MAY 11-12, 2007: INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICINE (INMED) EXPLORING MEDICAL MISSIONS CONFERENCE (UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI)

INMED held its first conference in May 2006 with over 200 participants. This year's conference will focus on HIV intervention and 500 participants are expected. The Conference will also provide physicians, nurses, students, pharmacists, therapists and other health professionals with an understanding of international health issues, diseases of poverty, cross-cultural skills, and health leadership. Participants will have ample chance to network with medical mission organizations about opportunities to serve. Earn 13 hours of CME and 9.75 hours of CEU. Continuing education credit also available for Dentists, Pharmacists, Paramedics and EMTs. Special sessions are available to health profession students, too!

More information about the conference and about INMED can be found at http://www.inmed.us. For the conference brochure and a mail-in registration form, go to http://www.inmed.us/INMED_Conference.pdf.

MAY 26-28, 2007: CCIH ANNUAL CONFERENCE - PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH AND WHOLENESS (BISHOP CLAGGETT CENTER, FREDERICK, MD)

We look forward to meeting many of you at the Annual Conference this year! We will be returning to the Bishop Claggett Center (http://www.claggett.ang-md.org), which has been updated with a new conference facility. The new building will allow us to hold all of our meetings/workshops in one place and will include a chapel/meditation room (creatively built within the old farm silo!) and a spacious dining area with beautiful views over the valley toward Sugarloaf Mountain.

The conference theme is Partnerships for Health and Wholeness. Our goal for the conference is to explore, discuss and learn about various types of partnerships. Some of the questions we will focus on are: What defines true partnership? How do we promote good partnerships? What pitfalls should we avoid? What are some examples of effective and fulfilling collaborative efforts?

The conference will begin on Saturday morning, May 26, with two pre-conferences: Monitoring and Evaluation and Christian Leadership Strategies for Health System Reform. The main conference begins at 12 noon and will run through Monday evening, May 28. Accommodation and meals will be available on the campus from Saturday through Monday night. Check out is after breakfast on Tuesday, May 29. Additional conference information can be found at http://www.ccih.org/conferences/May2007/2007ConferenceInfo.htm.

We sincerely encourage you to join us at the Claggett Center for this conference. It is always a special time of fellowship, networking and personal and professional growth with a wonderful and diverse group of participants, all coming together with a common purpose of exploring how to combine our faith with our passion for international health care. We look forward to seeing you there!

Updated information about the conference will be posted at our website, http://www.ccih.org, as it becomes available. Please feel free to contact Sharon (sfranzen@ccih.org) for further information.

MAY 29, 2007: FAITH AND GLOBAL HEALTH CAUCUS OF GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL – PROGRAM FOCUSING ON MALARIA (OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL, WASHINGTON, DC)

This is the third year for a special program designed for faith-based organizations at the beginning of the annual Global Health Council conference. This year’s program will run from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on May 29 at the GHC conference hotel. The program is being organized primarily by Dr. Larry Casazza, Chair of the Faith and Global Health Caucus and also founder and Executive Director of CCIH Affiliate, African Communities Against Malaria. Larry previously was the malaria activities coordinator of World Vision.

A panel representing a variety of partners involved in national malaria program activities in Africa will talk about FBO’s engagement in malaria programming opportunities at several levels and will offer specific recommendations for improvement in the future.

Possible speakers include:

• John Scicchitano of CCIH Affiliate Vestergaard-Frandsen addressing logistics issues,
• Richard Tren of Africa Fighting Malaria, an international advocacy group,
• Melanie Morrow of CCIH member World Relief, speaking about their successful malaria activities in Africa,
• Kwaku Yeboah, from CCIH Affiliate Family Health International speaking about integration of malaria into HIV programs

 If you would like to attend this event but are not registering for the GHC conference, contact Sharon at sfranzen@ccih.org

MAY 29-JUNE 1, 2007: 34th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL HEALTH - PARTNERSHIPS: WORKING TOGETHER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH (OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL, WASHINGTON, DC)

How can we best use our collective experiences, resources, expertise, passion and humanity to help change the fundamentals of global health? Not alone in narrow disciplines, but through partnerships that draw on differing perspectives, differing knowledge and experience, and differing priorities. All of us need to understand better how to mobilize such partnerships, how to make them most effective, and where to turn for experience and help.

