives among out-of-school boys and girls to be peer educators


• Use entertainment such as street theater, music and puppetry (UNAIDS 2008).  

 

Expected Outputs

• Out-of-school youth will trust and emulate the peer educators


• The entertainment will draw people in and provide a focus as well as an alternative pastime to risky activities

 

Implementation and Partnership Strategies

 

UNICEF and UNAIDS will work with the Ministry of Education for approval of in-school activities.  For out-of-school activities, we will partner with existing organizations such as The Heavens, a drama and musical group whose performances rotate largely around social issues, including HIV/AIDS (UNOCHA).

 

Sustainability

 

After UNTFHS funds are spent to train peer educators and teachers, the HIV Education project will use a train-the-trainer approach to cut costs.  In the future, we will reach out to corporate sponsors to secure additional funds. 

 

 

 

 

 

WORKS CITED

 

Government of Sudan.  Sudan Millennium Development Goals Interim Unified Report. United Nations Country Team. December 2004.  29 April 2008.  <http://www.undg.org/ archieve_docs/6531-Sudan_Interim_MDG_Report.pdf>.

 

IASC.  Guidelines for HIV/AIDS Interventions in Emergency Settings.  17 November 2003.  Inter-Agency Standing Committee.  11 April 2008.  <http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/ iasc/content/products/docs/FinalGuidelines17Nov2003.pdf>.

 

Sudan Common Country Assessment (CCA) & United Nations Development Assistance    Framework (UNDAF) 2002-2006.  April 2002.  United Nations.  28 April 2008.        <http://www.sd.undp.org/Doc/CCA-UNDAF-Apr2002.htm>.

 

Sudan National AIDS Control Programme (SNAP).  United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) Report 2006 -2007.  January 2008.  UNAIDS.  28 April 2008.  <http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2008/north_sudan_2008_country_progress_ report_en.pdf>.

 

UNAIDS.  2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic.  2006.  Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.  28 April 2008.  <http://unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/ GlobalReport>.

 

UNAIDS.  2007 Epidemic Update.  December 2007.  Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.  11 April 2008.  <http://data.unaids.org/pub/EPISlides/2007/2007_epiupdate _en.pdf>.

 

UNAIDS.  “Education-In and Out of School Settings.”  2008.  Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.  29 April 2008. <http://www.unaids.org/en/PolicyAndPractice/Prevention/ Education/>.

 

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.  “SUDAN: The art of HIV education in the south.”  17 April 2008.  PlusNews.  29 April 2008.  <http://www.irinnews.org/ report.aspx?ReportId=77815>.

 

