workers' health network news™
DESCRIPTION
November 2013 Issue 2Workers’ Health Network News™is a joint project of the partnershipbetween the Canadian LabourCongress (CLC) and theInternational Trade UnionConfederation for the Africaregion (ITUC-Africa)that aims to grow andstrengthen a globalnetwork of activists.TRANSCRIPT
WORKERS’ HEALTH NETWORK NEWS
November 2013 Issue 2
Workers’ Health Network News™ is a joint project of the partnership
between the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the
International Trade Union Confederation for the Africa
region (ITUC-Africa) that aims to grow and
strengthen a global network of activists.
In this issue
Is Africa making progress on health?
• ExclusiveinterviewwithDrMarie-GorettiHarakeye–AfricanUnionHeadofHIV,TB,MalariaandotherInfectiousDiseases
• Report-backfromAbuja+12• TheRoadmaponSharedResponsibilityandGlobalSolidarityforAIDS,TBandMalariaResponseinAfrica
Also . . .
Updatesongenerics,trialsregulation,theGlobalFund Newevidenceongender-basedviolenceandonthelackofsexeducation
foryouthinLatinAmerica Newsfromunionsoncollectivebargaining,networksofpositiveworkers,
andtheNigeriaLabourCongressVCTcampaign andmore…
special issue in advance of
world aids day 2013
1November 2013 Issue 2
Is AfrIcA MAkINg Progress oN HeAltH?FromMaythroughJuly2013,aseriesofhighlevelmeetingstookplacesettingthecourseforAfrica’sAIDSstrategyfortheforeseeablefuture.InMaytheAfricanUnionAccountabilityreportonAfrica–G8partnershipcommitments,2013,wasreleasedjustpriortotheAfricanUnion’s50thAnniversarySummit.ThereportcarriedthemessagethattheAfricaandG8partnershiphasdeliveredunprecedentedprogress,butthefinancialcrisishasresultedindeclininginternationalinvestments,exposedtheinsecurityofexternalfundingandjeopardizedthesustainabilityofrecenthealthgains.
Theaccountabilityreportwasareminderthat,withafewnotableexceptions,theG8’scollectivecommitmenttoendAIDShasstalledsincetheendofthelastdecade—asRobertLovelace,WHNnews™co-editor,andGemmaOberth,SeniorResearcherattheCapeTown-basedAIDSAccountabilityInternational,wroteintheHuffingtonPost.
OptimismforabetterG8outcomemayhavebeenoneofthereasonspromptingNigerianPresidentGoodluckJonathan’soffertohosttheAUHeadsofStateattheAbuja+12SummitinJuly.DespitethefailureoftheG8toshowanysignsofarenewedcommitment,AfricanleadersadoptedtheDeclarationoftheSpecialSummitofAfricanUniononHIV/AIDS,TuberculosisandMalaria:“AbujaActionstowardstheEliminationofHIVandAIDS,Tuberculosis,andMalariainAfricaby2030
—perhapsanothersignthatAfricancountriesareonthepathtosharedresponsibility.
Africancountriescannottravelthispathalonewithoutriskingthereversalofhardwonprogress.Hopefully,wealthycountrieswillshowtheirsolidarityattheFourthReplenishmentoftheGlobalFundtofightAIDS,TuberculosisandMalariainWashington,DC,thisDecember.
Abuja +12 special summit: What were the outcomes for health in Africa? Reflections by David Onyalo, Canadian Labour Congress
TheAfricanUnionSpecialSummitonHIV/AIDS,TuberculosisandMalariawasheldinJulyinAbuja,Nigeria.AlongwithheadsofstateandotherAfricanleaders,threetradeunionactivistsattended:MaureenChineloOnyiaoftheNigeriaLabourCongress,YahyaMsangiofITUC-AfricaandDavidOnyalooftheCanadianLabourCongress.
Twelveyearsearlier,inApril2001,theleadersofAfricanUnionMemberStateshadalsogatheredinAbuja,wheretheycalledforacceleratedactiononhealthandadoptedtheAbuja Declaration on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and other Related Infectious Diseases.TheprimaryobjectivewasforAfricatocollectivelyandindividuallyworktoreversethespreadoftheseinfectiousdiseases.Theleadersalsopledgedtodedicateatleast15%oftheirannualbudgettoimprovethehealthsector.
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Thepurposeofthe2013SummitwastoreviewprogressontheDeclarationanditsframeworkforactionandtoplanforhealthpost-2015,oncetheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalshaveruntheircourse.Inadditiontothe2001DeclarationAssessmentReport,keydocumentsconsideredattheSummitwere:
• theAbuja+12CallforGlobalSupportfortheSharedResponsibilityandGlobalSolidarityRoadmapforinvestmentinHIV,TBandMalariaresponse;and
• theAfricapositiononthepost-2015development
agendadialogue.
TheuniondelegationheldsidebardiscussionswithNigeriangovernmentofficialsandrepresentativesoftheNationalAgencyfortheControlofAIDS(NACA).DuringmeetingswithILOAIDSandUNAIDSofficials,theydiscussedAfricanregionalAIDSinitiativesandwaystoscaleuptradeunionworkinWestAfrica,includingholdingaconsultationinNigeriainspring2014.