The Global Health Council’s 34th Annual International Conference is dedicated to exploring these relationships: how they are built, what they have and can deliver, and how those living in poverty and disease can best benefit. All of these joint efforts are means to our common end: to tackle complex health problems and find solutions to these problems at all levels, and in so doing, improve the health of the world.

For more information, go to http://www.globalhealth.org/conference.

JUNE 9-12, 2007: SOWING SEEDS: GROWING A MOVEMENT, THE GATHERING 2007 (THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, DC)

The Gathering 2007 is organized by Bread for the World (http://www.bread.org), Bread for the World Institute, and the Alliance to End Hunger (http://www.alliancetoendhunger.org) in partnership with denominations and religious organizations across the United States.

For these four days, thousands of people of faith will gather in Washington, DC to launch a renewed movement to end hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. Activists with decades of experience will join with young people just beginning their public life and political involvement. Rural leaders—newly energized with a heart to help hungry people—will meet longtime urban anti-poverty workers. Parents will bring their children to show them that anyone has the chance—and the responsibility—to speak to their representatives in Congress. Campaign leaders from developing countries will meet with development practitioners, to share stories and successes in fighting poverty worldwide. People will reach out across the religious spectrum—evangelical and Catholic, ecumenical Protestant and historic African American denominations, Latino Christians and other people of faith—and join hands with other people of faith at the Interfaith Convocation. Activities will include an interfaith convocation, a forum with 2008 Presidential candidates and a day of lobbying on Capitol Hill.

Come to Washington. Connect with others. Renew your faith. Build a movement. Change the world. For more information, go to http://www.bread.org/about-us/national-gathering.

 

JUNE 21-24, 2007: LEVERAGING CHANGE: THE POLITICS AND ECONOMICS OF GLOBAL POVERTY and HEALTH CARE (HIRAM COLLEGE, HIRAM, OHIO)

This international summer symposium is sponsored by the Hiram College Center for Literature, Medicine, and Biomedical Humanities and co-sponsored by The Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University. The symposium will address critical topics in international health care and issues of disparity within the U.S. health care system, paying attention to the political and economic forces that contribute to these health care disparities/inequalities. It will focus on potential solutions to the many problems that exist and how humanities, especially literature and the arts, might contribute to those solutions. Participants will engage with researchers, health care professionals, humanities and social science scholars, and artists on such issues as health care inequality, social justice, poverty and professional motivation. For more information on the course and on the Hiram College Center, go to http://litmed.hiram.edu/Sumsem.html. An intensive four-hour graduate course connected to the symposium will begin on June 18 at Hiram. It will conclude June 24. For more information, contact mais@hiram.edu or call 330-569-6111.

There is a call for papers to be presented at the symposium. Paper Proposals will be due no later than April 15 with notification sent within two weeks (no later than May 1) of receipt of the proposal. Also invited are proposals from artists, writers, musicians, dramatists about works appropriate to the symposium.

 

JULY 4-7, 2007: PRISON FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL CONVOCATION 2007: WHERE LOVE AND JUSTICE MEET (TORONTO, CANADA)

The international convocation of Prison Fellowship International, the organization founded by Chuck Colson and now working in 110 countries with Christian ministry to prisoners, is organized every four years. PFI brings together judges and former prisoners, chaplains and volunteers, politicians and prison. PFI’s Global Assistance Program mobilizes short-term voluntary medical and technical assistance in response to needs in prisons through national Prison Fellowship organizations. AIDS prevention is an important focus in some countries. For details and to register online, go to http://www.pfi.org.

JULY 4-7, 2007: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S SUMMIT: WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON HIV AND AIDS (NAIROBI, KENYA)

This International Women's Summit is actually part of the larger World YWCA Council involving a series of events (see http://www.worldywca.info/index.php/ywca/world_council_07/overview), hosted by World YWCA and YWCA of Kenya. The International Women's Summit (IWS) is organized in collaboration with partner organizations, and is open to participants from other organizations and sectors, including Women living with HIV/AIDS, Community and grassroots leaders, NGO Activists, UN and other multilateral agencies, Government representatives and other policy makers, Private sector representatives, Researchers, Advocates and other stakeholders active in the field of HIV and AIDS.

