Global Health Impact: Countries Lead and Innovate on HIV & AIDS

Photo credit: Genaye Eshetu/MSH

Strengthening health systems at all levels is the core of MSH’s response to the HIV epidemic. We build organizational capacity to implement innovative HIV, prevention, care, and treatment interventions in over 35 countries---from Côte d'Ivoire to Ethiopia to Vietnam.

So, how will high-burden, low-resource countries respond to the new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines that recommend starting HIV treatment earlier? Will the global AIDS movement join forces with those calling for universal health coverage (UHC) targets post-2015? How are civil society organizations working with countries on the HIV & AIDS response---and how can we strengthen their capacity?

The July/August edition of MSH's Global Health Impact Newsletter (subscribe) answers these questions and more, combining thought-provoking editorials and first-hand accounts from MSH countries around the world.

A Note from Dr. Jonathan D. Quick

Go Together: The AIDS Movement and the Future of Global Health

Photo credit: Warren Zelman

"HIV care is already widely available in many developing countries. Financial protection is less relevant because HIV care is often free. Expanding services for universal health coverage (UHC) will take money---and AIDS budgets might appear a likely source.

It's no surprise that AIDS groups have doubted this agenda, because nobody's made clear: What's in it for the AIDS movement?" Read more

HIGHLIGHTS

Where Will the New WHO Guidelines Take HIV Treatment?

Photo credit: Reavis/MSH, Malawi

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued revised guidelines for an earlier start to HIV treatment, "making waves" at the International AIDS Society conference in Kuala Lumpur. How will high-burden, low-resource countries will respond to these new treatment guidelines? With leadership and innovation, blog Scott Kellerman and Jonathan Jay. Read more

Voices of Vietnam: Two People Living with HIV Discuss Transitioning to a Country-Led HIV & AIDS Program

Photo by Charles Fred via Flickr

Two people living with HIV respond candidly to questions on sustaining an effective HIV & AIDS response in Vietnam. Read more

Addressing In-Country Transportation Bottlenecks Eliminates Needless Waste and Shortages of HIV Drugs

Photo credit: MSH

When recent assessments identified that many sites within Côte d'Ivoire were not receiving HIV & AIDS drugs as scheduled, the Supply Chain Management System, managed in country by MSH, identified challenges and mobilized solutions. Read more

Ethiopian Mothers' Support Groups Help HIV-Positive Moms

Photo credit: Genaye Eshetu/MSH

Living with her unemployed husband, 10-month-old son, and 8-year-old HIV-positive daughter, Mearg felt that life was hopeless before joining a Mothers' Support Group at Korem Health Center in Ethiopia. Read more

Caregivers Establish Palm Oil Processing Mill to Raise Money for Vulnerable Children

Photo credit: Musa Usman/MSH Nigeria

Caregivers in Nigeria--home to nearly two million AIDS orphans--are working together to raise money so they can more effectively care for the vulnerable children. Read more

FEATURE

Strengthening TB and AIDS Response---Eastern Region (STAR-E) project

MSH Supporting Roll Out of Option B+ in Uganda

Photo credit: Glenn Ruga/MSH

STAR-E, led by MSH, is supporting the roll out of the Option B+ treatment program in Uganda. Option B+ is a novel approach to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV that provides antiretroviral treatment for life to all HIV-positive pregnant women, regardless of their CD4 count. Read more

PROFILE

AIDSTAR-Two: Building Civil Society and Other Organizational Capacity for Country-Led HIV & AIDS Programs

Ummuro Adano

"The AIDS response, at any level, requires strong and capable organizations. There is no other way to deliver services efficiently and effectively and sustain these services over time," says AIDSTAR-Two's Deputy Director and Senior Technical Advisor for Capacity Building Ummuro Adano in an interview on the connections between civil society and country-led HIV & AIDS programs in developing countries. Read more