What was the assessment of the union delegation?
Thetradeunionistshadmixedreactions.TheyfounditpositivethatAfricangovernmentsbelievefightingAIDSisimportantenoughtowarrantaspecialsummitofheadsofstate.ItwasencouragingtohearAfricanleadershighlighttheneedtomobilizemoredomesticresourcestosupporthealthsystems.Ontheotherhandtheynotedthatonlytwogovernmentstodatehaveimplementedtheir2001Abujacommitments.
‘’I was excited that African heads of states were coming to Nigeria for a meeting on HIV/AIDS, but was disappointed when most of them praised themselves without making much commitment on future work. They didn’t seem perturbed they were not meeting their promises in Abuja 12 years ago. I want African leaders to take the lead in making financial commitment on HIV/AIDS so that we can campaign for more donor/foreign contribution.’’ Maureen Chinelo Onyia, Head Occupational Health and Safety Department, Nigeria Labour Congress
“I was very disappointed that the Summit provided a forum for self–praising, even for those whose personal behaviour has contributed to promoting attitudes counter to HIV prevention. Such statements from leaders who marry young girls on an annual
basis, and who have critically failed to allocate 15% of their national budgets as promised in the Abuja Declaration of 2001, saddened me deeply. Is there real political commitment from our African leaders?” Yahya Msangi, Regional Coordinator of Occupational Safety, Health and Environment, ITUC Africa
“We desperately need an African head of state to step forward as a Champion in the fight against HIV\AIDS. Highly visible leadership has made a difference. At the Abuja +12 Summit many boasted about the policies of their governments but I did not hear passionate pleas for collective action.” David Onyalo, International Department, Canadian Labour Congress
key Players at Abuja+12: Dr. Marie-goretti Harakeye
WHNnews™interviewsDrMarie-GorettiHarakeye,HeadofHIV,TB,MalariaandotherInfectiousDiseasesintheSocialAffairsCommissionoftheAfricanUnion
These are selected comments – the full interview is on pages 9-11.
Dr. Harakeye, do you think that the African Union Summit and the Abuja +12 Special Summit have opened a new chapter in the African response to infectious disease?
TheAbujaSummitcameatatimewhenleadershipcommitmentisveryhighandsignificantprogresshasbeenmadeinAIDS,tuberculosisandmalariaresponses,notablyinthelastdecade.Whatthemeetingsachievedistorenewandsustainthatcommitmentandturnitintoaction.ConcreteactionsthatAfricanleadersandvariousdevelopmentpartnerswillprioritizeare:toaccelerateimplementationoftheearlier“AbujaCommitments,”stepupthemobilizationofdomesticresourcestostrengthenhealthsystems,andensurethatstrategiesareinplacefordiversified,balancedandsustainablefinancingforhealth,inparticularAIDS,tuberculosisandmalaria.
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How do you assess the progress made in the last few months?
Therehasbeenastrongimpetusonthewholecontinentinthelastfewmonthstodiversifyandexpandthesourcesoffundingforhealthgenerally,andforAIDS,tuberculosisandmalariaspecifically.Theseeffortstoreducedependenceonunpredictablefundingfromafewexternalfunderstowardshome-grownAfricansolutionsisclearlyarticulatedintheAfricanUnionRoadmap.…
How can trade unions advocate more effectively with business and with government to ensure their inclusion in planning and implementing ac-tion at the workplace and more generally?
Tradeunionshaveanenviablehistoryoftakingactiontopromotethehumanrights,dignityandhealthofworkers.Itisnowwellknownthattheworkplacehasvastpotentialforlimitingthedamagingeffectsofthethreeepidemics.…TobeeffectivetradeunionsshouldutilizetheircomparativeadvantagetoadvocateforinclusionofAIDS,tuberculosisandmalariaonthetablewithinthetripartitenegotiatingforumswithgovernmentsandtheprivatesector.
Thepoweroftradeunionslieinthefactthatactionsarenotonlytheactionsofindividualmenandwomen.Theyaretheorganizedresponsesofgroupsofworkers.
30 YeArs of AIDs IN AfrIcAAspecialUNAIDSreport,UPDATE,marksAfrica’sjourneytoasharedvisionofzeronewHIVinfections,zerodiscriminationandzeroAIDS-relateddeaths.Thereportisago-tosourcetounderstandAfrica’sAIDSresponse.
UPDATEillustratesthatwhiledomesticspendingonAIDSalmostdoubledfrom2008-2011,internationalassistanceremainsacruciallifelineformanycountries.In35countriesacrossAfrica,donorsupportaccountsformorethanhalfofthecurrentAIDSresponseinvestments.
Dr.BabatundeOsotimehin,ExecutiveDirectoroftheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA)tellsNigeria’sDailyTrustthat,“Morethan90%oftreatmentofAIDSinAfricaisstillfundedfromexternalsources.Thatintroducesasenseofinsecurityinmyview.Sharedresponsibilityissomethingwehavetodo.”
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sHAreD resPoNsIbIlItY: Progress IN tHe fIrst YeArThejobisnotfinished,butAfrica’sprogressinrespondingtoAIDS,TBandmalariashowshowAfrica’sleadersarelaunchingawaveofsustainableglobalhealthstrategiesdistinguishedbytheirAfrican-sourcedsolutions.“Africanleadershipistheelusivemagicbulletthathasirrevocablychangedthecourseofthethreediseasesandnowcandoevenmore,”saidUNAIDSExecutiveDirectorMichelSidibé.
