Friday, April 2, 2010
Young Working Solutions...
This was a recent Focus Group discussion with community youth leaders, and student leaders, in Caldwell, a community were our organization is based. This is the Multipurpose Youth Peace-building Center, constructed in 2006 with founding from the United Nation's Mission in Liberia - UNMIL. This focus group discussion, is to plan a coherent youth led activity ahead of the 2010 HIV/Aids Candle Light memorial service, held every may; were young people will be engaging in sporting and awareness festivities to highlight the issues of discrimination and stigma against people living with HIV/Aids and demand government's attention to the need for providing adequate support services and systems.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
ASSIGNMENT NO. 1- Know Your Epidemic, Part 1
Purpose:
Knowing your epidemic as well as how your government and civil society are responding will help you figure out where to best focus your energy and resource.
HISTORY of HIV/AIDS in Liberia
The first case of HIV/AIDS in Liberia—a female trader—was diagnosed in 1986, in Zorzor, Lofa County in the north-west of Liberia. This event prompted the Government of Liberia to establish the National AIDS and STI Control Program (NACP) as an umbrella organization within the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) with the mandate to prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS in Liberia. Barely two years after its formation, the Liberian civil crisis unfolded. Since then, not much was achieved up to 2004, because the database was destroyed during the civil hostilities. It is said that the first antenatal care (ANC) sentinel surveillance survey was conducted some 15 years ago but there is no trace of any data on the study.
According to the UNAIDS/WHO report on the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Liberia, from 1986 to 1997 the following HIV/AIDS cases were reported:
- In 1986, two HIV cases were reported;
- In 1989, three persons tested positive;
- In 1991, fourteen cases were reported;
- In 1993, four persons tested for HIV;
- In 1994, twelve persons tested for HIV;
- In 1996, eighteen persons tested positive;
- and in 1997, 48 patients tested positive.
These earlier test were restricted to antenatal (testing for birth defects) diagnosis on women, and men who sought clinical help for STD or sexually transmitted diseases. The reports showed the following:
- In 1993, 4% of the women who went for prenatal test, tested positive for HIV;
- and in 1998, 8% of the men who went to be treated for STD, tested positive for the HIV.
In Liberia, as in most of sub-Saharan Africa, national HIV prevalence estimates have been derived primarily from sentinel surveillance in pregnant women. In 2006, with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Development Program (UNDP), the MOHSW represented by the NACP conducted an antenatal care (ANC) sentinel surveillance survey among pregnant women. In the first round of the surveillance, ten sites (all urban) located in the five health regions of Liberia participated in the survey. For 6-12 weeks in July-October 2006, all pregnant women attending ANC for the first time during that pregnancy were anonymously tested for HIV and the results entered, analyzed and reported by the NACP (NACP, 2007). In the 2007 round of the ANC survey, the number of sites was expanded to 15 sites including government and faith-based health facilities selected to represent the different regions and the rural and urban populations in the country and data collection was held between September and November, 2007.
The 2007 Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS) included HIV testing of almost 12,000 men and women. According to the survey,
Ø 1.5 percent of Liberians age 15-49 are HIV-infected.
Ø About half of women know each of the three major methods of preventing HIV transmission.
Ø Men are more knowledgeable, with more than seven in ten knowing that using condoms and limiting sex to one uninfected partner reduces the risk of getting HIV.
Ø One-quarter of women and one-third of men know where to get an HIV test, but very few have ever been tested and received the results.
Ø HIV prevalence is highest in the capital city of Monrovia 2.6%) and lowest in North Central al (0.6%).
Ø The survey also shows that women who are divorced or separated are almost twice as likely to be HIV-positive as those who have never been married or are currently married. Among men, those who are divorced/separated or widowed are at a higher risk of infection than those are currently married or have never been married and
Ø HIV prevalence increases with education for both women and men. Women with secondary and higher education are almost three times as likely to be HIV positive as those with no education.
Adult literacy is 37% (50 per cent male and 24 per cent female) and gross enrolment in primary school is estimated at 69.5 per cent (Ministry of Education School Census 2005/2006). HIV/AIDS sero-prevalence rates tested at antenatal care surveillance sites in urban areas is 5.7 per cent (
Most at risk:
- Sex workers and their clients
- Uniformed services personnel
- Miners
- Mobile populations
Most vulnerable and at risk
- Women (women are increasingly vulnerable, especially in rural areas and refugee camps, as a result of their poor economic status, high rates of illiteracy and the prevalence of GBV
- Young people
According to Humanitarian record on Liberia, less than 2% of pregnant women have access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. UNHCR distributed 1 million condoms and HIV awareness materials nationwide in 2006.
