Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS - Groups - Action Tools

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From:	Mila Gorokhovich [ profile ]
Subject:	Re: [GYCA] Weekly Digest - Week Ending October 8, 2011 (8 msgs)
Sent:	Oct 9th, 2011 - 18:26:21

	Hi all, Just to respond to the NYT article referred in the previous postings - see article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/health/04hiv.html?pagewanted=1 We have to be careful that we do not jump to conclusions as this could alarming consequences. There are two separate issues here: 1) Using contraception to prevent birth control 2) Considering effective methods for prevention of HIV transmission The study seems to confuse these concepts and really suggests one very active point which is that sexually active women should potentially consider alternative methods of contraception given that Depot Provera makes them more susceptible to transmitting and receiving the virus (even this could be contested given that this trial was not a randomized controlled trial with the purpose of investigating the relationship between hormonal contraceptives and HIV) It is NOT meant to conclude that contraception leads to HIV or that contraception should be avoided because it leads to HIV. These are simply inaccurate conclusions which can easily be used by right wing fanatics to suggest women should not use contraception at all. The bottom line is that abstinence or condom use prevent transmission of any STD, not just HIV and should be used as much as possible by men and women alike. a good overview of the study (since you have to pay to read the actual article in the Lancet) can be found here: http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-topics/hiv-prevention/3267-hormonal-contraception-increases-risk-of-hiv-infection-for-women-and-men Enjoy Mila On Sun, Oct 9, 2011 at 9:23 AM, Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS < GYCA (at) tiggroups.org> wrote: > Return-Path: bounce (at) takingitglobal.org > > Welcome to your Weekly Digest for the 'Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS' > group! > > If you wish to e-mail the group, reply to this message or send an e-mail > to: GYCA (at) tiggroups.org > > Here's a summary of last week's messages from the group: > > 1 -> UNESCO Youth Forum (Lindsay Menard-Freeman) > 2 -> Fwd: ISRRC - Women's health, human rights, and the MDGs (Lindsay > Menard-Freeman) > 3 -> NYTimes: Contraceptive Used in Africa May Double Risk of H.I.V. (joya > banerjee) > 4 -> CORRECTION: New Application for GYCA's Grant-writing and Fundraising > E-Course (Lindsay Menard-Freeman) > 5 -> A dizzying second twist in trial of anti-HIV drugs as preventives > (Gabriel ADEYEMO) > 6 -> Youth Representation in the African Regional Preparatory Meeting for > Rio+20 (George Ndungu) > 7 -> Apply for GYCA's Grant-writing and Fundraising E-Course! (Lindsay > Menard-Freeman) > 8 -> Fwd: ISRRC - Online youth consultation with U.S. Agency > forInternational Development (Lindsay Menard-Freeman) > > > You can view full message texts below! > > -----> Message 1 > > From: Lindsay Menard-Freeman > Subject: UNESCO Youth Forum > > Dear GYCA members- > Are any of you attending this? Please let us know! > Thanks-- > Lindsay > > > http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/social-transformations/youth/youth-forums/7th-unesco-youth-forum/ > > -- > Lindsay Menard-Freeman, M.A. > Program Officer > Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, a program of TakingITGlobal > > www.gyca.org > www.tigweb.org > > (T): +212.661.6111 > (E): lindsay (at) gyca.org > > 540 President St. > 3rd Floor > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > Donate now! http://tigurl.org/gycadonate/ > > GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult > allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's > mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources > and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst > their > peers.-----> Message 2 > > From: Lindsay Menard-Freeman > Subject: Fwd: ISRRC - Women's health, human rights, and the MDGs > > Apologies for cross-posting! > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Melanie Boyer > Date: Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 11:34 AM > Subject: ISRRC - Women's health, human rights, and the MDGs > To: isrrc-l (at) list.web.net > > > Dear colleagues,** > > ** > > Given the recent story in the New York Times regarding hormonal > contraception and HIV infection, wed like to call everyones attention to > the core of our work as advocateshuman rights. Women have a right to a > full > range of affordable contraception and protection options, including female > and male condoms. They also have a right to compassionate, accurate > counseling and services. CHANGE President Serra Sippel blogged about human > rights and womens health today for Women Delivers 2015+ series. Please > feel free to use this in your advocacy and your responses to the NYT > story.