TheirplanislaidoutintheRoadmaponSharedResponsibilityandGlobalSolidarityforAIDS,TBandMalariaResponseinAfrica.TheRoadmap,adoptedlastJuly,chartsanewcourseforthecontinent’sresponsetothethreediseases.AfirstyearprogressreportwasreleasedintimefortheAUsummit.
ProgressontheRoadmap’sfirst pillar—reduce dependence on external funders—hasbeenmadeinanumberofcountriesbyimplementinginnovativeAIDSfinancingmeasures.ZimbabweandKenyanowearmarkaportionofdomestictaxrevenuesforanAIDSTrustFund,whileBenin,Congo,Madagascar,Mali,Mauritius,Niger,Rwanda,andUgandahaveputinplacespecialHIVleviesonmobilephoneusageorairfares.SouthAfricahasreducedspendingonantiretroviralmedicationsby53%byincreasingcompetitionamongsuppliers.
GlobalFundExecutiveDirector,Dr.MarkDybul,congratulatedtheleadersfortakingthesestepssincesustainedleadershipcommitmentiskeytoensuringthatAIDS,TBandmalariabecomediseasesofthepast.“Wehaveamomentofhistoricgreatness,andifweallworktogetherwithasenseofsharedresponsibilityandcoordinatedaction,wewilldefeatthesediseases,”hesaid.
Partnerships are forming to expand the availability of affordable HIV treatment,akeygoalofthesecondpillaroftheRoadmap.TheseincludethePharmaceuticalManufacturingPlanforAfricaBusinessPlan,whichaimstoscaleuplocaldrugmanufacturing,andtheAfricanMedicinesRegulatoryHarmonizationProgrammethatwillhelpregulatedrugqualityanddeliverysystemstopreventlossoflivesduetounsafeorunavailabletreatment.
The third pillar—improving leadership, governance, and oversight—hasbeentheaimofaseriesofhigh-levelmeetingsacrossthecontinentoverthepast12monthstoreaffirmtheurgencyoftheAIDS,TBandMalariaresponsesontheAfricanagenda.CountriesincludingCôted’Ivoire,RwandaandSouthAfricahavealsointegratedHIVprogrammingandoversightintotheirgeneralhealthinfrastructure,streamliningdiseasecoordinationandgovernance.
globAl HeAltH Issues
tracking Post-2015 Agenda Activities
TheUNSpecialEventtotakestockofMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs)progressalsokicksofftheprocessoffinalizingthepost-2015agenda.Effortstoshapethedevelopmentagendainapost-MDGworldhavebeenunderwayforseveralyears,butnowenteraphasewhenmultipleissuesmustbepareddowntopriorities.
Post-2015Policy&Practiceissuretobeaninvaluableresourceforgroupsengagedintheprocess.Withitscalendarofevents,dailynews,updatesontheactionsofkeyactors,guestopinionsaswellasawiderangeofpublicationsandresources,thewebsiteandknowledgebaseisaone-stopshopforthosefollowingthePost-2015discussions.ThesitewaslaunchedandismaintainedbytheInternationalInstituteforSustainableDevelopment(IISD)ReportingServiceswithfundingprovidedbytheJapaneseMinistryofEnvironmentandtheSwissAgencyforDevelopmentandCooperation.
Are generics gaining the upper Hand?
InSouthAfrica,theanswerisadefinitemaybe.OnSeptember9,treatmentrightsgroupshailedagovernmentdraftintellectualpropertypolicyforitspotentialfar-reachingeffectsforpharmaceuticalpatentsasamovetowardslowermedicinecosts.SouthAfrica’sMail&Guardian(September10)reportsthataccordingtoMédecinsSansFrontières(MSF)andtheTreatmentActionCampaign(TAC),thepolicy“willsetthestageforchangesthatpromisetoincreasecompetitioninthepharmaceuticalsectorandlowerthepriceofmedicinesinSouthAfrica,”thegroupsaidinastatement.However,accordingtotheM&Greport,thepolicycouldtakeyearstofinalize.
5November 2013 Issue 2
Undercurrentlaw,firmscanrenewpatentsindefinitelybychangingminuteelementsinamedicine’scomposition,aprocessknownas“evergreening.”CriticssuchasTACcontendthatwithcurrentpoliciesitistooeasyforcompaniestowinpatentsondrugsandthatpharmaceuticalcompaniescan“evergreen”theirpatentsfortoolong,keepingcompetitorsatbayandpriceshigh.
India’s Amended trials regulations: What is the Impact?
ChangestotrialsregulationsinIndia,designedtoimprovepatientsafety,havecausedsomeresearchfunderstohalttheirclinicalworkinthecountry.ThefateofIndia’sthrivingclinicaltrialsindustryhangsinthebalanceafteramendmentsaimedtoregulateclinicaltrialsinthecountrywereintroduced8monthsago.AccordingtoTheLancet,researchersinIndiabelievethechangeswereintroducedinhastewithoutgatheringopinionsfromallstakeholdersingovernmentandnon-governmentalorganizations.
trading Away Health?
