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CategoriesArticle WACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

AU-EU Strategy – Joint Civil Society Paper On Health Ahead Of The Leaders’ Summit

On 24 February, WACI Wealth mobilized members of the Africa Civil Society Platform for Health (CISPHA) for a discussion on the AU -EU Strategy on the health pillar. CISPHA is working to increase and sustain advocacy to hold AU member states accountable especially on the outcomes of the Africa Leaders Meeting on Health, the AU-EU relations and TICAD. CISPHA’s engagement is primarily in participation in the AU technical working group and the communications and advocacy committee of AIDS Watch Africa (AWA).

The Joint AU-EU Strategy is the first long-term framework for relations between the AU and EU. It sets out the intention of both continents to move beyond a donor/recipient relationship towards long-term cooperation on jointly identified mutual and complementary interests. The conversations organized by WACI Health in collaboration with GHA France focused on health. Broadly, the framework for relations focuses on peace and stability; migration; democracy and good governance; economic development; human development (which includes health, education and nutrition), and climate change.

There are plans to have an EU AU leaders’ summit later. In readiness for the summit, European and African civil societies are currently working on a joint paper on the urgent long-term health needs for Africa and how COVID-19 has made these needs even more critical. The meaningful inclusion of civil society in the AU-EU strategy is important as it brings forth the voices of communities.

The joint civil society paper will highlight the health concerns of Africa and will focus on the health pillar to inform the roadmap towards achieving the desired long-term health outcomes. The need to include in the joint paper health systems strengthening is critical at a time when COVID-19 has devastated the already fragile health systems. There was an additional observation that community health systems are not optimized to support the pandemic. Rural communities, key populations and urban poor are still not adequately reached due to weak community health systems.

Other key considerations for inclusion in the joint paper are human resources for health, skills for health personnel, adequate remuneration and personal protection of personnel as well as health infrastructure. The needs of adolescent girls and young women who are disproportionately affected and exposed to challenges such as HIV will be included in the joint paper. Read more…..

CategoriesWACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

The Dapivirine Ring: A game changer in women’s fight again HIV Virus

The latest report from UNAIDS that gains made in the fight against new HIV infections may be reversed ten years back is worrying. Every week this year, Kenya is recording 275 new HIV infections from adolescents and young women aged between 18 and 25 years. Although no research has been done, it is believed that girls younger than 18 are also getting infected.

The Dapivirine Ring: A game changer in women’s fight again HIV Virus

Loss of incomes, schools closure, sickness and even deaths due to COVID 19 which continues to ravage the country since March 2020 have been pointed to as some of the reasons why there has been a spike in the numbers of girls who are contracting HIV. This is because adolescents and young women have turned to transactional sex to buy essentials like sanitary towels and even food, are engaged in cross generational sex due to early marriages to escape poverty, and some have been sexually violated.

“Unless all stakeholders come together and re-direct their efforts by doing everything necessary, we risk reversing the milestones made in fighting new HIV infections. If we are to attain our target of zero infections by 2030, we must ensure we are on the path to recording fewer cases of new infections,” said Rosemary Mburu, WACI Health Care CEO during a one day workshop dubbed ‘a conversation with young women and policy makers in Kenya in view of women initiated HIV prevention options’.

News that adolescents and young women can take charge of their own health and protect themselves from possible HIV infection is exciting. With a Silicon Ring laced with anti-retroviral drug Dapivirine, every sexually active woman has been afforded an opportunity to remain protected. The Ring which has been under research for 16 years received a positive opinion form European Medicines Agency (EMA) in July 2020 with the World Health Organisation (WHO) approving it for prequalification. It has already undergone phase I, II and III studies, and has been found to protect women from HIV infection at an over 50 percent rate for those who adhered to it as instructed. The ring is now into phase IV clinical trials, to ascertain its efficacy in mass population.

Once approved, adolescents and young women at their own privacy and convenience will have access to the first woman initiated HIV prevention option available for use. The Ring is designed to protect one for 28 days upon insertion to the cervix by releasing a daily dose of the Dapivirine drug to the cervix, making it effective for cisgender women only.

“The fact that I can protect myself from a possible HIV infection by using something which my sexual partner does not have to know I am using is empowering,” said one young woman who participated in the conference. Indeed, may other young women who attended the conference were grateful that for the first time, there is a product that has been developed with them in mind, and are looking forward to when the Ring will be made available in the country.
Joyce Ouma, a young HIV advocate urged all HIV negative adolescents and young women to embrace the Ring when it is eventually available, stating that whereas other options that exist are excellent, the Ring affords one the power to self- protect without having to negotiate for the same from a sexual partner. “Besides, since nobody plans to have sex, it is better to have something which will protect you for any in eventuality,” she added.
Indeed, although the Ring does not offer 100 percent protection from HIV, the consensus from the participants was that they were better of protected at some degree than remain exposed to the virus.

CategoriesWACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

Dapivirine Ring-Giving women new hope and choice in HIV prevention

Scientists and Researchers are one trial closer to launching a woman’s first initiated HIV prevention option, the Dapivirine Ring. Years of research and three clinical trials are delivering the exciting reality of a product that a woman is in control of. Already, the Dapivirine Ring has received approval from World Health Organisation (WHO).
The ring which is developed by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) is made of a flexible silicone matrix polymer contains the ARV Dapivirine, an NNRTI, which is slowly released over the course of a month. The ring delivers Dapivirine directly at the site of potential infection, with low systemic absorption. Women insert the flexible, long-acting ring themselves into the vagina and replace it every month.

Dr Nelly Mugo, while addressing participants in an event where young women and stakeholders met to discuss the innovation praised the Ring. A researcher with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Dr Mugo endorsed the product as an effective one, and was happy that women have yet another option in the basket of HIV prevention initiatives. “Africa remains hard hit by HIV, with young people accounting for half of all Africa’s infections. Women continue to be more vulnerable because of many factors such as their anatomy, social, cultural and even economic setbacks. That there is something which adolescents and young women can use without having to negotiate with anybody in order to protect themselves is a game changer in the world of HIV prevention research,” said Dr Mugo.
Maryann Mburu, WACI Health CEO, told the participants that the Dapivirine Ring when approved would go long way in helping prevent potential infections.

Dapivirine Ring-Giving women new hope and choice in HIV prevention

“At the moment, we risk reversing gains made in combating new HIV infections, if the numbers from UNAIDS is anything to by,” she said, adding that 275 girls are getting infected every week in Kenya. “These numbers are alarming and if there is anything we can do to stop the spread, then we must,” she added. Calling on all stakeholders to join hands and ensure that the Ring gets approved in Kenya, Mburu said that as much as the Ring does not deliver 100 percent protect from HIV infection, our adolescents and young women were better off with the Ring option than with nothing.

Same was echoed by Lydia Tuitai from Pharmacy and Poisons Board, who broke down the process of having a drug registered in Kenya. Ephasising on the need to ensure due process at all stages to ensure safety and efficacy, Lydia said once the Ring meets the board requirement, they would be excited to approve the Dapivirine Ring.

Maureen Inimah, a program officer at National AIDS and STD Control Programme (Kenya) (NASCOP) said that they were excited and open to more options that will help women protect themselves against HIV infections. NASCOP, which operates as a unit within the Ministry of Health and is mainly involved with technical co-ordination of HIV and AIDS programmes in Kenya promised to scale up youth friendly facilities so that when products such as the Dapivirine Ring finally comes in the country, Kenya’s adolescents and young women will find sensitized work force in the clinics. “In 2010, only seven percent of Kenya’s health facilities were youth friendly. This has in a way hindered effective service delivery to the same demography. Towards this, we are doing all we can to improve these numbers and to empower the service providers on how to interact with the young women seeking services from the clinics,” said Maureen.

CategoriesArticle WACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

TICAD VII: African leaders commit to reducing childhood stunting and all forms of malnutrition

Yokohama, 30 August 2019. TICAD is a platform for discussing important issues related to Africa’s development, and a process that allows all TICAD partners — African Union Member States, Japan, co-organizers and other development partners, private sector and civil society — to come together for the further development of the continent.

The Yokohama Plan of Actions 2019 which accompanies the The Yokohama Declaration 2019, lists actions expected to be implemented by the TICAD partners in order to promote focus areas of the three main pillars of the Yokohama Declaration 2019 adopted at TICAD 7.

As per the Yokohama Plan of action, African leadership has prioritized nutrition and with support from the government of Japan has specifically committed to reducing childhood stunning and all forms of malnutrition. According to the action plan, the Africa Regional Nutrition Strategy 2015-2025, is the African Union flagship initiative within which this commitment will be realized.

We at WACI Health join other civil society organizations in applauding the African leadership for their commitments towards improving health and nutrition outcomes in the region.  However, we are concerned that despite recent gains in addressing and lowering malnutrition on the African continent, many African nations are still facing increasing rates of childhood stunting and wasting.

The Continental Nutrition Accountability Scorecard is worrying with many member states lagging being on their nutrition targets. For example, we note with great concern that only two member states are on track on stunting targets.