The Summit commences with a one day Positive Women’s Forum on July 4, 2007, and is followed by three days of intensive discussion and debate, training and networking, as well as fun and inspiration. During the Summit there will be workshops organized around the topics of: Women’s Leadership in response to HIV and AIDS; Policy and Advocacy – moving into action; Intensifying prevention, treatment, care and support for women and girls; Lessons learnt from changing communities; and Positive Living.

The goals of the summit are

• To highlight the difference women’s leadership is making in response to HIV and AIDS by making visible African and young women’s leadership, at grassroots and community levels, including national, regional and international levels.
• To build the capacity of leaders and their organizations in undertaking sustainable programs that address cutting-edge issues
• To raise awareness and mobilize the women’s movement on HIV and AIDS and crosscutting issues and produce the evidence required to affect change at all levels in society
• To provide the space for networking and the building of strategic partnerships that will broaden the impact of responses to HIV and AIDS at all levels.

There is still time to register for the conference. For further information on the summit go to http://www.worldywca.info/index.php/ywca/world_council_07/iws_women_s_summit.

JULY 9-27, 2007: INTERNATIONAL HEALTH IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD: CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY CARE (UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, TUCSON, ARIZONA)

This yearly summer course, begun in 1982 and revised annually, is a multidisciplinary, case-based, problem-solving course preparing fourth-year North American medical students and residents for health care experiences in developing countries. Other health professionals with clinical experience in any medical or public health field may apply as well, but acceptance is limited to the availability of space. Enrollment in the course is limited to 30 (selected by approximately May 1, 2007.) This number allows case-based teaching in 3 groups of 10 students.

This is a full-time (90 class hours), interactive course, with two optional weekend field trips. Faculty are all experienced clinicians from several departments. Visiting medical students receive up to four weeks' elective credit at their home school (which must also arrange the actual overseas preceptorship). The course is designed for students who are actively planning a student or professional experience overseas. Students should be able to document acceptance (pending or final) by an appropriate clinical or community health facility in a developing country. For further information on the summer course and on other global health educational opportunities at the University of Arizona, go to http://www.globalhealth.arizona.edu or contact Dr. Ron Pust at rpust@u.arizona.edu. Dr. Pust is a CCIH member who is happy to share this opportunity with students and professionals motivated by their faith to work overseas.

 

AUGUST 2, 2007 - RESTORING WHOLENESS TO TRAUMATIZED AT-RISK CHILDREN (FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PASADENA, CA)

This is a pre-conference to the West Coast Healthcare Missions and Ministry Conference. This one-day event sheds light on the world of the at-risk child - children who are homeless, orphaned, sold into the sex trade or are soldiers of war.  Learn what the church's response to the needs of children and learn what you can do to make a difference. For more information, go to http://www.healthcaremissions.org.

AUGUST 3 – 4, 2007 –THE 2007 WEST COAST HEALTHCARE MISSIONS AND MINISTRY CONFERENCE - FROM THE WHOLE CHURCH TO THE WHOLE WORLD: GLOBAL AND LOCAL HEALTH (FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PASADENA, CA)

The 2007 conference combines two Southern California conferences which were held in 2006, the Urban Health Ministry Conference (sponsored by World Impact LA) and the Healthcare Ministry and Missions Conference at Fuller Theological Seminary.  The new conference is geared towards meeting the educational needs of Christian physicians, dentists, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, public health workers, mission pastors, parachurch workers, students and all other healthcare professionals, who are interested in global and/or urban healthcare (medical) missions. For more information, go to http://www.healthcaremissions.org.

AUGUST 17-19, 2007: PRE-ICAAP-8 INTRA- AND INTER-FAITH CONFERENCE (COLOMBO, SRI LANKA)

This gathering is a Pre-Conference to the ICAAP-8 Conference (see next event) organized by the Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA) and supported by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA – http://www.cca.org.hk) and CCIH member the World Council of Churches (WCC – http:// www.wcc-coe.org ). The aim of the Intra-faith meeting is to enable people of the same faith from across Asia to meet to bond, to share experiences, to become familiar with each others’ work, and to present a united front in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The Inter-faith meeting will allow participants of differing faiths to share the outcomes of their Intra-faith meeting, to share ideas about best practices, to encourage the different faiths to liaise with one another, and to produce an Inter-faith Joint Statement which will be read at the inaugural session of ICAAP. Information on registration for the Pre-conference will be available soon.

