Medecins Sans Frontieres' (MSF) flagship antiretroviral programme in Khayelitsha is taking strain and has been forced to put patients on waiting lists as nurses and doctors struggle to cope with the growing demand.
In a report titled "Help Wanted", the humanitarian organization warns that efforts to further increase access to HIV treatment and maintain and improve quality of care are coming up against a wall due to the severe shortage of health workers.
"This is contributing to unnecessary illness and death," the authors said.
MSF began providing antiretroviral therapy in 2000 and has reached 80 000 people in more than 30 countries.
The impact of the human resource crisis is witnessed by MSF across southern Africa, the epicentre of the AIDS pandemic.
"Health workers are overwhelmed, overworked and exhausted," the report said.
Dr Eric Goemaere, head of the MSF mission in South Africa, said the clinics are inundated: "The international community says it wants to achieve universal access, and in Khayelitsha we were coming close, but at a certain point things started to collapse. We are absolutely saturated, and even with all of MSF's means, we have come back to waiting lists, and it feels again like we are losing the battle.
"For those guys sitting in offices far away from the epidemic our message is that you will be held responsible if you are not reactive or flexible enough to find solutions to the staff shortages."
MSF has been supporting provincial and city clinics in Khayelitsha since 2000, and the programme is often held up as a best-practice project worldwide.
Since 2001, 7 262 adults and children have been initiated on treatment and 5 848 (81%) remain in care.
But last December, for the 107 patients started on ARV treatment at three clinics in Khayelitsha another 396 others were put on a waiting list.
Mpumelelo Mantangana, a professional nurse at the Ubuntu TB/HIV Clinic in Khayelitsha summed up the feeling of many health workers: "When we started giving ARVs, we felt an injection of morale because we could now do something to keep our patients alive. But now, where there are so many people infected, we can't cope with the demand."
Mantangana said she was still trying to work with "passion", but that conditions were demoralizing: "The workload increases by the day. On top of that, since 2003, there are two vacant posts for professional nurses in this clinic. If it was not because I am motivated, nearly a militant, supporting the ARV roll out, I would have left long ago."
MSF has also worked in the Eastern Cape's Lusikisiki sub-district, one of the poorest and most densely populated rural areas in South Africa, where there is one hospital, 12 clinics and 80% of residents live below the poverty line.
The number of doctors in the sub-district is 14 times lower than the national level while, in 2005, almost four in ten nursing posts in the province were vacant.
MSF implemented an ARV programme at primary care level and was able to rapidly scale up treatment through task-shifting to nurses, community mobilization and the use of lay workers and community volunteers.
Utilisation of clinic services almost doubled in two years, but the number of professional nurses remained constant.
By October last year, 2 200 people were receiving ARVs with over 80% of patients remaining in care after 12 months. This programme is now run by the provincial health department.
Government's new National Strategic Plan (NSP) sets as a goal the treatment of 80% of all HIV positive people by 2011. Yet 35 000 people are already officially on waiting lists for treatment.
The plan also predicts that most people in need of treatment will receive it from nurses in primary care clinics rather than doctors in hospitals.
However, MSF cautioned that the NSP could be hampered by the human resources shortages which it said were not addressed in the health department's "Human Resources for Health Plan".
The MSF report also looked at Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique where the situation is even more dire than in South Africa.
While South Africa has on average 74 doctors per 100 000 inhabitants, Lesotho has five, and Malawi and Mozambique only two.
The number of nurses per 100 000 in South Africa is around 393, but 62 in Lesotho, 56 in Malawi and a mere 20 in Mozambique.
n Thyolo district in Malawi, a single medical assistant can see up to 200 patients per day. In Mavalane district in Mozambique, patients are forced to wait up to two months to start ARV treatment because of lack of doctors and nurses, and many have died during the wait.
In Scott Hospital Health Service Area in Lesotho, over half of professional nursing posts at health centres are vacant while the HIV-associated workload is increasing sharply.
"Access to drugs is a necessary condition, but will not be enough to save millions of lives at risk unless priority is also given to ensure the necessary personnel to provide treatment," the MSF report concludes.