* > * > > > > Many thanks > > > > > http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/2015-achieving-universal-access-requires-more-than-health-services/ > > > ** > > 2015+: Achieving Universal Access Requires More Than Health Services > > October 5th, 2011 > > * * > > By: Serra Sippel, President of the Center for Health and Gender Equity > > > > The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and > Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadlines are coming up in 2014 and > 2015 > respectively, and will quickly pass. What will come next? Deadline > extensions? A single health MDG? A combined solution of a new mechanism > with > new deadline? When it comes to maternal healthto womens healthdoes this > matter? ** > > > > Consider the ICPD goal of universal access to reproductive health through > the primary health system by 2015. The goal was adopted in 2007 as a target > for reaching MDG 5 on maternal health. Universal access to reproductive > health through primary care is not merely access to contraceptive supplies, > or safe delivery in pregnancy. According to the ICPD, reproductive > health: > > > > > ...implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and > that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, > when and how often to do so. Implicit in this last condition are the rights > of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, > affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as > well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility which are > not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health-care > services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and > childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy > infant. Reproductive health also includes sexual health, the purpose of > which is the enhancement of life and personal relations, and not merely > counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted > diseases. > > > > So when we talk about universal access to reproductive health, we are not > limited to talking about access through primary care to prenatal and > perinatal care, safe delivery, prevention of unintended pregnancy, or the > prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections like HIV. It > includes rights, human relations, satisfying and safe sexthe things in > life > that require societies that value and respect women as demonstrated by laws > and policies. > > > > Around the world we have laws that oppress, discriminate and stigmatize: > laws that do not protect women from rape in marriage and impunity for all > rape, laws that prevent women from access to safe abortion, laws that > discriminate against those living with HIV, and laws that stigmatize > lesbian, gay, and transgender persons. In some countries, such laws are > exacerbated by harmful traditional practices such as early child marriage, > female genital mutilation and cutting, and abduction. > > > > We have health care workers who denigrate, dismiss, and demean women in > labor, women living with HIV, women engaged in sex work. We have families > who ostracize women, kicking them out of their homes because of an HIV > diagnosis or pregnancy as a result of rape. How can we achieve universal > access to reproductive healthor any other health serviceas long as women > and girls, and those who face stigma and discrimination based on sexual > orientation, marital status, or HIV status, continue to have their rights > violated? > > > > The United Nations made its stance clear in August, when the Special > Rapporteur reported that any criminal law or legal restriction that bars > access to sexual and reproductive education and information, contraception, > or abortion violates the right to health, and thus must be removed by the > state. A community can have the best, most comprehensive, reproductive > health service (which is rare enough on its own), but if a woman is unable > to say no to sex, if she is told by her priest she cannot use modern > methods > of contraception, if her husband refuses to agree to use a condom to > protect > her from HIV, if she refuses medical care in childbirth because she is > treated poorly, or if she is forced to marry, the mere existence of these > services means nothing to her. > > > > With 2014 and 2015 deadlines upon us, the question is not what deadline or > mechanism is needed to deliver for women. The question is when will the > worldheads of state, ministers of health, parliamentarians, health care > providers, advocatesdemand that national laws reflect the human rights > women are guaranteed under international law so that women have the power > to > seek and demand of their primary care givers access to reproductive health. > What will it take? > > > > *** > > > > Melanie Boyer > > Communications Director > > Center for Health and Gender Equity > > 202-393-5930 > > www.genderhealth.org > > > > ** > > This message has been sent through the International Sexual and > Reproductive > Rights Coalition (ISRRC) list-serve. If you wish to unsubscribe from this > list please visit http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/isrrc-l > > > > -- > Lindsay Menard-Freeman, M.A. > Program Officer > Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, a program of TakingITGlobal > > www.gyca.org > www.tigweb.org > > (T): +212.661.6111 > (E): lindsay (at) gyca.org > > 540 President St. > 3rd Floor > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > Donate now! http://tigurl.org/gycadonate/ > > GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult > allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's > mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources > and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst > their > peers.-----> Message 3 > > From: joya banerjee > Subject: NYTimes: Contraceptive Used in Africa May Double Risk of H.I.V. > > This is really bad news! > > Note: this study did not find significant results that oral > contraceptives increase risk of HIV (but that could be because their > sample of women taking oral contraceptives vs. injectable > contraceptives was too small). > > > > Excerpt: > > The most popular contraceptive for women in eastern and southern > Africa, a hormone shot given every three months, appears to double the > risk the women will become infected with H.I.V., according to a large > study published Monday. And when it is used by H.I.V.-positive women, > their male partners are twice as likely to become infected than if the > women had used no contraception. > > > http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/health/04hiv.html?