TheU.S.andelevenotherPacificRimnationsarenegotiatingtheTrans-PacificPartnership(TPP),anewtraderegimewhichisslatedtoexpandtoall21AsiaPacificAPECnations.It’sbusinessasusual—meaningthetradetalksarebeingheldinsecret.Still,MédecinsSansFrontières’(MSF)hasuncoveredamajorpushto
cutoffthelifelineprovidedbygenericmedicines,whichismasqueradingasanefforttodefendintellectualproperty(IP)rights.TheMSFAccessCampaigncontendsthattheTPPisontracktosetadamagingprecedentaffectingmanydevelopingcountriesbytippingthebalancebetweenpublichealthinterestsandIPdemands.
ForgeneralinformationonIPissuesinhealthsee,forexample,the2008WHOGlobalStrategyandPlanofActiononPublicHealth,InnovationandIntellectualProperty.
global fund Allies: Pay Now or Pay later
TheSeptember17,2013,issueoftheGlobalFundNewsFlashremindsreadersthatonlyashorttimeremainsbeforetheFourthReplenishmentConferencewillbegettingunderwaytosecurefundsfor2014-2016.Aswegotopress,nofirmDecemberdatehasbeenset,butWashington,DC,hasbeenestablishedasthevenue.
Thecriticalmessagetodonors—there is a tremendous cost for failing to act.WithoutaggressiveinvestmenttodefeatHIV,tuberculosisandmalaria,wewilllikelyfacestaggeringcostsintheyearsahead,bothinhumanlivesandinmoney.Tohighlightthismessage,advocatesfortheGlobalFundreleasedareportcalledTheCostofInaction.Advocatescanalsodownloadahandyguidetothereport’skeymessages.
MarkDybul,ExecutiveDirectoroftheGlobalFund,toldateleconferenceofpartnersandjournalists,“Theinvestmentsofthelasttenyearshavethediseasesontherun,buttheyarerunningintopockets,andinthosepocketsiswheretheyaregettingafootholdfromwhichtheycanbegintocomeback.”
TheCostofInactionreportsaystimelyinvestmentscouldprevent3.9millionnewHIVinfectionsduringthe2014-2016period,potentiallysavinguptoUS$47billioninextratreatmentcostsoverthelifetimesofthepeopleaffected.
TheGlobalFundhassetaFourthReplenishmenttargetofraisingUS$15billion.TheCostofInactionalsoestimatesthattimelyfundingformalariawouldpreventmorethan430millionadditionalmalariacasesandincreaseannualGDPinAfricabymorethanUS$20billionoverfiveyears,aswellassaving196,000livesperyear.
6November 2013 Issue 2
LucyChesire,aKenya-basedTBandHIVadvocatewhorepresentscommunitiesaffectedbythethreediseases,spokeof“thejoyandhope”theGlobalFundhadbroughttocommunitiesacrossAfricasinceitwasestablished.Shesaidthechoicebeforedonorsisclear:Investnoworpayforever.
Nordic countries: big bucks for the global fund
FiveNordiccountriesannouncedpledgesof$750millionfortheFourthReplenishmentoftheGlobalFundtoFightAIDS,TuberculosisandMalaria,accordingtoGlobalFundObserver.ThecountriesareNorway,Sweden,Finland,DenmarkandIceland.Eachcountry’sparliamentmuststillgrantfinalapproval.
AGlobalFundnewsreleasesaysthepledgesare$150millionmorethanpreviouslydonatedamounts.TheannouncementcoincidedwithaStockholmmeetingofthefivecountry’sleadersandU.S.PresidentBarackObamaduringastopovervisitpriortotheG20inSt.Petersburg,Russia.“Thisfundingwillleverage$375millionfromtheU.S.challengepledgeof$1forevery$2donated,”accordingtothenewsrelease.ThepledgesunlockmoreU.S.moneysincefederallawsbargivingmorethanone-thirdoftotalcontributionstotheGlobalFund.
stop rape before It Happens!
Yetanotherwake-upcallaboutrampantgender-basedviolenceandviolationsofwomen’srightscanbefoundinastudypublishedintheSeptember10,2013,issueoftheLancet.AresearchteamstudyingtheprevalenceofandreasonsforrapeinsixAsia-Pacificcountriesfoundthatrapeofwomeninmarriagewasmuchmoreprevalentthannon-partnerrape.
ThestudyfocusedonBangladesh,China,Cambodia,Indonesia,PapuaNewGuineaandSriLanka,addingtotheevidencecollectedinSouthAfrica—theonlyothermajorpopulation-basedstudyofrape.Thislackofglobalevidenceisagoodindicatorofthelowprioritygiventorapeandotherformsofgender-basedviolence.
Amongotherfindings—inmostcountriesandsites—thenumberofmenadmittingtorapingawomanrangedbetweenoneinfiveandoneineight;although,inPapuaNewGuineathisproportionwashigher.ComparableresearchfromSouthAfricashowedthatmorethanoneinfourmenhadcommittedrape.
