TB/HIV Community Activism - Activist Roles in TB-HIV Resource Mobilization

Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

Activist roles in TBHIV Resource Mobilization

Olayide AkanniJournalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria

Lagos :44B Ijaye Road, OgbaAbuja : 4 Jaba Close Area 11 Garki , Abuja

Lagos, NigeriaTel: +234 1 7731457, 8128565

Web: www.nigeria-aids.orgEmail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

Activism@work World Social Forum

Nairobi: Jan 2007

African Health Ministers Meeting : Jo’burg April

07

Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

Roles of CSOs

Watchdog Roles: Monitoring

Participation in Decision making around Resource Allocation

Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

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) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

TB/HIV Resource TrackingKey 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) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

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) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

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) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

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) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

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) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

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) Nigeriawww.nigeria-aids.org

Merci Thanks for listening

Visit us : www.nigeria-aids.orgJAAIDS is a media based organization responding to the dual epidemics of TB

and HIV in Nigeria