We call upon the African leadership to act urgently towards increased investments in nutrition and deliver on their nutrition targets and commitments.

Contacts:

Rosemary Mburu- rosemary@wacihealth.org

Fitsum Alemayehu- fistum@wacihealth.org

 

CategoriesArticle WACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

Breastfeeding pegged on reduced maternal mortality

The World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from August 1 to 7, annually aims at focusing attention on the need to mothers to breastfeed their infants exclusively for the first six months of life.

This year’s theme was’ Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet’.

Unfortunately, unacceptably high number of women do not enjoy this privilege of breastfeeding their children because they never make it out of the delivery room alive.

Excessive bleeding or post-partum haemorrhage during or after child birth is the single highest killer of mothers in Africa.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) at least 295,000 women died during birth in 2017.

MATERNAL DEATHS

Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for roughly two-third (196,000) of these global maternal deaths.  This in itself is unacceptably high.

Mothers need to stay alive to provide their children with the best possible start in life – breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding delivers health, nutritional and emotional benefits for children and it forms part of a sustainable food system. Unfortunately, this is not a possibility for mothers who lose their lives while delivering their babies.

WHO, based on extensive new evidence, issued two recommendations for prevention and treatment of bleeding in women and included two new medicines in the WHO model list of essential medicines in 2019.

If these recommendations are implemented, they will contribute to the reduction in maternal mortality especially in low and middle income countries.

BLOOD LOSS

Administration of an effective uterotonic (these are drugs that help the uterus to contract and helps reduce blood loss during child birth) immediately after the birth of the baby has been shown to prevent PPH caused by the uterus failing to contract and is recommended by the WHO for all births.

Currently, most low and middle-income countries use oxytocin injection as the first line medicine for the prevention and treatment of PPH.

Oxytocin is a heat sensitive product that degrades when it is not kept refrigerated with temperatures of 2-8 °C (35-46 °F) throughout the supply chain, which can result in reduced effectiveness at the time of use, particularly in countries where reliable electricity and cold-chain may not be available.

Most countries in Africa use Oxytocin, a drug to stop bleeding during or after pregnancy, which requires cold chain. Many hospitals lack refrigeration facilities and also experience erratic power supply hence the efficacy of the drug becomes compromised. There are also many fake products in circulation.

COVID-19

Covid-19 has shown us that most of our health-care facilities are compromised in dealing with the pandemic be it human resource or equipment.

While most African countries  have stepped up and working on strengthening their healthcare systems, we should not forget the fact that maternal mortality still remains high in this region and that there is a cost effective solution available especially in our resource stretched economies.

The 2018 recommendations issued by WHO for drugs that support the uterus to go back to ‘its setting” after delivery now includes heat stable carbetocin as an option for prevention of bleeding for all births by a skilled birth attendant.

This particular drug is heat stable and a new formulation which retains its effectiveness for at least 36 months when stored at temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius.

TRAUMA PATIENTS

Another drug that has been in use for years in reducing blood loss during surgery for trauma patients – Tranexamic Acid – is also part of the recommendation. While it had previously not been a go-to drug for reducing bleeding during birth, WHO has now included in the 2019 list of essential medicines with an obstetric indication- treatment of Post-Partum Haemorrhage (PPH).

These medicines, some new but some not so new are much needed on a continent that should not be losing mothers when there are ways to prevent it. While these medicines have been included in the essential drugs list by WHO, most African countries are yet to include them on their country’s lists.

For mothers to continue breastfeeding, they need to stay alive after delivery. To achieve this, we need to include drugs that work and that can maintain their efficacy even in resource strapped areas to save the lives of mothers and to contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality.

Joyce Ng’ang’a is the Policy Advisor at WACI Health

CategoriesArticle GFAN Africa WACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

Domestic Resource Mobilization as a Pathway to Achieving Sustainable Health and HIV Financing in Africa

On 4 December 2019, on the sidelines of ICASA, WACI Health in partnership with GFAN Africa and civil society partners organized a meeting at the Marriott Hotel, in Kigali, Rwanda to discuss sustainable health financing in Africa. The meeting was opened by Honorable Dr Nyemazi Jean Pierre the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in Rwanda who welcomed participants to the meeting on behalf of Dr Diane Gashumba, the Minister for Health. Dr Nyemazi emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to health, noting that Rwanda’s UHC coverage is at 95% as he urged other countries in Africa to invest more domestic resources so that the continent achieves the desired health outcomes.