AUGUST 19-23, 2007: 8th ICAAP - INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON AIDS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (COLOMBO, SRI LANKA)

The theme of the 8th ICAAP is Waves of Change, Waves of Hope. Waves of Change signify many things happening at the same time, taking into account the past, to create a unified effort. There is a mass of activity that needs to be carried out to change the world; creating a ripple-effect that would encompass the whole globe, adapted to suit each environment. The 8 th ICAAP logo is fused with color representing the various communities involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS and the integrated, multi-disciplinary response that is needed. The theme in its entirety gives the powerful imagery of a sea of humanity sharing a common vision to create a better world, a world free from AIDS.

For more information on the 8th ICAAP, go to http://www.icaap8.lk/index.htm. Registration information may be found at http://www.icaap8.lk/registrationMain.html. Regular registration rates are in effect until May 31.

NOVEMBER 4 – 7, 2007 – AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING (WASHINGTON, DC)

The APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition is the oldest and largest gathering of public health professionals in the world, attracting more than 13,000 national and international physicians, administrators, nurses, educators, researchers, epidemiologists, and related health specialists. APHA's meeting program addresses current and emerging health science, policy, and practice issues in an effort to prevent disease and promote health. Participants have an opportunity to learn from the experts in the field, hear about cutting edge research and exceptional best practices, discover the latest public health products and services, and share public their health experiences with peers.

For more information about the annual meeting, go to http://www.apha.org/meetings.

 

NOVEMBER 8 – 10, 2007 – GLOBAL MISSIONS HEALTH CONFERENCE (SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, LOUISVILLE, KY)

The Global Missions Health Conference is excited to open an online opportunity for people to submit potential breakout sessions. For any session to be considered for use in the 2007 GMHC you must first complete this simple three-step request. A representative from the GMHC Staff will contact all potential speakers by May 1, 2007. Completion of this request does not guarantee a speaking role for 2007.

For more infomation, go to http://www.medicalmissions.com.

NOVEMBER 28 - 30, 2007 – GLOBAL SUMMIT ON AIDS AND THE CHURCH (SADDLEBACK CHURCH, LAKE FOREST, CA)

The Global Summit on AIDS and the Church was begun in 2005 by Rick and Kay Warren. It is the only event that joins church leaders and members together with faith-based organizations and experts from public and private sectors.

Spanning three days, summit participants will have an incredibly unique opportunity to hear from the foremost leaders addressing the AIDS pandemic. From medical developments to political action to on-the-ground relief workers, the resources at your fingertips will be unmatched as you connect with others working to end this disease. This summit will also provide participants with the information and tools needed to discover how congregations, organizations, or agencies can start to make a positive change. Every element of the summit is designed to start conversations and build networking that will make the movement to eradicate AIDS all the stronger.

Also offered this year for the first time are a choice of Pre-Summit sessions on the morning of November 28 and a Global Youth Post-Summit session on December 1 in the morning.
 
Registration is now open but space is limited. Early registration at ends June 1, 2007. Go to http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/HIVAIDSCommunity/GlobalConference/Initiative.htm for more information.

 

AUGUST 3–8, 2008 – INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE (MEXICO CITY, MEXICO) (online at http://www.aids2008.org and at http://www.iasociety.org/article/show.asp?article=4975

DECEMBER 8-11, 2008 - 15th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AIDS AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IN AFRICA –ICASA (DAKAR, SENEGAL)

ADDITIONAL CONFERENCES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

For an extensive list of conferences of interest to or about medical missions (or to give notice about an upcoming conference) visit the website of CCIH Affiliate, Medical Mission Exchange, at http://www.mmex.org/conferences.aspx.