_r=1&ref=health-----> > Message 4 > > From: Lindsay Menard-Freeman > Subject: CORRECTION: New Application for GYCA's Grant-writing and > Fundraising E-Course > Attachments: > > > > The message still applies, but please use THIS application attached to this > message. > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > Dear GYCA Members- > > We have space for a few highly-committed GYCA members in our Grant-writing > and Fundraising E-Course, scheduled to start on Oct 31st and > end on December 16th. GYCA members will take this course alongside MTV > Staying > Alive Foundation grantees. > > If you would like to participate in this e-course, please download > the Grant-writing and Fundraising E-Course Application attached to this > email. Submit your application no later than Friday October 20th, 2011 by > 10 > EST. Please send your > application via e-mail to fundraising (at) gyca.org. > > Any submissions later than that time will not be considered. Accepted > applicants > will be informed no later than Thursday October 27th, and > should be prepared to begin the course on October 31st. Please read > the instructions carefully, and make sure you answer each question > thoroughly. > Because of the limited size of the course, applications that don't > follow instructions will be disqualified automatically. > > Looking forward to reading your applications! > > the GYCA Team > > -- > Lindsay Menard-Freeman, M.A. > Program Officer > Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, a program of TakingITGlobal > > www.gyca.org > www.tigweb.org > > (T): +212.661.6111 > (E): lindsay (at) gyca.org > > 540 President St. > 3rd Floor > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > Donate now! http://tigurl.org/gycadonate/ > > GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult > allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's > mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources > and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst > their > peers.-----> Message 5 > > From: Gabriel ADEYEMO > Subject: A dizzying second twist in trial of anti-HIV drugs as preventives > > Source:* Science* > AUTHOR: Jon Cohen > > http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/09/a-dizzying-second-twist-in-trial.html > > Fellow GYCAers > > Another large study that aims to prevent the spread of HIV by giving > uninfected women antiretroviral (ARV) pills has had to redesign the trial > because of startling--and negative--interim results. The Microbicide Trials > Network (MTN), which is funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, > today announced that it decided to stop one arm of a study involving more > than 5,000 women in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Uganda. > > The decision followed an interim review of the ongoing trial by an > independent monitoring board, which found that the drug tenofovir when used > as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) had less effect in protecting women than > anticipated. Although the board did not offer any specifics on how many > women became infected on the drug versus placebo, they said continuing with > the tenofovir arm was "futile" as it would not yield meaningful results... > > The study, Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic (VOICE), > began in September 2009 and is not scheduled to end until about 1 year from > now. The MTN designed VOICE to compare three different PrEP strategies: > tenofovir pills, tenofovir in a vaginal gel, and Truvada pills (a > combination of tenofovir and a second antiretroviral, emtricitabine). The > tenofovir gel and Truvada pills arms of the study are still under way... > > The new results particularly baffled people who follow this promising > prevention strategy because there were mixed but encouraging findings in > two > similar studies reported earlier this year. In April, researchers stopped a > study called FEM-PrEP that evaluated Truvada pills in nearly 2000 > uninfected > young women in South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania after an interim analysis > revealed that continuing was futile. But then in July, an early look at > infections in a study that evaluated taking either tenofovir or Truvada > pills as PrEP found that both worked well in women. > > A key difference in the second trial, called Partners PrEP, is that it > involved more than 4700 couples in Kenya and Uganda in which one partner > tested positive at the outset, while both VOICE and FEM-PrEP primarily > enrolled young, single women. Timothy Mastro, who helped lead the truncated > FEM-PrEP for FHI 360 in Durham, North Carolina, says teasing out why the > same drugs would fail in one population and work in another will require > analyzing two main factors: biology and behavior. Studies have shown that > small amounts of antiretroviral drugs taken orally reach the vaginal > mucosa. > That protection may have been overwhelmed in VOICE and FEM-PrEP if male > partners had higher levels of HIV than those in Partners PrEP. > > Or it could be that women in Partners PrEP had more motivation to "adhere" > to study protocols and take pills each day as instructed, given that they > knew for certain--unlike women in the other two trials--that they were > having sex with an HIV-infected men. The infected men in Partners PrEP may > have also encouraged their uninfected partners to adhere... Hillier > emphasizes that these conflicting findings underscore that much remains to > be learned about PrEP, which also worked well in gay men in yet another > large study recently completed. That analysis needs to be done before > public > health officials roll out recommendations for its use... > > Click on the link above for more information on the altered FEM PrEP. > > > -- > Many Thanks > Yours' in Prevention Science > > Gabriel, ADEYEMO > Regional Focal Point - West Africa > Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AID (GYCA) > +234-80-6798-7317 \| gabriel (at) gyca.org > www.gyca.org \| www.tigweb.org > > > > GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult > allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's > mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources > and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst > their > peers. > > > Universal Access is possible; * > Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related > deaths.