Showing posts with label HIV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HIV. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 May 2007
HELP WANTED: Health worker shortage limits access to HIV/AIDS treatment in southern Africa
Severe shortages of health staff are compromising the quality and availability of HIV/AIDS care across southern Africa. There is wide acknowledgement of the human resource crisis, but little action on the ground. MSF is urging governments to develop and implement emergency plans to retain and recruit health care workers that include measures to raise pay and improve working conditions.
he dire lack of health care workers in southern Africa is threatening efforts to expand access to HIV/AIDS treatment, warned the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in a new report issued today.
The report covers four southern African countries - Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa - where more than one million people still need life-saving antiretroviral treatment but do not have access to it. Lack of action will result in unnecessary illness and death.
"In Thyolo district we are treating 7,000 people with HIV/AIDS. We need to increase this number to 10,000 by the end of the year, but our programme is hitting a wall because there are simply not enough nurses, doctors and medical assistants," said Veronica Chikafa, a nurse/matron working with MSF in Malawi.
Severe shortages of health staff are compromising the quality and availability of HIV/AIDS care across southern Africa. In Thyolo district in Malawi, a medical assistant can see up to 200 patients per day, far too many to ensure quality care. In Mavalane district in Mozambique, patients are forced to wait for up to two months to start treatment because of the lack of doctors and nurses, and many have died during the wait.
In Lesotho there are only 89 doctors in the whole country.
"Providing HIV care in rural clinics depends on nurses, but they are overwhelmed by the number of patients," said Dr Pheello Lethola, Field Doctor for MSF in Lesotho. "Consultation times are too short, and sick patients suffer needlessly. When nurses suffer, patients suffer."
There is wide acknowledgement of the human resource crisis, but little action on the ground. MSF is urging governments to develop and implement emergency plans to retain and recruit health care workers that include measures to raise pay and improve working conditions.
In most countries this will only happen if donors change their policies and start providing financial support for recurrent costs such as salaries. Ministries of finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will need to find solutions to overcome "caps" on the number of health workers and level of salaries. Otherwise, governments will not be able to respond adequately to the unmet need for treatment.
Even in South Africa, which has more health care workers who are better paid compared to other southern African countries, unequal distribution and inadequate numbers of staff are causing delays to expanding treatment.
"Clinics are absolutely saturated, waiting lists are growing, and it feels like we are losing the battle, "said Dr Eric Goemaere, head of MSF's programme in Khayelitsha, Western Cape. "For people making policies in offices far away from patients, our message is that you will be held responsible if you are not reactive or flexible enough to find solutions to the staff shortages."
To expand access to HIV care in rural settings MSF teams have relied on "task-shifting" from doctors to nurses and nurses to community workers. But these are limited measures that do not remove the need for additional skilled staff.
"It is incomprehensible that donors provide funds for life-long aids treatment and the building of new clinics, but refuse support for health care worker salaries on the grounds that this is 'unsustainable,'" said Sharonann Lynch, Treatment Literacy Coordinator for MSF in Lesotho. "People living with HIV/AIDS do not only need drugs and clinics; they need trained, motivated health care workers to diagnose, monitor, and treat them."
In the four countries profiled in this report, MSF is presently providing antiretroviral treatment (ART) for nearly 30,000 people. Worldwide, MSF provides ART to over 80,000 patients in more than 30 countries.
he dire lack of health care workers in southern Africa is threatening efforts to expand access to HIV/AIDS treatment, warned the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in a new report issued today.
The report covers four southern African countries - Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa - where more than one million people still need life-saving antiretroviral treatment but do not have access to it. Lack of action will result in unnecessary illness and death.
"In Thyolo district we are treating 7,000 people with HIV/AIDS. We need to increase this number to 10,000 by the end of the year, but our programme is hitting a wall because there are simply not enough nurses, doctors and medical assistants," said Veronica Chikafa, a nurse/matron working with MSF in Malawi.
Severe shortages of health staff are compromising the quality and availability of HIV/AIDS care across southern Africa. In Thyolo district in Malawi, a medical assistant can see up to 200 patients per day, far too many to ensure quality care. In Mavalane district in Mozambique, patients are forced to wait for up to two months to start treatment because of the lack of doctors and nurses, and many have died during the wait.
In Lesotho there are only 89 doctors in the whole country.
"Providing HIV care in rural clinics depends on nurses, but they are overwhelmed by the number of patients," said Dr Pheello Lethola, Field Doctor for MSF in Lesotho. "Consultation times are too short, and sick patients suffer needlessly. When nurses suffer, patients suffer."
