Activist roles in TBHIV Resource Mobilization Olayide Ak anni Journalists Against AIDS(JAAIDS) Nigeria Lagos :44B Ijaye Road, Ogba Abuja : 4 Jaba Close Area 11 Garki , Abuja Lagos, Nigeria Tel: +234 1 7731457, 8128565 Web: www.nigeria-aids.org Email: jaaidsng@nigeria-aids.org olayide@nigeria-aids.org
Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria www.nigeria-aids.org
Activism@work
World Social Forum Nairobi: Jan 2007
African Health Ministers Meeting : Jo’burg April 07
Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
Roles of CSOs Watchdog
Roles: Monitoring
Participation
in Decision making around Resource Allocation
Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
Activists & TB/HIV Resource mobilization
What can we bring to the table?
A Reality Check : Civil Society perspectives on what is happening at International, Regional and Country Level: presenting the perspectives of real people accessing TB/HIV care, real challenges and practical solutions on what needs to be done differently in TB/HIV care (demonstrated by Winston Zulu, Lucy Chesire and several other activists across the world)
Development of Country Reports on Civil Society Perspectives on TB/HIV with support of the Open Society Institute
Research into TB/HIV Resource Allocation: e.g Treatment Action Group’s work on Funding Trends in TB research and Development : 2005 -2007; IDASA/TAC monitoring of HIV/AIDS resource allocation; JAAIDS HIV/AIDS MONITOR project Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
TB/HIV Resource Tracking Key Questions ; How much is Government Spending on TB/HIV? Does Political commitment truly translate to Financial Commitment? Is it commensurate with Country level Universal Access Targets and Country Strategic Plans for TB and HIV? Is current spending reflecting Country priorities for TB/HIV Is spending yielding maximum results? Are underserved communities and ‘vulnerable’ populations accessing care? Are the principles of equity and human rights guiding the spending on TB/HIV? Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
What can we bring to the table?
Demanding Accountability from “high level” leadership: Moving from Rhetoric to Action and developing TB/HIV Score Cards. CSO Engagement in policy processes such as CCMs, UNITAID, Global Fund Board Partnering with other whistle blowers :e.g Media to place such findings in the ‘public space’
Reminding leadership of ‘failed promises” & demanding urgent action
2001 : Abuja Declaration – 15 percent budgetary allocation to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Maputo Declaration : African Health Ministers Declaration of TB as an Emergency UNGASS Declaration G8 commitments to Universal Access: Where is the $60bn?
Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
Lessons learnt from monitoring Resource Allocation
JAAIDS MONITOR Project
Findings from the research component has helped to provide an evidence base on what Government is actually spending on HIV Sharing outcomes with other CSO groups and building capacity has helped stimulate awareness and interest in budget processes Informed CSOs utilizing the findings as a tool to engage leadership at local levels and to demand for increased resource allocation to HIV/AIDS Similar researches being replicated at Local levels by CSOs in order to demand public accountability
Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
More Activists roles Lobbying/Advocacy
Demanding for increased allocation of resources for TB/HIV through International Funding Mechanisms such as the Global Fund, PEPFAR, Multilaterals (World Bank), etc Utilizing evidence based data from research to demand for investment in better care and interventions
Building Community Support for TB/HIV care
CSOs/Activists groups bridging the ‘health workers crisis by actively engaging in : Home based Care Treatment literacy activities Adherence Counseling/Support Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
What CSOs need to effectively fulfill these roles
Support for effective Collaboration and linkages For effectiveness CSOs will need to improve on partnerships and depend on comparative advantages / networking and information sharing (e.g media, regional CSO and PLWH networks
Such support will include:
Grants from independent organizations who are willing to strengthen TB/HIV activism at Country, regional and international levels Support to conduct evidence based research Capacity building to improve better understanding of issues Create ‘spaces” for CSO engagement with policy makers Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
Lessons learnt from HIV/AIDS Activism Activists
protests/ demands for accountability/human rights leading to roll out of Antiretroviral treatment in South Africa Demonstrations @ ICASA 2005 facilitated Former President’s announcement of Free ARV treatment for PLWH in Nigeria
Need to explore how these can be taken forward for TB Activism
Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria
Merci Thanks for listening Visit us : www.nigeria-aids.org JAAIDS is a media based organization responding to the dual epidemics of TB and HIV in Nigeria Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria