Seeing Success in Ghana First Hand

ONE, (RED)’s sister organization, recently sent a delegation of staff to Ghana and Nigeria and I was lucky to be a part of it. We were there to see the development programs operating on the ground and to find out what more is needed. I’d like to share with you the good work the Global Fund is doing in Ghana – work that’s been funded by (RED) contributions.

First, a bit about Ghana. Ghana was the first African colony to gain independence in 1957 and since that time it has had a rich history, ranging from periods of economic decline and significant political repression, to a much more hopeful and stable present-day. Ghana’s last five elections have been free and fair and its economy has averaged 4-5% growth per year for the last twenty years. Ghana has reduced poverty levels from 52% in 1992 to 40% in 2005 and is one of the few African countries on track to surpass the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015.

Ghana can be seen as a success story in many ways but also teeters on the balance between an economy growing on the macro scale and millions still living in poverty. While not as poor as some of its neighbors, many Ghanaians still struggle daily with extreme poverty. Per capita income remains only $1,500 per year, though that is an increase from $320 just eight years ago. 2.3% of the population is infected with HIV. 82% of the population does not have access to adequate sanitation, though 75% of all people do have access to clean water – a big improvement over the 55% level a decade ago.

Ghana’s evolving economic success only shines a brighter light on why preventing people from acquiring and dying from AIDS is so important beyond the health benefits. In a country so dependent on agriculture and other labor intensive jobs, losing substantial parts of your workforce to these diseases – which often victimize people during the most productive years of their lives – can be the breaking point for families trying to grow their business and make it sustainable.

While in Ghana, we visited the Winneba Hospital and HIV clinic serving a community a short distance away from Accra. Winneba is receiving funding from the Global Fund through a grant that (RED) supports. While there, we had the opportunity to say first hello to Mr. Anthony Appiah-Nti Obeng, the Hospital Administrator. He welcomed our group and thanked us for using our voices to advocate for needed funding for the hospital. We then spent some time with Ms. Anna Adzakpah, the Chief Nurse, Head of HIV/AIDS Counseling Program. Anna is engaging, funny and very smart. One can quickly see why this clinic is run well. Good leadership and sustainable funding have led to a success story in Winneba:

First, the supply of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) is now stable. The clinic has not had any problems providing ARVs since they began receiving money from the Global Fund. This is critical so that patients who start on ARVs do not have gaps in their treatment that could be life threatening.

Second, this is a nice welcoming clinic. The temperature in Ghana can be hot. Very hot. The day we visited Winneba, the mercury read over 100 degrees and it was extremely humid. Inside the clinic, there were many fans and the main waiting room and treatment room were air conditioned. This provides a welcoming place for those coming to be tested, cared for or treated, helping to ensure that people will not avoid the clinic because of its condition.

Third, Winneba tests, cares for and treats hundreds of people each month. It’s an opportunity to educate people on the important messages about their general health. Though primarily an AIDS treatment center, many of the patients do not have regular access to health care, so a visit to the clinic is an opportunity to share broad health information. Winneba is not missing this opportunity.

In just three years, (RED) partners have contributed over $125 million to the Global Fund which puts 100% of the (RED) money to work on the ground in Africa. Over the life of the Global Fund, it has allocated grants worth nearly $15 billion – that’s a lot of money and sometimes hard to comprehend. Winneba is just one of thousands of clinics that the Global Fund keeps funded - what people experience there is replicated in clinics in 136 countries. It gives me hope that we can beat the diseases. I hope it does for you too. Thank you for supporting (RED), ONE and the Global Fund. You’re making this difference.

Josh Lozman
Deputy Policy Director
ONE
www.one.org

Today is World Tuberculosis Day 2009

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium that mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect any other organ in the body. More than 2 billion people, one-third of the world’s population, are infected with the bacteria that causes the disease. You might be wondering what tuberculosis has to do with HIV and AIDS but in fact TB happens to be a very common illness, or co-infection, amongst people living with HIV.

HIV and TB together are a lethal combination without appropriate treatment. Each disease speeds the other’s progress... HIV weakens the immune system which makes the patient up to 50 times more vulnerable to developing TB. All of which goes to say, that the work of our partner the Global Fund, is perhaps even more important than you realized.

Your (PRODUCT)RED purchases go to Global Fund-financed programs to help eliminate AIDS in Africa, however the Global Fund also finances TB and malaria programs throughout the world. Indeed, it is the world’s largest financier of TB health programs and its support has enabled more than 4.6 million additional cases of tuberculosis around the world to be detected and treated. That’s on top of the 2 million HIV+ people who are now able to access lifesaving antiretroviral therapy thanks to Global Fund-financed HIV and AIDS programs.

During our visits to see your (RED) money in action we have met many HIV+ people who at one time have suffered from TB. 7 year old Narte and his father Paul from Ghana are both HIV+ and they know only too well how common TB co-infection is. Young Narte, who was born with HIV, became ill with TB in 2006 but soon recovered thanks to receiving the right treatment. He began antiretroviral therapy for his HIV in 2005 thanks to a program financed by (RED) and Global Fund money and now is doing well and will be turning 8 years of age early next month. Happy Birthday Narte!