Theauthorsconclude:“Thisstudyemphasizestheimportanceofpreventionofrapeperpetrationbeforeitiscommitted,especiallythroughinterventionsinchildhoodandadolescence.Complexapproachesareneeded,includingstructuralinterventionstoreducepoverty,supportbetterparenting,reduceexposuretochildabuse,andbuildmoregender-equitablemasculinityideals.Additionally,interventionsatthesocietylevelareneededtostrengthenlawsandcriminaljusticeresponsestorape.”
Seethearticleongender-basedviolenceandHIV—“Timetobreakthelink”—inAgenda:challengingHIV/AIDSintransport.SoontofollowisanInternationalTransportWorkers’Federation(ITF)toolkitoncounteringgender-basedviolencefortradeunions.Learnwhatyoucandobyvisitingthewebsitefortheglobalcallforaction:SayNO—UNiTEtoEndViolenceagainstWomen.
latin America’s Youth face Hurdles to Jobs and safe sex
U.N. Special Envoy on youth, Ahmad Alhendawi
AnInterPressService(IPS)newsagencyreporthighlightshowinadequateeducationalsystemsinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanfuelinequalities,accesstothelabourmarketandlearningaboutsafesexformanyoftheregion’syouth.
Morethanaquarteroftheregion’s600millionpeoplearebetween15and29yearsold.Inadequateeducationfuelsyouthunemploymentandfailstopromotelifeskills.MarcelaSuazo,RegionalDirectoroftheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA)notes,“Sexeducationismissingfromthenationalcurriculuminmanypublicschools.”
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Abouthalfofthesexuallyactiveyoungpeopleintheregionhaveneverusedanyformofbirthcontrol,andanestimated20%oftheregion’schildrenwereborntomothersunder20yearsold.
LimitedsexualandreproductiverightsofyoungwomeninLatinAmericadirectlyaffecttheirchancesoffinishingschoolandavoidingpoverty.Inthisregion,between15and40percentofyoungwomensaytheirfirstsexualexperiencewasforced,whilenearly30percentofadolescentgirlsaremarriedbeforetheageof18.Afocusongirls’educationwouldhelpdelayfirstpregnancyandexpandtheworkandlifechoicesofyoungwomen.
TheU.N.SecretaryGeneral’sspecialenvoyonyouth,AhmadAlhendawi,stressed,“Theeducationsystemisnotequippingyoungpeoplewiththeskillsandtheknowledgethattheyneedtoenterthelabourmarket.Thismismatchisdauntingandshrinkingyoungpeople’schancestogetdecentjobopportunities.”
WortH NotINg
the end of Poverty?
PresidentJimKimreiteratedtheWorldBankGroup’scommitmenttoreducepovertyworldwideduringtheOctober2013Groupmeeting.TheGroup’sstrategyhastwoambitiousgoals:
• Endabsolutepovertybyreducingthepercentageofpeoplelivingonlessthan$1.25adayto3percentby2030.
• Promotesharedprosperitybyfosteringincomegrowthofthebottom40percentofthepopulationineverycountry.
“Thetwogoalsemphasizetheimportanceofeconomicgrowth,inclusionandsustainability—includingstrongconcernsforequity.Economicgrowththatcreatesgoodjobsrequiresactiontostrengthenboththeprivateandpublicsectors.Inclusionentailsempoweringallcitizenstoparticipatein,andbenefitfrom,thedevelopmentprocess...Sustainabilityensuresthattoday’sdevelopmentprogressisnotreversedtomorrow…[or]flaginthefuture.Thisbroadagendarequiresactionsatthecountry,regional,andgloballevels.”
Atime-boundcommitmentiswelcome,asisthereferencetomanagingclimatechange.TheGroup’sfocusoninclusionandequityaremorethanwelcome,butwhynotincludeagoaltopromoteequalityandreducetheever-wideningincomegapswithinandbetweencountries?Byfailingtosetagoalandoutlineanimplementationstrategy,therhetoricringsempty.
“WhyistheWorldBanknotwalkingtheirtalkoninequality?”asksanOxfamblog.TheGroupalsoissuedapressreleasereactingtoJimKim’splenaryspeechduringtheAnnualMeetingsoftheInternationalFinancialInstitutions.
uNIoN NeWs uPDAtes
Nigeria labour congress Drive for universal Vct
NLC President Abdulwaheed Omar
DeclaringthatNigerianworkersarepartofthemostvulnerablegroup,NLCPresident,ComradeAbdulwaheedOmar,thenwentontosetanexamplebytakinganHIVtesthimself.TheNLCisurgingallworkerstogoforvoluntaryHIVtesting.Atthesametimeitrecognizesthataccesstotestingmaybelimited.TothisendithaspartneredwiththeNationalAgencyfortheControlofAIDS(NACA)tosetupamobileHIVtestingprogramme.Themedicalstaffintheschemewillalsolookoutforotherconditionsincludingmalaria,tuberculosis,highbloodpressureanddiabetes.Prioritywillalsobegiventopreventingmother-to-childtransmission.TheNACA/NLCpartnershipappearstobeshapingupasapromisingcontributiontotheILOVCT@WORKinitiative.
