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New PEPFAR 5-Year Strategy Analysis |
2 December 2009. On World AIDS Day, the Obama Administration released its 5-year strategy for its global AIDS program, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR). A copy of the strategy can be accessed at: http://www.pepfar.gov/strategy/. Additional information and annexes will be forthcoming from the Administration over the next few days. CHANGE, shares some highlights from the PEPFAR 5-year strategy (2010-2014).
After years of ideologically-driven HIV prevention policies and programs, we at CHANGE are encouraged by the new administration’s approach to PEPFAR that embraces and responds to science, evidence and reality. While we would like to see greater funding for PEPFAR and related reproductive health programs and services, it is promising to see the Administration incorporating recommendations that advocacy groups like CHANGE have advanced over the course of PEPFAR I and into PEPFAR II. In its new strategy, the administration seeks to expand integration of HIV prevention, care and support, and treatment services with reproductive health services, including family planning. It is refreshing that the administration acknowledges and is addressing the reality for so many women living with HIV who have inadequate access to voluntary family planning services, antenatal care and nutrition, despite Congress’ refusal to explicitly link HIV services with family planning in legislation to reauthorize PEPFAR.In October, CHANGE hosted a grassroots advocate from Botswana, a woman living with HIV. When meeting with officials at PEPFAR and in the White House, she stressed the importance of including women living with HIV in the planning and implementation of PEPFAR programs. We are delighted that the new strategy echoes her assessment that people living with HIV should be a critical part of PEPFAR’s response, and must be involved in planning and implementation of programs. Another positive aspect of the new strategy is that 100% of youth in PEPFAR prevention programs in countries with generalized epidemic are to be provided with comprehensive and correct knowledge of the ways HIV and AIDS is transmitted and ways to protect themselves (the target age group is 15-24). This contrasts with the previous administration’s policy that excluded many young people from information about protected sex. However, we will need to continue monitoring PEPFAR prevention programs that target youth, to ensure they are truly comprehensive and also address the needs of young people below the age of 15, who are often left out of comprehensive prevention interventions.While much of the strategy is good news, we know the devil is in the details. We look forward to additional information that comes from the Administration in the next few days, and how this strategy is implemented over the next five years. The strategy mentions involvement of civil society and people living with HIV and AIDS, but how will U.S. officials ensure that such involvement is meaningful? While the strategy emphasizes country ownership, it focuses predominantly on partnerships with governments. It is critical that civil society—especially local women’s and human rights groups—also be involved in a meaningful way to ensure true country ownership. In addition, the strategy states that the public health needs of persons in the sex sector and other vulnerable populations should be addressed. Given that the anti-prostitution pledge remains in U.S. law, we will need to continue to push for guidance from the Administration to ensure that U.S. funded programs provide the full set of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment for women in the sex sector, without stigma and discrimination.Moreover, we are concerned that the strategy is silent on human rights. Even the best intentions can be disastrous if human rights are not affirmed and upheld. This is especially important for women living with HIV who experience stigma and discrimination, and are often pressured, and sometimes forced, to not become pregnant or bear children. Along with our colleagues around the world, we welcome the signs of a new direction for U.S. global AIDS policy. We are hopeful that such change will significantly advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly for women, girls, and young people around the world. Additional information will be forthcoming from the Administration. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like additional information about the PEPFAR strategy. --Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
www.genderhealth.org
www.preventionnow.net
www.pepfarwatch.org |