Sector	Current situation (2006)	What needs to be done
Coordination	The Sudan National AIDS Control Programme (SNAP) located with the Federal Ministry of Health, is responsible for coordination.  The Sudan AIDS Network is an umbrella forum for the NGOs working in the field of HIV that promotes the role of civil society within the national response. “In addition, there are other fora such as the Country Coordination Mechanism and different HIV/AIDS Technical Working Groups that were established to improve the public private partnership and engagement of the civil society. The United Nations Joint Team on AIDS serves to coordinate and facilitate the UN’s technical support to the national response” (SNAP 8).   In 2005, Sudan reported inadequate coordination among the stakeholders in planning and implementing of the HIV/AIDS programmes (SNAP 21)   Progress: “There has been significant improvement in the coordination of HIV and AIDS programmes in the country. The mechanism was streamlined to facilitate joint planning that involves all stakeholders from the different sectors; and the link to the national AIDS Council was strengthened. The monitoring and evaluation framework was revised into a single one from the national to State levels, in line with the principle of “three-ones”. The coordination structures have also been decentralized and now include a mechanism for provision of technical support “The AIDS Task Forces ” that were established at State level. The advocacy-related challenges were streamlined as result of the improved coordination mechanism” (SNAP 21).	Determine coordination structures • Identify and list partners • Establish network of resource persons • Raise funds • Prepare contingency plans • Include HIV/AIDS in humanitarian action plans and train accordingly relief workers (IASC 16).   • Build human capacity • Link HIV emergency activities with development activities (IASC 17).
Assessment and Monitoring	“There is need for further strengthening of the overall monitoring and evaluation system and to put in place a mechanism that will ensure effective use of the existing structures. Resource tracking is another area where information is either scattered or missing and there is an urgent need to develop a system to generate financial information for purposes of economic analysis and socio-economic impact assessments” (SNAP 24).   “The national database HIV and AIDS database is undergoing a process of development.” (SNAP 24).   Lessons have been learned from assessment and monitoring.  For example, an assessment was conducted that revealed that there were no formal activities or plans for the provision of home based care to persons living with HIV.  Through the efforts of an association of people living with HIV, a Home Based Care strategy was developed in 2007 (SNAP 17).	§   Conduct capacity and situation analysis §   Develop indicators and tools  (IASC 16).   • Monitor and evaluate all programs • Assess data on prevalence, knowledge attitudes and practice, and impact of HIV/AIDS • Draw lessons from evaluations (IASC 17).
Sector	Current situation (2006)	What needs to be done
Protection	The country initiated the process of drafting the Act on HIV/AIDS prevention and protection of the rights of the infected persons in 2005. During the course of 2006 and 2007, the document was taken through various stakeholders' discussions and consensus building workshops.  The document spells out principles related to HIV such as clearly Sudan such as raising public awareness on transmission, consequences, prevention and control of HIV; prohibition of all kinds of discrimination against suspected cases of HIV infection; and prioritization of major programs for prevention and control of HIV within the National Development Plan. The laws also categorically prohibits publicity in the media and commercials that contradict the established scientific procedure; or don't conform to the medical principles and provides penalties that apply whenever is failure to comply with the different articles. (SNAP 9-10).	• Review existing protection laws • Train uniformed forces and humanitarian workers on HIV (IASC 16).   • Prevent and respond to sexual violence and exploitation • Protect orphans and separated children (IASC 17).
Water and Sanitation	“The ongoing conflict, economic difficulties, and institutional problems have negatively impacted upon public water and sanitation utilities.  Most investment in the water and sanitation infrastructure over the past decades was earmarked for affluent urban areas” (CCA 19).   Diarrhea is widespread (CCA 13).   47% of people in rural areas have access to safe water, as compared to 79% of people in urban areas.  Only 40% of the population in Southern Sudan has access (CCA 48).	• Increase public awareness of safe hygiene • Expand rainwater harvesting • Install hand pumps (CCA 21).
Food security and Nutrition	“Land and environmental degradation, exacerbated by recurrent natural and man-made disasters, has resulted in food insecurity” (CCA 27).   Moving food is difficult due to conflict and poor infrastructure (CCA 27).   Land has been diverted to producing more profitable crops like sesame rather than subsistence crops (CCA 27).   22.3% of the population was chronically undernourished in 1999 (CCA 39)   There is inadequate knowledge of nutrition (CCA 14)   There are wide disparities between regions and problems with accessibility and variability of supply (CCA 27).	• Develop strategy to protect long-term food security of HIV affected people • Develop strategies and target vulnerable groups for agricultural extension programs • Collaborate with community and home based care programs in providing nutritional support (IASC 17).
Sector	Current situation (2006)	What needs to be done
Shelter and Site Planning	“The Government has no formal overarching policy for IDPs. IDP resettlement will be complex due to the large differences among the IDP population because of movement, origin, period of stay in settlement, current socio-economic status and continued insecurity in their traditional lands.  Sustainable resettlement and reintegration of the displaced population cannot be achieved without taking into account the underlying causes of insecurity and conflict. Apart from the tribal conflicts and civil war, militias in the areas within and bordering the transition zone have a serious impact on displacement. These militias are committing large-scale violations of human rights such as asset stripping, cattle raiding and abduction of women and children thus causing the overall instability and insecurity that makes people leave their homelands”  (CCA 45).	• Ensure safety of potential sites (IASC 16).   • Plan orderly movement of displaced (IASC 17).
Health	There is inadequate pay for health workers and a regional skewing of distribution of health workers.  The ratio of doctors to population ranges from 1 per 700,000 people in West Darfur to 1 for every 5,000 people in Gezira State (CCA 13)   Iodine deficiency is prevalent, leading to lower resistance against infections (CCA 15)   In 1999, only 13.6% of married women aged 15-49 knew about condoms as a family planning method (CCA 16).    Sudan shares extensive borders with countries having high HIV prevalence (CCA 19).   95% of HIV cases in Sudan are sexually transmitted, with some mother to child transmission and infection by blood transfusions (CCA 18)   There is a lack of HIV test kits for screening blood (CCA 19).   HIV-related and reproductive health services for youth are limited (CCA 19).   75% of women do not know how to protect themselves against HIV infection (CCA 19).	• Ensure access to basic health care for the most vulnerable • Ensure a safe blood supply • Provide condoms and establish condom supplies • Establish STI treatment (IASC 19).
BCC/IEC	Standard guidelines were developed for pre-testing IEC materials at national and State levels Artists produced materials in different formats, from which 15 posters were selected for field testing in 9 locations in Northern Sudan The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) is establishing an information hotline for HIV and AIDS (SNAP 13).	• Prepare culturally appropriate messages in local languages • Prepare a basic BCC/IEC strategy • Involve key beneficiaries • Conduct awareness campaigns • Store key documents outside potential emergency areas (IASC 18).
Sector	Current situation (2006)	What needs to be done
Education	At least half the primary school-age children of northern Sudan are not in school (CCA 21).   Only half of those who enroll complete primary school (CCA 21).   “HIV/AIDS prevention is presently not dealt with in schools, or information materials on the subject disseminated and it is argued that the curriculum needs to devote more attention to life skills and peace building” (CCA 21).   Children in IDP camps and from the poor and nomadic communities lack stimulation and preparation for basic schooling (CCA 21).   More than 50% of the total population of Sudan is in the 0-17 age group (CCA 23).   In 2000 adult literacy was estimated to be 57.2% (CCA 23).	•Train teachers on HIV/AIDS and sexual violence and exploitation (IASC 18).   • Ensure children’s access to education • Educate girls and boys (formal and non-formal) • Provide lifeskills-based HIV education • Monitor and respond to sexual violence and exploitation in educational settings (IASC 19).
HIV in the workplace	The ratification process for the workplace policy and law on HIV/AIDS is in the advanced stages (SNAP 25).	• Review personnel policies regarding the management of people with HIV who work in humanitarian operations • Develop policies when there are none, aimed at minimizing the potential for discrimination • Stock materials for post-exposure prophylaxis (IASC 18).   • Build capacity of supporting groups for people with HIV and their families • Establish workplace policies to eliminate discrimination against people with HIV (IASC 19).