King College Center for Global Health Care, a CCIH member, operates the Peeke School of Christian Mission which offers workshops all year round on a variety of topics in health and Christian missions. For information on upcoming workshops go to http://www.king.edu/Academics/Schools/pscm/cghc/workshops.asp.

For lists of other upcoming public health conferences (both secular and faith-based):

• Subscribe to the Friday letter, a weekly report from the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) by sending an email to FridayLetter@asph.org. Many other resources, including funding opportunities for both faculty and students, can be found on their website, http://www.asph.org.
• Refer to the website of the Kaiser Family Foundation at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/calendar/calendar.cfm.
• The Global Health Council maintains a calendar of general events with a filter just for conferences at http://www.globalhealth.org/calendar.php.

3. OTHER NEWS AND RESOURCES

WHAT FBOs MUST DO TO BE NOTICED BY DONORS

At the symposium presenting the findings of the WHO-financed FBO mapping project in Lesotho and Zambia, reported extensively in CCIH’s February bulletin (http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0207.htm#13), Bishop John Chane of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington urged FBO organizations to prove themselves to the donors by ensuring that they are accountable for resources entrusted to them; to ensure that they prepare timely reports to the donors; produce and show results of their work, improve on documentation which is not always done well, go beyond talking and make sure that programs work. He said that the study opens the door for collaboration between private and public health but raised the following issues:

FBOs must….

• be able to document and be able to create good partnerships
• be vocal about what they do best and what they are contributing and document that well: we must communicate clearly and ensure visibility among FBOs
• be transparent and work together
• work with Interfaith organizations
• collaborate and partner with Governments where they work
• be clear to the donors about their vision so that the donors will take them seriously

FAITH AND GLOBAL HEALTH CAUCUS STRUGGLING TO FIND ITS NICHE

The Global Health Council’s Faith and Global Health Caucus, formally established two years ago with significant leadership from CCIH, is struggling to identify a compelling role. Some GHC officers as well as Caucus members are questioning whether it can survive unless committed leaders step forward.

The GHC provides a framework for members interested in a particular area to form caucuses to pursue their common interests within the institutional context of the GHC. CCIH took the lead in forming a Faith and Global Health Caucus as an interfaith forum to connect faith and global health issues. Another caucus is the Alma Ata Caucus promoting community-based primary health care.

The objectives of the Faith Caucus as envisaged at its founding were to provide a forum for information sharing, networking, and collaboration among professionals of faith involved in global health and among health and development-related organizations of various faith traditions. It was anticipated that the Caucus would organize workshops and facilitate dialogue and cooperation between faith-based organizations (and persons of faith) and secular or professional institutions. Researching, documenting, and disseminating information about the relevance of faith to global health and the actual and potential contribution of FBOs were planned.

The challenge for the Caucus’s health is the same as that of many volunteer organizations. People are interested and enthusiastic about the objectives for the Caucus, but give second priority to their volunteer interests. Even though the membership has reached 60, few have come forward to lead or to volunteer sufficient time to make the Caucus the dynamic influence it could become. Those who have agreed, sometimes reluctantly, to take some responsibility for Caucus activities tend to be so burdened by their regular duties that they have little time for the Caucus, despite their best intentions.

Anyone who is interested in the Caucus is invited to contact CCIH. See the May 29th program for the Caucus at the Global Health Council conference in the conference section of this bulletin (item #18).

2007 CHRISTIAN MINISTRY SOURCEBOOK AVAILABLE TO CCIH ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS

CCIH has received a generous supply of the hard copy format of the 540-page 2007 Christian Ministry Sourcebook, a compilation edited by Stephen Froom of 1247 Christian organizations in the U.S. and Canada involved in a wide variety of Christian ministries. About 400 of them are associated with international missions, relief and development. Many CCIH members are listed. If you would like a copy, contact Ray at martinrs@aol.com. CCIH organizational members requesting it will be sent a copy. Individual CCIH members requesting a copy may also receive one if supplies are sufficient. The information is also available online at http://www.christiansourcebook.com/. To see an example of a listing, check the one for CCIH at http://www.christiansourcebook.com/Listings/1191. Organizations wanting to be listed should email sourcebook@rogers.com or phone 1-800-285-6399.