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first collective Agreement in colombia to contain HIV/AIDs clauses
ColombiantransportunionSNTThassignedacollectivebargainingagreement(CBA)withanationalbuscompanywhichcontainsclausesrelatedtoHIV/AIDS.ItguaranteesjobsecurityforHIV-positiveworkersandcommitsthecompanytosupportunioncampaignsforHIVprevention.Theagreementalsoledtoamergerbetweenaformercompany-basedunionandSNTT.
targeting collective Agreements Across the transport Industry
Makingcollectivebargainingapriority,plustheprovisionoftraining,hashelpedITFaffiliatesaddressHIV/AIDS-relatedissues/protectioninCBAs.AsdescribedintheITFglobalandAfricanevaluationreports,over50areinAfricabutthey’vealsobeennegotiatedbyunionsinArgentina,Colombia,Guyana,Honduras,India,Nepal,Panama,ThailandandUkraine.
Health risks rise in east Africa transport corridors
TheTanzaniaDailyNewsreportsthattheEastAfricaCommunity(EAC)isbracingforabigboostintrafficthroughtransportcorridors,borderpostsandportsthataresuretoposeahighriskofcommunicablediseasessuchasHIV/AIDS.
“Weshould...reflectontheimpendingregionalintegrationandscale-upontransportcorridorsandshareexperiencesinordertodevelopsustainable...solutions,”Tanzania’sPermanentSecretaryintheMinistryofHomeAffairs,MrMbarakAbdulwakil,toldaRegionalConsultationoftheInternationalOrganizationforMigration(IOM),onCoordinatedScale-upComprehensiveHealthProgrammingalongTransportCorridorsinEastAfrica.
Transportunionsintheregionparticipatedinthemeetingthatwascalledtoprepareforthehigherrisksresultingfromincreasedtrafficandeasiercrossingsasone-stopborderposts(OSBPs)areestablished.TheVice-ChairmanoftheTanzaniaDriversAssociation,MohamedAbdulkadir,saidthatbureaucracyatsomeoftheborderpostswasamongthefactorsleadingdriverstoengageinunprotectedsex.Sometimesdriversspent
morethantwoweeksattheborderswaitingforthedocumentationtobeprocessed.
ThemeetingaimedtoidentifytherolesandresponsibilitiesofkeyplayersinprovidinghealthinterventionsalongEACtransportcorridors.OnesuchplayeristheNorthStarAlliance(NSA),whosepartnersincludetheInternationalTransportWorkers’Federation(ITF)anditsaffiliatetheUgandaTransportandGeneralWorkers’Union,provideshealthservicestotruckdriversandsexworkersandprimarycaretocommunitieswithlimitedornoaccesstomedicalservices.NSA’sRegionalDirectorfortheEAC,Ms.EvaMwai,saysithasestablishedmorethan30one-stopborderpost(OSBPs)clinicsinAfrica.
Positive Workers of the World unite! Itf’s challenge to trade unions
PositivenetworkshavebeeninthevanguardofnationalactionandglobaladvocacyonHIV.Butwhyaretherevirtuallynonetworksofpositiveworkersortradeunionists?Arethereinfactlimitstotradeunionsolidarity,askstheITF’sAgenda:ChallengingHIV/AIDSinTransport.Thenewissue(no.7,2013)includesinterviewswithpositiveunionactivistsandnewsoftheUSAFIRInetworkofpositivetransportworkersinKenya(usafirimeansmodesoftransportinSwahili).
Positive union leader speaks out
ArecentITFregionalseminarinMalawigaveDavisonKambudzi,GeneralSecretaryoftheCentralEastAfricaRailwayWorkersUnion(right),theconfidencetosayforthefirsttimeinpublicthathewaslivingwithHIV.KambudzicommittedtocreatinganetworkofHIV-positivetransportworkersinMalawiandurgedallunionleadersandworkerstoknowtheirstatusanddiscloseit.SeetheMay-JuneissueoftheITF’se-bulletin,HIV/AIDSUpdate,whichalsoincludesanupdateonUSAFIRIasitsetsupfurtherbranchesinKenyaandothercountriesintheregion.
General Secretary Davison Kambudzi
9November 2013 Issue 2
collective bargaining for Health: New framework Agreement between global unions And lafarge
InMay2013theBuildingandWoodWorkers’International(BWI)andIndustriALLGlobalUnionsignedarevisedagreementwithFrenchcementgroupLafargefortheconstructionsector.Thiscommitstonon-discriminationandthesetting-upofpreventionprogrammes.ReferenceismadetotheILO’scodeofpracticeonHIV/AIDSbutunfortunatelynottoRecommendation200(2010).ImplementationoftheGlobal Framework Agreement on corporate social responsibility and international industrial relationsstartedattheLafargeplantinComayagua,Honduras.
NeWs froM PArtNers AND otHer Actors
Voluntary HIV testing Initiative for Millions of Workers
TheInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO),supportedbytheJointUnitedNationsProgrammeonHIV/AIDS(UNAIDS),haslaunchedtheVCT@WORKinitiativetoreach5millionworkersinAfricawithvoluntaryandconfidentialHIVcounsellingandtestingby2015.Whilemorethan8millionpeoplewithHIVarereceivingtheantiretroviraltreatmenttheyneed,anestimated7millioneligiblepeoplearenot.Globallyabout40%ofpeoplelivingwithHIVdon’tknowtheirstatus.
getting to Zero at Work
ThecampaignaimstomobilizetheworldofworktohelprealizetheUNvision:“ZeronewHIVinfections.Zerodiscrimination.ZeroAIDS-relateddeaths.”ItwaslaunchedbytheILO’sDirector-Generalatthe102ndInternationalLabourConferencethisJune,andgovernment,employerandworkerdelegatesrecordedmessagesinsupport.