National Health Response Mechanisms and Instruments
This present government is the first to systematically address the HIV situation. A new National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan (2008 – 2012) is being developed with support from UNAIDS and co-sponsors to guide a truly multi-sect oral national response. With support from UNAIDS, the United Nations Theme Group (UNTG) and the office of the Resident Coordinator, the National AIDS Commission (NAC) was re-established and had its first meeting in August 2007 which was chaired by the president of Liberia.
Instruments
Ø THE HIV/AIDS NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN WAS DEVELOPED IN 2002, UPDATED IN 2004 AND WILL EXPIRED IN 2007,
Ø A NEW NATIONAL STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK (NSF) AND NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN (NSP) 2008-2012) IN PROGRESS, by the NATIONAL AIDS COMMISSION (NAC)
Ø NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY AND NATIONAL HEALTH PLAN 2007 - 2011
Ø NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A NATIONAL PLAN.
Ø MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE BASIC PACKAGE OF HEALTH SERVICES
Ø NATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, AND A NUMBER OF INTERVENTIONS TARGETED
Ø A NATIONAL POLICY AND PLAN ON SGBV HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED
Ø A NATIONAL POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY (PRS) or LIFT LIBERIA LUNCHED
The NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY, which is recognized by young people to be a Framework for Setting Priorities and Executing Action issues affecting youth; positioning the Youth in Post-Conflict Recovery and Reconstruction, is yet to be approved by Government
The National Health Policy and Plan are designed around four strategic orientations of Primary Health Care, Decentralization, Community Empowerment and Partnerships for Health. The operational and integrated framework for implementing the National Health Policy and Plan is based on four key components –
- Basic Package of Health Services;
- Human Resources for Health;
- Infrastructure Development; and
- Support Systems
HIV is not enough of a priority on the political agenda at the highest level current financial resources to effectively address HIV is far below needs very high levels of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV limited access to treatment, care and support.
Care and Treatment
In Liberia there are 1,202 people on ART and 8,500 people in need of ART. Currently there are 13 sites that are providing ART; however, the government’s National Health Policy and Plan recognizes Access to health care is a universal human right within the means that society can sustain Health is a precondition for individual and societal development. Recognizing the value of health care, the Government of Liberia is committed to invest adequate resources, capacity and political capital in health sector development.
Mitigation
Ministries other than Health (Education, Labour, Defence, and Gender), civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, local and international humanitarian NGOs, PLHIV and others affected by HIV are increasingly involved in the national response.
Major barriers to prevention, treatment, care and support include:
- Weak coordination and harmonization among partners.
- Weak monitoring, evaluation and surveillance system;
- Strong stigma and discrimination of PLHIV
- Weak human and institutional capacities. (A rapid assessment of the health workforce conducted in 354 health facilities in June 2006 showed that Liberia has only 122 doctors, 668 nurses and 297 certified midwifes
- Insufficient financial resources to scale up the response.
The misconception that a healthy-looking person cannot have the HIV is not very widespread in Liberia. Sixty-four percent of women and 70 percent of men know that a healthy looking person can have the HIV. Just over half of women and men (52 percent each) know that HIV cannot be transmitted through mosquito bites. In addition, about two-thirds of women an men (67 percent of women and 70 percent of men) know that HIV cannot be transmitted by supernatural means.
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and HIV epidemic
COUNTRY PROFILE BY
Total population | 3,400,000 |
% Under 15 (2007) | 47 |
Growth rate % (2000- 2005) | 2.1 |
Population distribution % rural (2007) | 52 |
Total fertility rate (2007) | 5.2 |
Life expectancy at birth (2007) | 42 |
Under-5 mortality rate per 1000 (2007) | 111 |
Maternal mortality ratio per 100 000 live births (2007) | 994 |
Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2008) | 7.7 |
General government expenditure on health as % of general Government expenditure (2007) | 16.8 |
Gross national income (GNI) per capita US$ (2007) | 185 |
Adult (15+) literacy rate | 55 |
Adult male (12+) literacy rate | 69 |
Adult female (12+) literacy rate | 41 |
% population with access to improved drinking water source | 61 |
% population with improved access to sanitation | 27 |
____________________
Sources:
LDHS - 2007
MOHSW Annual Report - 2008
Funding for HIV; Sources and organizations
Ø Global Fund (GF): USD 10,381,264 disbursed as of May 2007. Principal recipient: UNDP for Rounds 2 and 6.