There is wide acknowledgement of the human resource crisis, but little action on the ground. MSF is urging governments to develop and implement emergency plans to retain and recruit health care workers that include measures to raise pay and improve working conditions.
In most countries this will only happen if donors change their policies and start providing financial support for recurrent costs such as salaries. Ministries of finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will need to find solutions to overcome "caps" on the number of health workers and level of salaries. Otherwise, governments will not be able to respond adequately to the unmet need for treatment.
Even in South Africa, which has more health care workers who are better paid compared to other southern African countries, unequal distribution and inadequate numbers of staff are causing delays to expanding treatment.
"Clinics are absolutely saturated, waiting lists are growing, and it feels like we are losing the battle, "said Dr Eric Goemaere, head of MSF's programme in Khayelitsha, Western Cape. "For people making policies in offices far away from patients, our message is that you will be held responsible if you are not reactive or flexible enough to find solutions to the staff shortages."
To expand access to HIV care in rural settings MSF teams have relied on "task-shifting" from doctors to nurses and nurses to community workers. But these are limited measures that do not remove the need for additional skilled staff.
"It is incomprehensible that donors provide funds for life-long aids treatment and the building of new clinics, but refuse support for health care worker salaries on the grounds that this is 'unsustainable,'" said Sharonann Lynch, Treatment Literacy Coordinator for MSF in Lesotho. "People living with HIV/AIDS do not only need drugs and clinics; they need trained, motivated health care workers to diagnose, monitor, and treat them."
In the four countries profiled in this report, MSF is presently providing antiretroviral treatment (ART) for nearly 30,000 people. Worldwide, MSF provides ART to over 80,000 patients in more than 30 countries.
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Cyclists move up a gear for 4x4
THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised by cyclists in a charity bike run in Gardenstown for a new 4x4 vehicle that will help orphaned and poverty-stricken children in Malawi.
Gardenstown minister, the Rev Donald Martin, took a trip there earlier this year and was inspired to raise money for the new vehicle, as well as raising awareness of the plight of the African country.
Since just over a month ago, £5,500 has been collected for the 4x4 pick-up, which will go to the Chisomo Children's Club, who work with street kids and their families in Blantyre and Limbe, Southern Malawi. The majority of the money was generated by the cycle run.
A number of youngsters in Gardenstown helped to organise the nine-mile trek after hearing the minister relate tales of his experiences. Rev Martin was one of 14 volunteers and church leaders who visited Malawi in February as part of an initiative organised by the Tearfund charity.
Fourteen-year-old Matthew West of the Friday Night club at Gardenstown Church of Scotland helped organise the run with his clubmates. Around 30 people of varying ages took part.
The church is also set to host an evening of praise for Malawi this Friday, May 25.
It is hoped that the target sum of £10,000 can be achieved before the summer holidays.
The minister explained that it was as a result of a conversation with the director of the Chisomo Children's Club, Nelson Mkanawire, that he decided to raise the money. He found out that two different agencies carrying out different kinds of work in the area he visited were going to have to share a vehicle, because two of their vehicles had fallen into disrepair. He said: "You can imagine if we were sharing a car between us. It wouldn't be very handy. I thought this is something I could do when I get back to Scotland.
"This Chisomo Children's Club lifts many boys off the streets: street kids who have maybe run away from home because of difficulties. Maybe their parents are dead and they are staying with aunts and uncles, and are perhaps not getting on with them, so they go out on the streets. Chisomo tries to take them back and reintegrate them with their families. When they are taking them back, they find horrendous situations."
A small landlocked country in southern Africa, Malawi has traditional ties with Scotland dating back to the work of missionaries from here.
Participants in a Gardenstown bike run who raised thousands of pounds to pay for a 4x4 pick-up truck that will help poverty-stricken children in Malawi. The run was inspired by Gardenstown minister Rev Donald Martin, far left, who visited the country in February this year.
More than 70% of its population of around 13 million people rely on semi-subsistence agriculture to survive. According to the UN, it is the poorest country in the world not recently affected by conflict.
The spread of HIV is a huge problem, with an estimated 17% of Malawi's people now infected with the virus – rates in some areas are much higher. Life expectancy is about 40 years.
