By Tamsin Smith
At AIDS 2008, the world's largest HIV forum in Mexico City that commenced this weekend, the need for interventions specifically designed to empower girls was clear: increasingly, the face of AIDS in Africa is young and female.
UNAIDS figures from Swaziland are a good snapshot: HIV prevalence among girls 15-24 is over 20 percent; among boys it's just over 5 percent.
The Global Fund (RED) grants in Rwanda, Ghana, Swaziland and Lesotho emphasize programs serving women and children. And more needs to be done to give greater attention to females of different ages and circumstances (married v. unmarried, living in urban v. rural areas).
Lisa MacCallum, Managing Director of Nike Foundation, showed a video called "The Girl Effect" that we loved. The gist of the video is that by valuing and investing in girls they can make a better life for themselves, their families and improve society as a whole.
Watch the video:
So far, the incredible scale up of Global Fund resources from public and private sector donors, including (RED) consumers, coupled with newly-reauthorized PEPFAR investments, direct action by affected countries, and partnerships driven by civil society are all driving in the right direction. We just need to step on the gas.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
The Global Fund Announces Threefold Increase in Grant Requests
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the recipient of all (RED) funds, announced on Monday that 97 countries have asked for $6.4 billion in grants this year – a nearly threefold increase.
This is an encouraging sign that many low-income countries are preparing to ramp up their programs to battle AIDS, TB and malaria, and that the number of lives saved with The Global Fund’s help, approximately 2.5 million, will continue to rise.
(RED) products have raised over $110 million for The Global Fund’s efforts to fight AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Click here to read The Global Fund’s announcement.
This is an encouraging sign that many low-income countries are preparing to ramp up their programs to battle AIDS, TB and malaria, and that the number of lives saved with The Global Fund’s help, approximately 2.5 million, will continue to rise.
(RED) products have raised over $110 million for The Global Fund’s efforts to fight AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Click here to read The Global Fund’s announcement.
Monday, August 04, 2008
UNIVERSAL ACTION NOW: RIP HIV
Mexico City welcomes over 20,000 visitors and 3,000 members of the media today to convene AIDS 2008, the world’s largest HIV forum. Over the next five days we’ll hear new scientific research and intense dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS. “Universal Action Now” is the theme, but what does that really mean?
“Universal” connotes individual acts as well as collective response, and it implies relevance to all people rather than simply those directly affected. “Action” means do something. And “now” -- now means get on it.
The Mexico City agenda shows the breadth and depth of Universal Action Now. One exciting new aspect in this panorama is the presence of private sector actors. Certainly the medical and pharmaceutical industries have worked on HIV and AIDS for decades, but new leadership from other sectors is helping raise the funds needed to fight the pandemic and deliver life-saving medicine to the 7 million people globally who still lack access to care.
I joined a panel jointly hosted by the Global Fund and the Global Business Coalition, which profiled several new private sector interventions that are successfully scaling-up treatment. My role was to explain the (RED) business model and how (RED) brand partners and (RED) shoppers have together driven $110 million to the Global Fund for programs in Ghana, Rwanda, Swaziland and Lesotho. I noted that 100 % of this money is spent directly on programs in Africa, and emphasized how important it is for a consumer-facing effort like (RED) to connect with and continue inspiring and empowering customers by profiling the women, children and families in Africa whose lives are reclaimed when medicine becomes available. A single act – one individual selecting a (RED) item while shopping – is very much Universal Action Now in motion.
Senior representatives from Nike Foundation, Mac AIDS Fund, Chevron, Standard Chartered Bank, and Levi-Strauss presented other modes of action. Our discussion covered the gambit from cause-related marketing and advocacy initiatives; private sector engagement in the development and governance of national programs; the role played by the business sector in addressing stigma and gender issues; the provision of livelihood opportunities for affected individuals and communities; and the possibilities for sustainable scale–up of treatment through public-private partnership models such as co-investment.
Amazing things are happening and progress is real, but the need remains great. It clear that neither governments nor scientists nor activists alone can turn the tide of AIDS, but collectively – and with the added creativity and market muscle of the private sector – an end to AIDS is achievable. Individually and together, we all have an interest in stopping AIDS around the world. Take action now, in whatever way you can – lobby, donate, shop…even encourage your employer to get engaged. But know that it matters and it’s needed and keep it up. RIP HIV.