WHNnews™ INterVIeWs...
Dr. Marie-goretti Harakeye
HeadofHIV,TB,MalariaandotherInfectiousdiseasesintheSocialAffairsCommissionoftheAfricanUnion
Dr. Harakeye, do you think that the African Union Summit and the Abuja +12 Special Summit have opened a new chapter in the African response to infectious disease?
TheAbujaSummitcameatatimewhenleadershipcommitmentisveryhighandsignificantprogresshasbeenmadeinAIDS,tuberculosisandmalariaresponses,notablyinthelastdecade.Whatthemeetingsachievedistorenewandsustainthatcommitmentandturnitintoaction.ConcreteactionsthatAfricanleadersandvariousdevelopmentpartnerswillprioritizeare:toacceleratetheimplementationoftheearlier“AbujaCommitments,”stepupthemobilizationofdomesticresourcestostrengthenhealthsystems,andensurethatstrategiesareinplacefordiversified,balancedandsustainablefinancingforhealth,inparticularAIDS,tuberculosisandmalaria.
10November 2013 Issue 2
How do you assess the progress made in the last few months?
Therehasbeenastrongimpetusonthewholecontinentinthelastfewmonthstodiversifyandexpandthesourcesoffundingforhealthgenerally,andforAIDS,tuberculosisandmalariaspecifically.TheseeffortstoreducedependenceonunpredictablefundingfromafewexternalfunderstowardshomegrownAfricansolutionsisclearlyarticulatedintheAfricanUnionRoadmaponSharedResponsibilityandGlobalSolidarityforAIDS,TBandMalariainAfrica(2012-2015).Themeasuresthathavebeentakenincludequantifyingthecountry-levelfundinggapsinAIDS,tuberculosisandmalariaresponses,identifyingpolicyoptionstoincreaseresources,increasingfinancialcommitmentbytheprivatesector,andinclusionofhealth,malariaandHIVservicesindifferentformsofhealthinsuranceandotherhealthfinancingmechanismsforuniversalhealthcoverage.MemberStatesoftheAfricanUnionaredevelopingmorerobust,inclusive,results-focusednationalstrategiesandrelatedinvestmentcases,andstreamliningdiseasecoordinationandgovernancetomakethebestuseoflimitednationalhumanandfinancialresources.
From your insider’s perspective, do you think the process of preparing the accountability report for the G8 helped the AU plan the next steps in its response to AIDS, TB and Malaria?
Yes,theprocessspecificallyachievedfourthings:
• ithelpedassessthedeliveryandimpactofmutualcommitmentsbyAfricaandG8developmentpartnersfrom2000to2012,withparticularemphasisonAIDS,tuberculosisandmalaria;
• ithighlightedtheprogressmadebyAfricawithinthecontextofAfricanRenaissancewithrespecttothethreedeadlydiseases;
• itidentifiedchallengesandlessonslearntintheAU–G8partnershiptobridgethegapbetweencommitmentsanddeliveryinthehealthsector;and
• itproposedprioritypolicyactionstocreateanAfricangenerationfreeofAIDS,tuberculosisandmalaria.
TheprocessprovidedconcretestepsindefiningtheAU-G8partnershipinthecontextofimplementingtheRoadmapthroughconcreteandresults-basedactions.
Preparation of the AU report involved consulting a range of interested parties. If the G8 were to include stakeholders in preparing its own ac-countability report, what advice would you have to offer?
ThepreparationofthereportwasagroundbreakingstepinpromotingsustainedpartnershipandreinforcingmutualaccountabilitybetweentheAfricanUnionandG8.TheconsultationprocessincludedrelevantAfricanUnionCommissionorgans,includingtheNEPADagency,UNAIDS,StopTBPartnership,theRollBackMalaria(RBM)partnership,theAfricanLeadersMalariaAlliance(ALMA),theGlobalFund,theGAVIAllianceandAIDSAccountabilityInternational.However,goingforward,informationprovision,participationandconsultationofkeystakeholdersinthepreparationofthereportshouldbebroadenedtoincludemoreplayersintheglobalAIDS,TBandmalariaresponses.TheseincludetheRegionalEconomicCommunities,theRegionalHealthOrganizations,civilsocietyorganizations,theprivatesectorandotherkeyplayers.
What can be done to create a more united private sector response to AIDS, TB and malaria?
Oneofthemajorcriticalstepsistoengagevariousbusinesscoalitionsonhealthandinitiatedialoguebetweenpublicandprivatesectorstakeholders,ideallythroughaforumtoidentifyopportunitiesforpublic-privatepartnershipsthataddressexistingopportunitiesandgaps.ItisthroughthesemechanismsthatwewillbeabletodevelopadatabaseofavailableresourceswhichmaycontributetoAIDS,tuberculosisandmalaria.Fundamentallyimportantistheneedtoincreasetheprivatesector’sawarenessofandwillingnesstoreportcriticalhealthdatatonationalandcontinentalhealthinformationsystems.Inaddition,thereshouldbesupportforpublic-privatedialogueforjointlydetermininghealthindicatorsandefficientreportingsystemsasameanstoencourageregularreportingonthepartofprivatehealthproviders.