Malawi has also suffered from recurrent droughts due to the changing climate, and in recent years millions have come to rely on food aid.
The money will be going through Tearfund to Chisomo, who will be able to purchase a suitable vehicle from South Africa.
The evening of praise for Malawi is set to begin at 7pm at Gardenstown Village Hall, and Rev Martin will give a presentation on the Chisomo Children's Club. There is no charge for the evening, but an offering will be collected.
Gardenstown minister, the Rev Donald Martin, took a trip there earlier this year and was inspired to raise money for the new vehicle, as well as raising awareness of the plight of the African country.
Since just over a month ago, £5,500 has been collected for the 4x4 pick-up, which will go to the Chisomo Children's Club, who work with street kids and their families in Blantyre and Limbe, Southern Malawi. The majority of the money was generated by the cycle run.
A number of youngsters in Gardenstown helped to organise the nine-mile trek after hearing the minister relate tales of his experiences. Rev Martin was one of 14 volunteers and church leaders who visited Malawi in February as part of an initiative organised by the Tearfund charity.
Fourteen-year-old Matthew West of the Friday Night club at Gardenstown Church of Scotland helped organise the run with his clubmates. Around 30 people of varying ages took part.
The church is also set to host an evening of praise for Malawi this Friday, May 25.
It is hoped that the target sum of £10,000 can be achieved before the summer holidays.
The minister explained that it was as a result of a conversation with the director of the Chisomo Children's Club, Nelson Mkanawire, that he decided to raise the money. He found out that two different agencies carrying out different kinds of work in the area he visited were going to have to share a vehicle, because two of their vehicles had fallen into disrepair. He said: "You can imagine if we were sharing a car between us. It wouldn't be very handy. I thought this is something I could do when I get back to Scotland.
"This Chisomo Children's Club lifts many boys off the streets: street kids who have maybe run away from home because of difficulties. Maybe their parents are dead and they are staying with aunts and uncles, and are perhaps not getting on with them, so they go out on the streets. Chisomo tries to take them back and reintegrate them with their families. When they are taking them back, they find horrendous situations."
A small landlocked country in southern Africa, Malawi has traditional ties with Scotland dating back to the work of missionaries from here.
Participants in a Gardenstown bike run who raised thousands of pounds to pay for a 4x4 pick-up truck that will help poverty-stricken children in Malawi. The run was inspired by Gardenstown minister Rev Donald Martin, far left, who visited the country in February this year.
More than 70% of its population of around 13 million people rely on semi-subsistence agriculture to survive. According to the UN, it is the poorest country in the world not recently affected by conflict.
The spread of HIV is a huge problem, with an estimated 17% of Malawi's people now infected with the virus – rates in some areas are much higher. Life expectancy is about 40 years.
Malawi has also suffered from recurrent droughts due to the changing climate, and in recent years millions have come to rely on food aid.
The money will be going through Tearfund to Chisomo, who will be able to purchase a suitable vehicle from South Africa.
The evening of praise for Malawi is set to begin at 7pm at Gardenstown Village Hall, and Rev Martin will give a presentation on the Chisomo Children's Club. There is no charge for the evening, but an offering will be collected.
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Increasing numbers of children on treatment, despite lack of paediatric drugs
The number of HIV-positive children accessing antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in Malawi is increasing, despite a scarcity of suitable paediatric formulas.
An official in the health ministry, speaking under condition of anonymity, confirmed that adult tablets still had to be cut into smaller doses to treat children, but said this was a minor obstacle.
"In all fairness, it should be noted that there are more children on ARVs in Malawi now than ever before ... the treatment is also yielding positive results among children who would otherwise have died," the official told IRIN/PlusNews.
According to the latest government estimates, children constituted nine percent of the more than 12,000 people who had received ARVs from the government's national treatment programme during the last quarter, up from just five percent two years ago. In total, some 5,906 children are benefiting from the national programme.
The local UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) office supports using reduced doses of adult medication to treat children, because the cost of paediatric tablets is unaffordable to many parents and caregivers. Paediatric formulas also need to be kept in refrigerated storage, and home refrigeration is a luxury for most Malawians, who live far below the poverty line.
"It makes more sense, financially, for the government to use adult ARVs, as syrups cost a great deal more, not only in terms of procurement, but also in terms of storage once they are dispensed to patients," said Dr Miriam Shipimo, UNICEF manager for women, youth and HIV/AIDS.