Ø GF West Africa Corridor program: Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization (OCAL/ALCO) Principal recipient. USD5.3 million dispersed as of August 2007.
Ø MYR of West Africa 2007 Consolidated Appeal (CAP): revised requirements now amount to USD 339.6 million, leaving outstanding requirements at USD 211.4 million. http://ochaonline.un.org/westafrica
Ø African Development Bank for the HIV sub regional project in the Mano River Union (MRU), Côte d’Ivoire (to support the HIV sub regional project for cross-border populations, internally displaced persons, ex-combatants and host communities); PEPFAR: USD 2,360,000 for 2007.
HIV Support structures
National:
National AIDS Commission (NAC)
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
National Aids Control Program
UN:
UNAIDS Country Program
UNDP Country Programme
OCHA presence
The OCHA field office closed officially at the end of 2004. A Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) remained and formally transitioned into the National Information Management Centre (NIMAC) Project in July 2006.
One Cluster in place: Water Sanitation Health (WASH) - led by UNICEF
At country level, government and humanitarian organizations hold regular meetings for information sharing and coordination of the response. Committees for flood management are in place in affected areas. At regional level, a consultation platform on floods has been established.
A PMTCT Working Group was initiated in November 2006 with support from UNICEF and chaired by the National AIDS Control Program. The committee has not met for almost a year since December 2006.
ü Ministry of Health and Social Welfare report 2008
ü National Health Policy and Plan 2008 – 2011 doc
ü UNDP Country Programme 2008 - 2012, doc
ü The National Human Development Report (NHDR), 2006 www.lr.undp.org/nhdr/2006
ü http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/liberia/
ü http://ochaonline.un.org/westafrica
ü Sources: OCHA for humanitarian information and UNAIDS for HIV information, unless
Others noted
ü ________________________________________
ü Ibid.
ü Alertnet June 2007
ü UNHCR Global report 2006: Liberia
ü CHAP Review 7 September 2007
ü UNMIL Humanitarian Situation Report No. 118, 3-9 September 2007
ü OCHA, West Africa report July 2007
ü United Nations News Service, 29 Aug 2007
ü UNHCR Global report
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Great to be here..!
Hi everyone,
I am Thomas, born in Southeastern Liberia; but a domicile of the capital city, Monrovia currently.
In my life, I have developed to be busy everyday doing something. I just feel that there is no much time for my generation and that there is more to be done than to be fun of. Reading writing and discovery in the world of ICT and its ease of connectivity and resources are some of my most excitements.
During this course, I will like to follow closely with this all important outline, as it displays a lot of useful insights for a young person who wants to make a difference, not just relating to the HIV/Aids, but developing potential leadership skills. I would love to put myself deeply into the course as if I am working a campaign already; carefully follow others; and most especially learn from other participants of previous projects and strategies that works better in relation to HIV/Aids and SRH rights and advocacy.
According to our guide, we will also be learning how to mobilize at local, national, regional and international level for universal access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support. I think this is very important.
I work with the African Child Peace Initiative as Programs Director; overseeing for four departments and support programs development and implementation. Also supports other national youth led initiatives; such as the Federation of Liberian Youths and Youth Crime Watch of Liberia. The African Child Peace Initiative (ACPI) Inc, a registered youth-led secular, non-tribal, non-political, Non-governmental, peace and community development organization, dedicated to creating a better future for the children and young people post-war Liberian through youth friendly community development and Peacebuilding programmes.
I have served as National Focal Point for GYCA in my country 2008-2009 and continue to work alone and support programs relating to reducing and controlling the prevalence HIV/AIDS and youth led initiatives across the country; including the recent Global Action Week of Action against HIV/Aids were a petition was submitted to our parliament to give attention to care and support for PLWHA. My organization’s HIV/Aids department remains proactively engaged with young students in our partnered schools were HIV/AIDS clubs are been setup to stimulate young people in to action driving towards the promotions control and awareness of prevention of HIV/Aids among students.
As Programs architect, I choose to remain focus, involved and always instrumental in the development and support of meaningful programs that seeks to realize the goals of the organization and critically work towards success.
Welcome everyone. Let Learn, Let's Share and act....!