-----> Message 6 > > From: George Ndungu > Subject: Youth Representation in the African Regional Preparatory Meeting > for Rio+20 > > Dear All, > > The Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting for Rio+20 is taking place in Addis > Ababa from 20th-25th October 2011. The main objective of the Preparatory > Conference is to deliberate on the objective and themes of the Rio+20 and > other substantive matters of importance in Africa, with a view to arriving > at a consensus on Africa's key priorities and concerns to be reflected in > the outcomes of Rio+20. The conference will take place at the United Nations > Conference Centre (UNCC) and will comprise an experts segment to be held > from 20 to 22 October and a ministerial segment to be held from 24 to 25 > October 2011. > > The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr. > Abdoulie Janneh on the Malabo 17th AU Summit called for sustained youth > mobilization, "to get out the message of sustainable development, as they > have the greatest stake in the future sustainability of our planet. African > young people should be mobilized to get out the message > of sustainable development. Indeed, they have to contribute by bringing > their dynamism to bear through ideas and contributing to educating > and mobilizing the rest of the of society behind agreed goals. > > I am Representing the Major Group of Children and Youth in the Preparatory > Meeting and it is a opportunity to have our voice heard and advocate for our > active participation in all the regional and national preparatory process > for Rio+20. Little has been done in mobilizing Africa young people towards > Rio+20 and there lacks enthusiasm. > > In order to effectively represent You, my fellow African Youth, i need you > input and ideas on what issues or matters i should bring to the attention > and discuss with the Government, AU and UN officials present in the meeting. > What do they need to know about Rio+20 in the African context? How do you > want to get involved as a young person in the Rio+20 preparatory process? > How can they support you in your efforts to achieve sustainability in > Africa? > > Part of my aim is to lobby for the Governments to Include young people in > their National preparatory meetings for Rio+20. And also to include a youth > delegate in the official delegation to Rio+20 next year in Brazil. This can > be done if we all join together to rally this call and even continue with > the advocacy after the meeting. For example, the Ministry of Environment in > Kenya has agreed to involve young people in all their preparatory meeting > for Rio+20. This can also happen in other African countries and we can > together lobby for it. > > I need to identify young people in African countries, belonging to a youth > organisation active in the field of sustainable development whom i can work > with in initiating and strengthening the youth mobilization towards Rio+20 > at the national level. We will together work in lobbying our Governments to > include and support young people in their preparations. This can be achieved > with the unity and solidarity among young people in Africa. Interested young > leaders can send me an introductory email. > > The Rio+20 is an opportunity we cannot afford to fail in meeting the needs > of the present and future generation. This calls for greater involvement of > young people in the decision making process in order to benefit from their > energy, idealism, unique perspective and innovative ideas. Their involvement > in environmental protection, economic, and social development is > very critical for any society that aspires for a better future. > > Let make this happen and our future generation will remember us for shaping > their future to a more sustainable error. Am looking forward to hearing your > ideas opinion. > > Regards, > George Ndungu. > OAYouth Secretary for International Affairs. > Africa Representative for Major Group of Children and Youth.-----> Message > 7 > > From: Lindsay Menard-Freeman > Subject: Apply for GYCA's Grant-writing and Fundraising E-Course! > > Please share widely across your networks > ---------------------------------- > > Dear GYCA Members- > > We have space for a few highly-committed GYCA members in our Grant-writing > and Fundraising E-Course, scheduled to start on Oct 31st and > end on December 16th. GYCA members will take this course alongside MTV > Staying > Alive Foundation grantees. > > If you would like to participate in this e-course, please download > the Grant-writing and Fundraising E-Course Application attached to this > email. Submit your application no later than Friday October 20th, 2011 by > 10 EST. Please send your > application via e-mail to fundraising (at) gyca.org. > > Any submissions later than that time will not be considered. Accepted > applicants > will be informed no later than Thursday October 27th, and > should be prepared to begin the course on October 31st. Please read > the instructions carefully, and make sure you answer each question > thoroughly. > Because of the limited size of the course, applications that don't > follow instructions will be disqualified automatically. > > Looking forward to reading your applications! > > the GYCA Team > > -- > Lindsay Menard-Freeman, M.A. > Program Officer > Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, a program of TakingITGlobal > > www.gyca.org > www.tigweb.org > > (T): +212.661.6111 > (E): lindsay (at) gyca.org > > 540 President St. > 3rd Floor > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > Donate now! http://tigurl.org/gycadonate/ > > GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult > allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's > mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources > and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst > their > peers.