"Ideally, these children should be using Pedimune, a three-in-one tablet that can be easily stored, but it remains out of reach ... so we still halve Triomune, the widely used adult ARV, and it's proving to be quite effective under the circumstances," she said.
Pedimune, manufactured by the Indian generic drug firm, Cipla, is available in most developed countries and at private clinics in Malawi, but still needs the approval of the World Health Organisation to be rolled out in the public sector.
Medicin Sans Frontieres (MSF), the international medical relief agency, welcomed the "innovative" method of treating the nation's HIV-positive children, but expressed concern over the accuracy of reduced adult dosages.
"We are not exactly pleased with this method, but lives are being saved as we wait for suitable paediatric formulas to made more widely accessible," said Ulrika von Pillar, the Belgian head of mission at MSF in Malawi.
An estimated 80,000 children are living with HIV in this resource-limited country, 24,000 of whom are in urgent need of paediatric ARVs.
An official in the health ministry, speaking under condition of anonymity, confirmed that adult tablets still had to be cut into smaller doses to treat children, but said this was a minor obstacle.
"In all fairness, it should be noted that there are more children on ARVs in Malawi now than ever before ... the treatment is also yielding positive results among children who would otherwise have died," the official told IRIN/PlusNews.
According to the latest government estimates, children constituted nine percent of the more than 12,000 people who had received ARVs from the government's national treatment programme during the last quarter, up from just five percent two years ago. In total, some 5,906 children are benefiting from the national programme.
The local UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) office supports using reduced doses of adult medication to treat children, because the cost of paediatric tablets is unaffordable to many parents and caregivers. Paediatric formulas also need to be kept in refrigerated storage, and home refrigeration is a luxury for most Malawians, who live far below the poverty line.
"It makes more sense, financially, for the government to use adult ARVs, as syrups cost a great deal more, not only in terms of procurement, but also in terms of storage once they are dispensed to patients," said Dr Miriam Shipimo, UNICEF manager for women, youth and HIV/AIDS.
"Ideally, these children should be using Pedimune, a three-in-one tablet that can be easily stored, but it remains out of reach ... so we still halve Triomune, the widely used adult ARV, and it's proving to be quite effective under the circumstances," she said.
Pedimune, manufactured by the Indian generic drug firm, Cipla, is available in most developed countries and at private clinics in Malawi, but still needs the approval of the World Health Organisation to be rolled out in the public sector.
Medicin Sans Frontieres (MSF), the international medical relief agency, welcomed the "innovative" method of treating the nation's HIV-positive children, but expressed concern over the accuracy of reduced adult dosages.
"We are not exactly pleased with this method, but lives are being saved as we wait for suitable paediatric formulas to made more widely accessible," said Ulrika von Pillar, the Belgian head of mission at MSF in Malawi.
An estimated 80,000 children are living with HIV in this resource-limited country, 24,000 of whom are in urgent need of paediatric ARVs.
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
SWAM in the Fight Against HIV/Aids in Nkhota Kota
In it's efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Society for Women Against AIDS in Malawi (SWAM) is implementing a two year project in Nkhotakota District aimed at empowering the youth, girls and young women in particular to have increased access to Sexual and Reproductive Health rights.
SWAM, a non governmental and non profit making organization embarked on the project whose goal is to reduce the susceptibility and vulnerability of young women and girls to HIV/AIDS by building the capacity of local communities to fight HIV/AIDS in a rights perspective.
The organisation's Executive Director, Gavelet Mzembe said in an interview that through the project, the youth in the district have been equipped with knowledge in sexual and reproductive health rights.
"As a result of a successful community mobilization, youth clubs were established and trained in sexual and reproductive health and life skills. Through discussion forums and community outreach in these clubs, the youth have reached out to more than 2,500 people with messages on life skills and Sexual and Reproductive Health," Said Mzembe.
She said her organization embarked on the project in Chia and Lozi areas in the district because of their proximaty to the lake where a lot of fishermen were demanding sex from women in exchange for fish.
"We as SWAM wanted to come in and help reduce the Fish for sex practice which was increasing the HIV prevalence rate in the area," said Mzembe.
She said her organization has managed to train 20 fishermen of which 3 were women as peer educators in Gender and Sexual reproductive health rights. Amongst the group were also 2 representatives from Nkhotakota AIDS Support Organisation (NASO) and Fisheries Department who work closely with the fishermen.
Mzembe explained that the training was aimed at equipping the fishermen with peer education skills so that they can reach out to their fellow fishermen resident in the area and other fishermen coming from other areas.
According to Mzembe, the project is already achieving results as some of the women and fishermen involved in the practice have come out in the open to testify and condemn it.
A lady from Kampanje Village who opted for anonymity testified being a victim of fish for sex as she used to buy fish for sale at the lake.
"I am a victim of fish for sex. I used to buy fish from the lake for resale. This is where I used to have sexual intercourse with the fishermen in order to gain favors so that I get more fish. I am HIV positive and can testify about the evils of this practice and advocate for change," said the lady.
Mzembe said SWAM in partnership with the communities, has established 5 Income Generating women groups and through their initiatives, they developed constitutions and opened bank accounts for the groups.
The women groups are trained in business management skills and have already identified houses to be used for bakeries in Chia and Lozi areas.
She said the women were given money to start up their businesses and the Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) organized a Trade Literacy Workshop .
Mzembe said her organization is so far impressed with what the project has achieved in the area and was optimistic that a lot more would be achieved.
"Through this project, lives have been transformed, through this project we have managed to impart knowledge and skills among women and girls," she said.
Emily Zakeyo, a woman from Lozi was all praises to SWAM from bringing the project to the area which she said had really changed her life in various aspects.
"In the past, I had very little knowledge of HIV/AIDS issues but with the coming of this project by SWAM, I have learnt a lot of issues in as far as HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health issues are concerned," She said.
Zakeyo said her life had also been transformed as she is now able to manage her home financially, courtesy of the business skills and capital that she got from SWAM.
She explained that she used to rely on money or fish given to her by fishermen who would demand to have sex with her in exchange of whatever they gave out to her.
"I did not realize that I was putting my own life at risk until SWAM came to this area with this project," she said.
The project is being funded by DanChurch Aid.
SWAM, a non governmental and non profit making organization embarked on the project whose goal is to reduce the susceptibility and vulnerability of young women and girls to HIV/AIDS by building the capacity of local communities to fight HIV/AIDS in a rights perspective.
The organisation's Executive Director, Gavelet Mzembe said in an interview that through the project, the youth in the district have been equipped with knowledge in sexual and reproductive health rights.
"As a result of a successful community mobilization, youth clubs were established and trained in sexual and reproductive health and life skills. Through discussion forums and community outreach in these clubs, the youth have reached out to more than 2,500 people with messages on life skills and Sexual and Reproductive Health," Said Mzembe.
She said her organization embarked on the project in Chia and Lozi areas in the district because of their proximaty to the lake where a lot of fishermen were demanding sex from women in exchange for fish.
"We as SWAM wanted to come in and help reduce the Fish for sex practice which was increasing the HIV prevalence rate in the area," said Mzembe.
She said her organization has managed to train 20 fishermen of which 3 were women as peer educators in Gender and Sexual reproductive health rights. Amongst the group were also 2 representatives from Nkhotakota AIDS Support Organisation (NASO) and Fisheries Department who work closely with the fishermen.
Mzembe explained that the training was aimed at equipping the fishermen with peer education skills so that they can reach out to their fellow fishermen resident in the area and other fishermen coming from other areas.
According to Mzembe, the project is already achieving results as some of the women and fishermen involved in the practice have come out in the open to testify and condemn it.
A lady from Kampanje Village who opted for anonymity testified being a victim of fish for sex as she used to buy fish for sale at the lake.
"I am a victim of fish for sex. I used to buy fish from the lake for resale. This is where I used to have sexual intercourse with the fishermen in order to gain favors so that I get more fish. I am HIV positive and can testify about the evils of this practice and advocate for change," said the lady.
Mzembe said SWAM in partnership with the communities, has established 5 Income Generating women groups and through their initiatives, they developed constitutions and opened bank accounts for the groups.
The women groups are trained in business management skills and have already identified houses to be used for bakeries in Chia and Lozi areas.
She said the women were given money to start up their businesses and the Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) organized a Trade Literacy Workshop .