 

Check out this event I will be attending...

The Asia Society and UNAIDS invite you to the release of a special report by the

Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia:

 

Redefining AIDS in Asia:

Crafting an Effective Response

 

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

 

6:00 – 6:30 p.m.: Registration

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Panel Discussion / Q & A

8:00 – 8:30 p.m.: Reception

 

FREE ADMISSION

Limited Seating

 

 Asia Society

725 Park Avenue at 70th Street

New York, NY

 

In an effort to better understand and analyze the potential impact of AIDS on economies, societies, individuals and families in Asia, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) supported the creation of the Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia. Launched in July 2006 in New Delhi, India, the Commission brings together 9 of the region’s leading development economists, policy makers, public health experts and civil society representatives working on AIDS.

 

Join us as the Asia Society and UNAIDS convene the first public unveiling of the Commission’s findings. Commission members will present their projections for the epidemic’s medium- and long-term effects on society and development in the region. Additionally, they will offer policy options in the areas of prevention, treatment and care and impact mitigation aimed at significantly moving the AIDS response forward in Asia.

 

Speakers:

 

JVR Prasada Rao, Director, Regional Support Team, Asia and the Pacific, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

 

Chakravarthi Rangarajan, Commission Chairman; Chief Economic Advisor to the  

 Prime Minister of India; Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India

 

Frika Chia Iskandar, the Commission’s civil society representative; founding member of PITA, a support group in  

 Indonesia for parents of HIV   positive children; Board member of the Global Network of PLWHA  

 (People Living with HIV/AIDS) representing the Asia Pacific region

 

John E. Tedstrom, Executive Director, Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (moderator)

 

Asia Society will stream a live webcast of this event starting at 6:30pm EST

E-mail your questions to moderator@asiasociety.org

 

As seating is limited, advance registration is suggested.

To register, call 212-517-2742 or online at: https://tickets.asiasociety.org

 

For more information, visit our website at www.asiasociety.org

Sorry I haven't written in this blog in so long!  A lot has been going on in the world of the AIDS Museum.

We currently have an exhibit up at Seton Hall University Law School, funded by the Center for Vocation and Servant Leadership.  Today, a group of students on Spring Break from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill came to visit.  They are staying in New York City and volunteering with various AIDS organizations.

The group of 13 students represented all different majors, from Chemistry to International Studies to Business.  It was great to see their interest and dedication to service.  We discussed the possibility of bringing an AIDS-related exhibit to their campus.

I'll write some more updates about previous events in the upcoming week!