-----> Message 8 > > From: Lindsay Menard-Freeman > Subject: Fwd: ISRRC - Online youth consultation with U.S. Agency > forInternational Development > Attachments: > Online Consultationv2.pdf> > > > Please see the opportunity below! > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Jennifer Redner > Date: Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 2:39 PM > Subject: ISRRC - Online youth consultation with U.S. Agency for > International Development > To: isrrc-l (at) list.web.net > > > * > > Please share this call for youth participation widely through your > networks to reach as many young people as possible**** > > ** > > Do you want to have your opinions heard by key policymakers working on > youth policy within the United States Government? > > * * > > Are issues like HIV and AIDS, violence, discrimination, access to > reproductive health services or other issues related to the sexual and > reproductive health and rights of young people important to you? > > * * > > Are you 25 years old or younger? > > > > If you answered YES to all three of these questions, then please email us > TODAY!! > > > > > > Why: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), one > of the largest funders of international development programs and the US > Governments official international aid agency, is creating its first ever > multisectoral youth policy that will help establish young people as a > priority within USAID policies and programs. The Youth Health and Rights > Coalition, made up of international nonprofits that work on adolescent and > youth issues, wants USAID to hear from YOU about the sexual and > reproductive health and human rights (SRRH) issues that are most important > to you and why! ** > > ** > > When: On October 18, the Youth Health and Rights Coalition will hold an > online presentation and discussion where you can exchange ideas directly > with USAID staff on how US Government investments in young people's sexual > and reproductive health and rights should be made. To make this session as > meaningful as possible, and to ensure that you can share your ideas > regardless of your technological capabilities, we ask that you provide the > written input below no later than Friday, October 14, 2011. > > > > How: Please send an email to youth (at) pathfinder.org TODAY with answers > to > the following: ** > > 1. Name, Age, Sex, Organizational affiliation (if any) > 2. Village/town/city and country where you live > 3. Do you have a reliable internet connection and phone line to be able > to participate in a live online discussion? If you have a reliable > internet > connection, do you want to participate in the live forum or do you prefer > to > submit written answers to the questions below without participating in > the > live discussion taking place on October 18, 2011? > > ** > > Please send us your written answers to the following questions no later > than Friday, October 14: > > 1. Why do you think young peoples health and rights should be important > to USAID? ** > 2. What do you see as the most pressing sexual and reproductive rights > and health (SRRH) issues for young people in the developing world? And > how > does this contribute to overall development? > 3. What should be USAIDs top 3 priorities when it comes to investing in > young peoples SRRH? > 4. What are the key principles that USAIDs work with young people should > adhere to? For example, engaging young people, supporting young peoples > diversity, protecting and promoting young peoples human rights. > 5. What are the ways that you think young people in your community can be > involved in the planning, development, and implementation of policies and > programs for young people? What are ways that young people can be treated > as > equal partners by service providers, policymakers, and other key > decisionmakers? > 6. What are the opportunities that USAID can make available to you?** > 7. Do you have any questions for the **U.S. officials developing > the multisectoral youth policy? > > ** > > This message has been sent through the International Sexual and > Reproductive > Rights Coalition (ISRRC) list-serve. If you wish to unsubscribe from this > list please visit http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/isrrc-l > > > > -- > Lindsay Menard-Freeman, M.A. > Program Officer > Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS, a program of TakingITGlobal > > www.gyca.org > www.tigweb.org > > (T): +212.661.6111 > (E): lindsay (at) gyca.org > > 540 President St. > 3rd Floor > Brooklyn, NY 11215 > > Donate now! http://tigurl.org/gycadonate/ > > GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult > allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's > mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources > and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst > their > peers. > -- Check out Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RigyXcZYdRs www.gyca.org