In his remarks, Hon Yoweri Ssebekali, a Member of Parliament in Uganda & Member of Uganda TB Caucus emphasized the need for Governments to take ownership of the health of their citizens. By investing more domestic resources, and allocating these resources where there will be the biggest impact. He stressed the need for a strong focus in primary healthcare.

Shu-Shu Tekle Haimanot of the Global Fund Secretariat, Maurine Murenga of the Lean on Me Foundation and Dr. Marrie Goretti in their remarks underscored that domestic resources for health are key to ensuring everyone has access to effective, efficient and affordable healthcare whenever they need it.

Civil society then presented a statement to Dr Nyemazi, articulating the need to make further progress to defeat HIV and to sustain the gains made to date. “African Governments particularly, must urgently address HIV within the context of health and even more broadly in the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to ensure the health and wellbeing for all. Broadly in the sense that Governments must address health in the context of non – health dynamics which affect health such as education and climate change. For example, globally, almost 60% of new HIV infections among 15-24 year olds were contracted by adolescent girls and young women. Investing in the education of girls, and keeping them in school will significantly keep them healthy”. Read the statement.

Further, civil society noted that “we are at a point in time when donor funding for health in Africa is shrinking. In the absence of adequate funding for health, citizens in African countries have to pay for healthcare services from their pockets. In some countries, citizens are spending up to 40% of their household budgets to pay for healthcare.” The statement emphasized the need for Governments to put every possible effort in allocating adequate domestic resources for health, which will contribute to achieving UHC.
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CategoriesArticle WACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

The World Needs WHO, Now More Than Ever

15th April 2020.

President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S.—the largest funder of World Health Organization—has
decided to suspend funding to the body in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic is unjustifiable and dangerous.
Now is not the time to reduce WHO resources or any other global health organization in the fight against the virus.
This is the time for the global community to work together. Tackling COVID-19 requires strong international
leadership, guided by a sense of shared responsibility and solidarity. This virus knows no borders and is having a
devastating impact on communities and health systems around the world, causing numerous deaths and untold
disruption.

Now more than ever, the world needs the World Health Organisation.
To echo the words of Germany’s foreign minister, Heiko Maas, the World Health Organization is one of the best
investments. WHO is working round the clock to analyse data, provide advice, coordinate with partners, help
countries respond, increase supplies and manage expert networks. The critical work of WHO in stopping this
pandemic cannot be overemphasised. WHO is coordinating scientists, physicians, funders and manufacturers to
help speed up the availability of a vaccine against COVID-19.

WHO is not only fighting COVID-19 but also working to address HIV, TB, malaria, malnutrition, mental health,
polio, measles, Ebola, cancer, diabetes, and many other diseases and conditions.
All attacks on WHO and its Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus are dangerous and will cost
lives.

Now is time for unity. Now is time to save lives.

Rosemary Mburu Ndileka Mandela
Executive Director Founder and CEO
WACI Health Thembekile Mandela Foundation

For and on behalf of:

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CategoriesAfNHI Article WACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

Effects Of Covid-19 On Sexual Effects Of Covid-19 On Sexual Reproductive Health And Rights (Srhr) Among Young People In Africa Health And Rights (Srhr) Among Young People In Africa

Mid-April, I was privileged to join the Live webcast on discussions around the Effects of COVID-19 on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among young people in Africa. The panelists included experts in the medical, advocacy, and policy fields: Dr. Charlene Biwott (KEMRI, Kenya), Millicent Sethaile (Her Voice Ambassador, Botswana), and Levi Singh (Youth SRHR Strategy Officer, South Africa). The moderator was Evelyne Odhiambo (AfNHi Youth Cohort, Kenya). Important to note were conversations around the vulnerability of young people during this pandemic where the younger populations have so far been the least vulnerable to complications and death from COVID-19 and yet play a very key role in flattening the COVID-19 curve by minimizing transmissions to the vulnerable populations in our society that include the immune-compromised and the elderly.

Currently, there has been a great shift of focus in Africa to cater to the COVID-19 pandemic thereby impacting negatively in other areas including SRHR. Some of the effects on SRHR include:

  • Reduced access to family planning services which in turn impairs the women’s ability to exercise choice and control over their fertility. This may lead to unplanned pregnancies, abortions, gender inequalities by reducing women’s opportunities in education, employment, and full participation in society.
  • Increase in Gender-based Violence (GBV) where this pandemic puts the young people at risk especially girls and young women by cutting them off from the essential protection services and social networks. This could be in the form of rape, intimate partner violence (IPV), defilement, early and forced marriages.
  • Economic stress leading to transactional sex and exploitation, social vulnerability may lead to increased incidences of HIV infections, STIs, and social stigma.
  • Increased risks of mental health issues including and not limited to depression, suicidal rates, and psychosocial trauma.
  • Global lock-downs and movement restrictions create barriers for young to access health services like youth-friendly clinics, comprehensive care clinics (CCC), and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
  • Social stigma may lead to difficulties in obtaining documentation for instance P3 forms to prove any incidences of social violations. The process of seeking justice has slowed down as well during this period.
  • Higher rates of maternal and perinatal mortality due to the reduced access to friendly SRH services like safe abortion services, antenatal care, and skilled attendance during delivery.