Tamsin
“Universal” connotes individual acts as well as collective response, and it implies relevance to all people rather than simply those directly affected. “Action” means do something. And “now” -- now means get on it.
The Mexico City agenda shows the breadth and depth of Universal Action Now. One exciting new aspect in this panorama is the presence of private sector actors. Certainly the medical and pharmaceutical industries have worked on HIV and AIDS for decades, but new leadership from other sectors is helping raise the funds needed to fight the pandemic and deliver life-saving medicine to the 7 million people globally who still lack access to care.
I joined a panel jointly hosted by the Global Fund and the Global Business Coalition, which profiled several new private sector interventions that are successfully scaling-up treatment. My role was to explain the (RED) business model and how (RED) brand partners and (RED) shoppers have together driven $110 million to the Global Fund for programs in Ghana, Rwanda, Swaziland and Lesotho. I noted that 100 % of this money is spent directly on programs in Africa, and emphasized how important it is for a consumer-facing effort like (RED) to connect with and continue inspiring and empowering customers by profiling the women, children and families in Africa whose lives are reclaimed when medicine becomes available. A single act – one individual selecting a (RED) item while shopping – is very much Universal Action Now in motion.
Senior representatives from Nike Foundation, Mac AIDS Fund, Chevron, Standard Chartered Bank, and Levi-Strauss presented other modes of action. Our discussion covered the gambit from cause-related marketing and advocacy initiatives; private sector engagement in the development and governance of national programs; the role played by the business sector in addressing stigma and gender issues; the provision of livelihood opportunities for affected individuals and communities; and the possibilities for sustainable scale–up of treatment through public-private partnership models such as co-investment.
Amazing things are happening and progress is real, but the need remains great. It clear that neither governments nor scientists nor activists alone can turn the tide of AIDS, but collectively – and with the added creativity and market muscle of the private sector – an end to AIDS is achievable. Individually and together, we all have an interest in stopping AIDS around the world. Take action now, in whatever way you can – lobby, donate, shop…even encourage your employer to get engaged. But know that it matters and it’s needed and keep it up. RIP HIV.
Tamsin
Friday, August 01, 2008
Creations Inspired by (RED)
(RED) is happy to announce that Hallmark is launching its second card contest - this one with a Holiday theme - giving all of us the chance to create a card inspired by (RED) and benefitting the Global Fund.
Now through August 18th, Hallmark will be accepting submissions for the contest, simply called: Your Holiday.
Here’s how it works: you create an image and a few words for a (RED) holiday card and compete for 20 finalist spots. Those 20 finalist designs will be turned into real cards sold on hallmark.com this holiday season, and 8% of the net retail sales online will go directly to the Global Fund.
Finalists also get $250, another $250 is contributed to the Global Fund in their name, and they get a chance to win the Grand Prize. Later this year, we all get to vote for the Grand Prize Winner, whose card will be sold online and may even be in stores across the U.S. in 2009.
The Grand Prize Winner will also be awarded another $1,000 and $1,000 will be contributed to the Global Fund in his or her name. Plus an all-expenses-paid trip for two to NYC. Wow.
Check out hallmarkcontests.com to learn more about all of this and to participate!
Now through August 18th, Hallmark will be accepting submissions for the contest, simply called: Your Holiday.
Here’s how it works: you create an image and a few words for a (RED) holiday card and compete for 20 finalist spots. Those 20 finalist designs will be turned into real cards sold on hallmark.com this holiday season, and 8% of the net retail sales online will go directly to the Global Fund.
Finalists also get $250, another $250 is contributed to the Global Fund in their name, and they get a chance to win the Grand Prize. Later this year, we all get to vote for the Grand Prize Winner, whose card will be sold online and may even be in stores across the U.S. in 2009.
The Grand Prize Winner will also be awarded another $1,000 and $1,000 will be contributed to the Global Fund in his or her name. Plus an all-expenses-paid trip for two to NYC. Wow.
Check out hallmarkcontests.com to learn more about all of this and to participate!
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