Mzembe said her organization is so far impressed with what the project has achieved in the area and was optimistic that a lot more would be achieved.
"Through this project, lives have been transformed, through this project we have managed to impart knowledge and skills among women and girls," she said.
Emily Zakeyo, a woman from Lozi was all praises to SWAM from bringing the project to the area which she said had really changed her life in various aspects.
"In the past, I had very little knowledge of HIV/AIDS issues but with the coming of this project by SWAM, I have learnt a lot of issues in as far as HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health issues are concerned," She said.
Zakeyo said her life had also been transformed as she is now able to manage her home financially, courtesy of the business skills and capital that she got from SWAM.
She explained that she used to rely on money or fish given to her by fishermen who would demand to have sex with her in exchange of whatever they gave out to her.
"I did not realize that I was putting my own life at risk until SWAM came to this area with this project," she said.
The project is being funded by DanChurch Aid.
Microbicide Trials On HIV Transmission Prevention Halted
Malawi will continue with phase 3 Trials on the efficacy of a microbicide gel that is being tested for HIV prevention in women despite trials of a similar kind being halted in other participating countries.
A statement made in January by International Partnerships for Microbicides (IPM) informing the public that CONRAD, a reproductive health research organization had halted the phase 3 efficacy trials of its Cellulose Sulfate (CS) based microbicides has resulted in the public asking why the trials on being carried out by John Hopkins Foundation in Malawi are still continuing.
According to Dr Newton Kumwenda, Director of the John Hopkins Foundation, the research in Malawi will not be affected by IPM's statement to stop the CS trials because the products are different.
"The trials in Malawi are not affected in any way be the stopping of the Cellulose Sulfate trials since the products are different" he said.
Kumwenda confirmed that trials are on track, will continue and are progressing well.
Malawi is currently involved in phase 3 human trials of the Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel microbicide being carried out in two centers based in Blantyre and Lilongwe. Approximately 500 women are involved in each of the two centers.
Trials in Malawi on the Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel started in 2005 and data has regularly been monitored by a safety monitoring board. Reviews since trials began have already taken place 4 times with another review due to take place shortly.
According to Kumwenda, the past reviews have revealed no problems so far thus the continuation of trials. "We hope that if trials are stopped at all, it will be due to successful results rather than other problems," he said.
Asked how participants are selected for the trial, Kumwenda said all trials are being conducted with utmost care following both local and international guidelines for the welfare of the participants as well as the scientific integrity of trial.
Participants should be 18 years or older, sexually active, healthy and be willing to be tested for HIV.
Before participating in the trials, women are counseled and informed on the importance of continuing to use other forms of protection against HIV.
"They are counseled that the products are only being tried if they can protect against infection, but we do not know for sure if they work therefore they need to protect themselves against HIV all the time by using condoms which we know for sure are effective," Kumwenda said.
Counseling is continuing and available for participants whenever a request is made. At every opportunity a participant is available, counseling on risk reduction is provided.
Kumwenda confirmed again that CS is a completely different product from Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel being tried in Malawi and that it was unlikely that the different products will have the exact same effects. "We hope that the Buffer Gel and Pro 2000 will have different and positive results."
The trials on Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel taking place in Malawi are at present being carried out in Philadelphia USA, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Effort to develop a microbicide gel for use by women to prevent them from contracting HIV suffered a significant setback when the phase 3 human trials were halted end of January this year.
Phase 3 of the trial involved the participation of women in order to determine the efficacy of the Cellulose Sulfate based gel but preliminary results indicated that Cellulose Sulfate could lead to an increased risk of HIV infection in women who use the product.
Trials on the CS have been carried out in Benin, India, South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria. A target total of 4,734 women were scheduled to participate in the trials.
Although problems were observed in the other countries, no such problems were observed in the Nigerian trials and data is still being examined further to shed some light on the apparent observations so far and their implications.
It has been confirmed that increasingly women and girls bear the brunt of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
In the year 2006 statistics reveals that over 59% of the people living with the virus in sub-Saharan Africa were women.
In Malawi, over 52% of the people living with HIV are women.
Traditions, culture and social differences are some of the most significant factors that have made women more vulnerable to becoming infected with HIV.
The development of a microbicide is expected to have given women, especially those in a stable relationship or married some control over protecting themselves from becoming infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted Infections (STIs). Not requiring the participation of the male partner, microbicides had been seen as a positive move towards empowering women to protect themselves from HIV and STI infections.