(Click here to visit the World Tuberculosis Day website)


Narte and his father Paul visiting their clinic for a check up and to collect their medicine

Congress Approves Bill with $900 Million for the Global Fund

We’d love to share some great news with everyone that came in late yesterday. The U.S. Senate voted to pass H.R. 1105, the Omnibus Appropriations bill including $900 million for the Global Fund. As some of you may know the Global Fund is the leading financer of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. (RED) is the Global Fund’s largest private sector contributor as a direct result of your (RED) purchases. Up to half of the profits of all (RED) products are contributed to the Global Fund, and every dollar raised is effectively and immediately translated into lives saved. At the end of 2008, Global Fund-supported programs had averted more than 2.5 million deaths by providing AIDS treatment for two million people, anti-tuberculosis treatment for 4.6 million people and 70 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria.

The Global Fund is hard at work utilizing grant money in 140 countries in efforts to prevent and ultimately eradicate these diseases, with Rwanda, Ghana, Lesotho and Swaziland specifically receiving (RED) funds to fight AIDS. With an astonishing number of people living globally with these preventable diseases there is an urgent and dire need for funding. But a little goes a long way and every bit helps. To put it into perspective the approximate cost of keeping someone with HIV on antiretroviral therapy is at a cost of 43 cents a day. And the purchase of an ipod nano (PRODUCT) RED could support more than 3 weeks of medicine for one individual - imagine what can be done with this $900 million.

So thanks to the work of the United States Congress on this bill and each and everyone’s dedicated support of the Global Fund and the (RED) idea we are truly making a difference. To read more on the Senate’s approval of this bill click here.

Get 30% with Gap and give an extra 5% to the Global Fund!

Attention all fans and friends! Between March 12th and March 15th 2009, Gap is extending a special offer that allows you to save 30% off any purchase at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy. In addition to the 30% off, Gap will contribute 5% of the total purchase amount to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. And if that wasn't enough the offer can be used at any store and on any purchase, again and again during the specified dates. The offer can even be shared with up to 25 friends.

Last year Gap launched their Give and Get program which generated a $585,000 contribution to the Global Fund on behalf of (RED). 100% of that money was put to work on the ground in Africa to help those living with HIV. That $585,000 is equivalent to providing more than 1.3 million days of antiretroviral medicine to those that need it. It was an incredible effort and now is the time to generate even more money... all just by shopping!

This is an exclusive offer for friends and fans of (RED) in the United States and Puerto Rico. To get started click here, download the coupon, and bring it to any Gap, Banana Republic, or Old Navy to receive 30% off the total purchase amount between March 12th and March 15th 2009.

(RED) Friend Chris Murphy Shares a Story from Kenya

There is no doubt that America has seen better days. But try explaining that to an African. I did. I didn’t get very far. “I’d love to be American poor,” was his response. Point taken.

I don’t mean to trivialize America’s economic crisis. It is real. And it is serious. Many of my friends are out of work. But while all of us are busy pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, we can’t forget about the millions of people in Africa that are still suffering.

Why? Well, it’s hard to pull yourself up by your bootstraps when you’re barefoot.
Millions of HIV+ Africans can’t even afford $0.43 a day to get the medicine they need to stay alive. But you’ve heard this all before. You’ve heard countless heartbreaking stories about AIDS in Africa. Yet there still is one largely untold story about the crisis. The story about how our efforts to end the epidemic are actually working. I’ve seen the evidence. I’ve seen it first hand.

I spent last month volunteering at a workshop for HIV+ people in western Kenya. It’s called Imani Workshops. And for anyone who needs evidence that the aid we send to Africa is truly a hand up, and not a hand out, you need look no further than Imani. The goal of the workshop is to promote economic self-sufficiency for the region’s HIV+ people who are too poor, too unskilled, or too stigmatized to secure a job or access credit. These patients, or “interns,” are placed at Imani by social workers at an affiliated HIV/AIDS clinic. Once at Imani, interns spend three months at the workshop learning handicraft skills in jewelry making, pottery, paper making, and tailoring.



At the end of their three months, these certified Imani artisans head out to find a job and make room for the next round of interns. The Imani model empowers HIV+ people without encouraging dependency on the donor community. Furthermore, the workshop supports itself entirely through the sales of the products they make. Imani not only promotes economic self-sufficiency, it embodies it.




Imani Workshops is a program within one of Africa’s largest, most comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention models (AMPATH). Anti-retroviral drug therapy (ARV) is at the core of the model’s treatment program (ARVs are the medicine HIV+ people need to stay alive). Without ARVs, Imani would not be possible. You see, Imani is run entirely by and for HIV+ people. But ARVs are just the first step toward restoring the health of those affected by HIV.

ARVs are the boots. Imani provides the straps. And from there, well, you get the idea.

Chris Murphy
Planning Director, Modernista
Proud supporter of (RED)