There have been negative experiences by young people seeking SRHR in Botswana with their current lockdown as described by Ms. Sethaile where young people who had long term contraceptive methods are finding it difficult to access health care for the management of the side effects since movement is restricted and monitored, there is lack of access to essential medications like ARVs, 7 days into the lockdown there were over 28 reported rape cases and nowhere to report. Lastly, their law enforcement currently not taking up GBV cases as more efforts goes to COVID-19.

Interesting conversations also arose around the intersectionality of COVID-19 and SRHR and these included: First, countries to ensure access to SRHR services. Secondly, the need for political support in availability, accessibility, and security of SRHR commodities. Thirdly, we have existing policies and commitments like the MAPUTO plan of action which guides the African Union States on SRHR policy framework that ensures universal access to comprehensive sexual reproductive health services, Also, there is the recent United Nations summit on International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD 25). These policies and commitments foster the need to hold the member states accountable on matters SRHR. Lastly, it is important to engage the youth so as to understand and have their voices presented so as to effectively meet their needs.

From the above conversations, the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the readiness and preparedness of a global epidemic, different systemic and structural gaps exist which include but not limited to lack of or inadequate shelters that can accommodate women who are abused, inadequate human and capital resources on SRHR and mental health all of which will have a massive impact on the rights and access to health care. Countries need to ensure that there is proper balancing of resources and priorities so that not all human and capital resources are geared towards COVID-19 effort at the expense of other health service provisions.

CategoriesArticle GFAN Africa WACI Health News YL4H
byWACI Health Secretariat

Young Women Must be Empowered to Step Up The Fight

On 4 September 2019, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum for Africa, Civil Society for Prevention (CS 4 Prevention) with the support of WACI Health, GFAN Africa, the Global Fund, Zoolooh Internationa and Thembekile Mandela Foundation hosted young women from South Africa and had conversations with experts on empowering young women. This is because young women must overcome barriers that hold them back and increase their vulnerability to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. Only when they are empowered can they #stepupthefight.

In the format of panel discussions and a world café, discussants beamed the spotlight on the status of young women and HIV in Africa, stepping up opportunities for young women at the work place and increasing young women’s access to business, work, and education opportunities.

There were discussions on the vulnerabilities of young women towards HIV; the grim situation in the years when there was no treatment, and the progress made so far, especially with support from the Global Fund. Investments by the Global Fund have saved 27 million lives since 2002. HIV treatment is available for free, and there are innovative collaborations with the private sector to ensure access to treatment. Linda Mafu the Head of Civil Society and Political Advocacy at the Global Fund noted “days are gone when meetings started with candle lit moments of silence because a person we knew had died of AIDS”. Representatives of SANAC and UNAIDS participating in the meeting were urged to ensure that young women are always at the table where decisions on HIV touching on them are made.

Economic empowerment of young women – For young women who need to find their way to into the work place, there were discussions on how to stand out as employees “you must have very strong work ethics, have realistic expectations, ensure social media decorum and prove your competence daily” advised Ncumisa Khoali, Human Resources and Administration Manager at TrakerSA

Young women interested in being entrepreneurs were advised that they must be seek financial and non-financial support – mental and spiritual support, physical support and to avoid short cuts. At the forum, the young women got opportunities for psycho social support, business support, employment and training on personal development.

 

CategoriesArticle WACI Health News
byWACI Health Secretariat

Valentines’ Day Love Chats with AfNHi Youths

On 14 February 2020, Valentine ’s Day, the AfNHi youth cohort ran a social media campaign to increase young people’s awareness on HIV prevention. This outreach activity was designed to empower the youth to initiate the sex and HIV prevention discussion among their peers. The key messages shared on the campaign were; Know your partner before engaging in risky sexual behaviour; know your HIV status; protect yourself and your partner by using the available HIV prevention tools.

AfNHi youth cohort is a mobilization platform for young people to engage in HIV prevention research advocacy by equipping them with knowledge and capacity.

 

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