A significant number of women in Asia and Africa have been involve in large scale efficacy trials
"With these microbicide candidates in large scale efficacy trials and a new generation of microbicides well into safety studies, microbicides could be available in five to seven years," is a statement by IPM in November, 2006.
The safety concerns that caused the discontinuation of the CS trials is seen as a set back and will have a significant effect on the future development and availability of a microbicide that will empower women to protect themselves against HIV the world over.
A statement made in January by International Partnerships for Microbicides (IPM) informing the public that CONRAD, a reproductive health research organization had halted the phase 3 efficacy trials of its Cellulose Sulfate (CS) based microbicides has resulted in the public asking why the trials on being carried out by John Hopkins Foundation in Malawi are still continuing.
According to Dr Newton Kumwenda, Director of the John Hopkins Foundation, the research in Malawi will not be affected by IPM's statement to stop the CS trials because the products are different.
"The trials in Malawi are not affected in any way be the stopping of the Cellulose Sulfate trials since the products are different" he said.
Kumwenda confirmed that trials are on track, will continue and are progressing well.
Malawi is currently involved in phase 3 human trials of the Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel microbicide being carried out in two centers based in Blantyre and Lilongwe. Approximately 500 women are involved in each of the two centers.
Trials in Malawi on the Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel started in 2005 and data has regularly been monitored by a safety monitoring board. Reviews since trials began have already taken place 4 times with another review due to take place shortly.
According to Kumwenda, the past reviews have revealed no problems so far thus the continuation of trials. "We hope that if trials are stopped at all, it will be due to successful results rather than other problems," he said.
Asked how participants are selected for the trial, Kumwenda said all trials are being conducted with utmost care following both local and international guidelines for the welfare of the participants as well as the scientific integrity of trial.
Participants should be 18 years or older, sexually active, healthy and be willing to be tested for HIV.
Before participating in the trials, women are counseled and informed on the importance of continuing to use other forms of protection against HIV.
"They are counseled that the products are only being tried if they can protect against infection, but we do not know for sure if they work therefore they need to protect themselves against HIV all the time by using condoms which we know for sure are effective," Kumwenda said.
Counseling is continuing and available for participants whenever a request is made. At every opportunity a participant is available, counseling on risk reduction is provided.
Kumwenda confirmed again that CS is a completely different product from Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel being tried in Malawi and that it was unlikely that the different products will have the exact same effects. "We hope that the Buffer Gel and Pro 2000 will have different and positive results."
The trials on Pro 2000 and Buffer Gel taking place in Malawi are at present being carried out in Philadelphia USA, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Effort to develop a microbicide gel for use by women to prevent them from contracting HIV suffered a significant setback when the phase 3 human trials were halted end of January this year.
Phase 3 of the trial involved the participation of women in order to determine the efficacy of the Cellulose Sulfate based gel but preliminary results indicated that Cellulose Sulfate could lead to an increased risk of HIV infection in women who use the product.
Trials on the CS have been carried out in Benin, India, South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria. A target total of 4,734 women were scheduled to participate in the trials.
Although problems were observed in the other countries, no such problems were observed in the Nigerian trials and data is still being examined further to shed some light on the apparent observations so far and their implications.
It has been confirmed that increasingly women and girls bear the brunt of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
In the year 2006 statistics reveals that over 59% of the people living with the virus in sub-Saharan Africa were women.
In Malawi, over 52% of the people living with HIV are women.
Traditions, culture and social differences are some of the most significant factors that have made women more vulnerable to becoming infected with HIV.
The development of a microbicide is expected to have given women, especially those in a stable relationship or married some control over protecting themselves from becoming infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted Infections (STIs). Not requiring the participation of the male partner, microbicides had been seen as a positive move towards empowering women to protect themselves from HIV and STI infections.
A significant number of women in Asia and Africa have been involve in large scale efficacy trials
"With these microbicide candidates in large scale efficacy trials and a new generation of microbicides well into safety studies, microbicides could be available in five to seven years," is a statement by IPM in November, 2006.
The safety concerns that caused the discontinuation of the CS trials is seen as a set back and will have a significant effect on the future development and availability of a microbicide that will empower women to protect themselves against HIV the world over.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