11November 2013 Issue 2
How can trade unions advocate more effectively with business and with government to promote the key role of trade unions in planning and implementing effective action at the workplace and more generally?
Tradeunionshaveanenviablehistoryoftakingactiontopromotethehumanrights,dignityandhealthofworkers.Itisnowwellknownthattheworkplacehasvastpotentialforlimitingthedamagingeffectsofthethreeepidemics.Workplaceprogrammesthatprotectrights,supportprevention,andprovideaccesstocareandtreatmentcanhelpmitigatetheimpactthatthesediseaseshaveonfamiliesandcommunities.TobeeffectivetradeunionsshouldutilizetheircomparativeadvantagetoadvocateforinclusionofAIDS,tuberculosisandmalariaonthetablewithinthetripartitenegotiatingforumswithgovernmentsandtheprivatesector.
Thepoweroftheeffortsoftradeunionsliesinthefactthatactionsarenotonlytheactionsofindividualmenandwomen.Theyaretheorganizedresponsesofgroupsofworkers,backedupbytheresources,expertiseandinfluenceoftheirtradeunions.Utilizingtheseexistingplatformswithbusinesseshelpsalongwayinthedevelopmentandimplementationofeffectivewellnessworkplace’spoliciesandprogrammes.TradeunionscantapintoglobalunionfederationsandadoptawiderangeofworkplaceresponsestoAIDS,tuberculosisandmalaria.
What are the top three ways trade unions can help implement the African Union Roadmap?
TradeunionscanhelpwithpoliticalmobilizationthusensuringthatleadershipingovernmentimplementtheRoadmap.TheexperienceofCOSATUinSouthAfricainmobilizingthousandsofpeopleinsupportofthecampaignforaffordabletreatmentshowsthepowerofsolidarity.Nationalunions,withsupportfromtheirglobalfederations,canbuildontheuniquestructuresofthelabourmovementtodevelopeffectiveprojects,policiesandprogrammesatglobal,continentalandnationallevels.ThelabourmovementcanworktogetherwithcivilsocietyorganizationstoadvocateincountriesfortheimplementationoftheAURoadmap,whichistheonlywaytowardsuniversalaccesstoHIVandAIDS,TBandmalariaservices.Unionscanalsocontinuetoleverageontheirconstituencystrengthtomonitorimplementationofgovernmentcommitmentsandworkwithvariousplayerstoensureleadersatvariouslevelstakeappropriateandeffectiveactions.
What can unions do, and who do they need to work with, to see their contributions are recorded in a systematic way? Is there a monitoring and evaluation process related to the Roadmap where unions can share good practices and lessons learnt?
Unionsareinvolvedatthenationallevelintermsofthedevelopmentofcostednationalstrategicplanswithstrategicinformation,monitoringandevaluationmechanisms.Unionsshouldthuscontinuetoengagewithvariousplayersingovernment,civilsociety,privatesectorandthedevelopmentcommunityfordatacollection,harmonizationanddisseminationinsupportofthenationalprioritiesinAIDS,tuberculosisandmalaria.TheAfricanUnionisfinalizingtheindicatorsformonitoringtheRoadmap.Theunionscanhelpwithensuringthatdatacollectionsystemsarecapturingthesetbenchmarksfordiversified,sustainableandbalancedfinancialmodels,accesstomedicinesandregulatoryharmonization,particularlytheimplementationoftheAfricaPharmaceuticalPlanBusinessPlanandregulatoryharmonizationandtheindicatorsforleadership,governanceandoversightforsustainability.
Are there any specific ways unions might be able to help AIDS WATCH Africa advance its work?
Unionscanprovidesupportindevelopingcountryspecificinvestmentplansandmomentumforincreasingshareofdomesticspendinginthehealthsector,especiallyonAIDS,TBandMalaria.
Theycanalsoutilizeexistingstructuresatnational,sectoral,regionalandgloballevelstoadvocateformobilizingmoredomesticresourcesforhealth,betteruseoftheexistingresourcesandaccountability.Theycansupportthedevelopmentofacomprehensiveplantomodernizethegovernancebodiesofhealthsystemstoimproveleadership,coherence,efficiencyandperformanceforthethreediseases,usingtheprinciplesofinclusion,sharedresponsibilityandglobalsolidarity.
UnionscanalsosensitizehealthworkersontheimportanceofthereportingbasedonselectedindicatorstomeasuretheprogressontheimplementationofthethreepillarsoftheAURoadmap.
Theseeffortswillhelpustomeasuretheprogressmadeandtoadvancethemutualaccountability.
The production of this newsletter is made possible by the Global Foundation for Social Harmony & Sustainable Development and its Trade Union Sustainable Development Unit.
send your news information to the editors:
Robert [email protected]
Susan Leather: [email protected]
the African and canadian contacts are:
In Africa:
Yahya [email protected] AfricaRoute Internationale d’Atakpame P.B: 4401 Lome, Togo+ 228 22250710 + 228 2256113
In Canada:
David [email protected] labour congress (clc)2841 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1V 8X7
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