HEARD News - Issue 2, December, 2009
 		 
 
Filling a gap in the area of health systems research
HEARD's Health Systems project provides valuable insights through co-ordinated research in three countries: South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.


Conference on Urban Health: Urgent Action Needed
The first of its kind to be held in Africa the 8th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) took place on 18 - 23 October in Nairobi, Kenya.


Assessing the Benefits of Community Based Rehabilitation
A study conducted in 2008 explored some of the implications of a NGO initiated Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programme.


Newsletter Issue 2
December 2009
 
Welcome
Alan Whiteside
The theme for the World AIDS Day this year is Universal Access and Human Rights. Universal access means making sure that people have treatment, care and prevention. While there has been progress in moving towards this there are still many millions of people who need decent health care services let alone treatment and prevalence continues to rise in some countries.

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What Constitutes Evidence?
The government's recent exhortations to tackle HIV/AIDS sound good but there isn't much substance behind them.
 
The new strategy of the Department of Health calls for decisive action. The global dictum for an 'emergency response' has been around for more than 20 years; nonetheless, belated in South Africa is better than never. The 2007-2011 National Strategic Plan is big on proclaiming the need to reach 80% of this or 90% of that; but there aren't any absolute numbers behind the percentages because no one actually knows what they are.
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A snapshot of education in Swaziland
Swaziland has the world's highest HIV infection rate. AIDS-related mortality has already begun to thin the working-age population and reduce fertility. Owning to these alarming trends, the importance of building the capacity of the education sector to educate and skill the next generation cannot be underestimated.
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African Young Researchers Initiative Call for Papers
To support the development of young researchers in the region, HEARD is offering young researchers selected, individualised academic writing support from a senior HIV researcher who provides writing support. This has already been successfully piloted among an initial group of young researchers in 2009.
 
If you are a young researcher (under 35 on 1 January 2010) in the SADC and EAC region and have exciting and original research on Universal Access to prevention, treatment, care and support and you wish to submit an article to a reputable peer reviewed international journal, then read on.
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Africa Contributes to Global Resource Needs Analysis
There is no doubt that the struggle to resource HIV & AIDS responses is under extreme pressure. Indirect issues vying for attention include global warming, food security, rights and development issues for women and girls and development issues in general. In this milieu HIV & AIDS responses need to make an argument for integrating the exceptional.
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Basic health care a fundamental human right
HEARD director, Prof Alan Whiteside and researcher, Khaled Ahmed attended the Global Responsibilities for Global Health Rights conference convened by the Hélène De Beir Foundation in Brussels on 19 - 21 October 2009.
 
Experts, practitioners and thinkers in the field of global health explored new approaches to ensuring access to basic health services for 2.5 billion people, who are currently deprived of such services. Professor Whiteside presented on the present and future risks to HIV and AIDS funding.
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© HEARD 2009