HIV AND AIDS ADVOCACY AND MEDIA RELATIONS: TRAINING MANUAL FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS

This manual has been produced by the World Conference of Religions for Peace. Its aim is to strengthen the advocacy and media relations skills of religions leaders at national and community levels in order to expand their efforts on behalf of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. A previous publication, designed for religious leaders exploring ways to respond to HIV and AIDS, is What Religious Leaders can do about HIV/AIDS. Both are available at http://www.religionsforpeace.org/resources/toolkits/index.

AIDSPAN GUIDE TO ROUND 7 APPLICATIONS TO THE GLOBAL FUND

CCIH encourages its members to consider seeking funding from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, http://www.theglobalfund.org/. Last month we reported on several resources designed to assist organizations planning to write a grant proposal for Round 7 (http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0307.htm#43). Round 7 proposals are due on July 4.

The resources prepared by Aidspan are particularly useful. Aidspan (http://www.aidspan.org), is an NGO whose mission is to reinforce the effectiveness of the Global Fund by functioning as a watchdog of the Fund, and by providing services that can benefit all countries wishing to obtain and make effective use of Global Fund financing. To sign up for their informative monthly newsletter, go to http://www.aidspan.org/gfo. The Aidspan Guide to Round 7 Applications to the Global Fund is a helpful resource, providing a step-by-step guide to filling out the Round 7 proposal form. The Guide (English, French and Spanish) is accessible online at no charge at http://www.aidspan.org/index.php?page=guides, where various other Aidspan Guides are also available, such as The Aidspan Guide to Obtaining Global Fund-Related Technical Assistance. Information on the Guide is also available at http://www.aidspan.org/index.php?issue=72&article=1.

The Round 7 Guide discusses the strengths and weakness of proposals submitted in prior rounds of funding, based on an analysis of comments made by the Technical Review Panel. The Guide also provides advice on the Round 7 applications process and a series of links where potential applicants can obtain information concerning the technical content of their proposals. Finally, the Guide discusses factors that applicants should consider if they plan to submit a regional or Non-CCM proposal. It should also be useful for potential applicants who are trying to decide whether or not to apply in Round 7.

FBOs have sometimes complained that the structure of the Global Fund makes it difficult for FBOs to receive funding, especially the preference that proposals be submitted through Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCM), which in some countries tend to discriminate against FBOs. Fund officials say that 6% of funding is channeled through FBOs, and they would like to see that proportion rise, especially in light of the fact that in many places, 30% to a half of health services are provided by FBOs.

NGOs have rarely received funding outside the CCM process. There are proposals being studied now that could make it easier for NGOs and FBOs to submit proposals directly to the Global Fund where the CCM mechanism seems to be biased against them. The Global Fund guidelines state that civil society proposals may be considered directly in countries that “suppress or have not established partnerships with civil society and NGOs (including a country in which the CCM has failed or refused to consider a submission from a civil society organisation for inclusion in the CCM’s consolidated country proposal).”

The AIDSPAN guide suggests that NGOs and FBOs work through the CCMs unless:

• there is no CCM in the country (which now is very rarely the case);
• they are working in a country or region severely affected by war or natural disasters; or
• they are working in a country where services are not being provided to a particular vulnerable group, and the existing CCM has indicated that it is not prepared to submit a proposal that addresses this population.

Another development relevant to some CCIH members is that Round 7 will consider proposals from Regional Organizations to address cross-border or regional issues, e.g. international faith-based organizations who work across countries on a regional basis.

USAID'S CENTER FOR FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

This Center was established in 2002 to:

1. Serve as a bridge between faith and community based NGOs and government,
2. Increase the capacity of faith & community based NGO's to better compete for funding opportunities,
3. Work to eliminate barriers to faith and community based organizations in order that they may compete for funds enabling them to carry out their missions to alleviate human suffering,
4. Increase collaboration among the people and organizations that are trying to address some of the greatest social service needs in our world today.

The Center, which is restructuring its website and adding new material, invites organizations to send stories from the field about measurable life changing successes, especially if they show partnerships between government and faith and community-based organizations.

For more information or to join the email USAID Faith and Community Based Information Loop, go to http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/fbci/. To contact the director, Terri Hasdorff, email thasdorff@usaid.gov.

PEPFAR: AN ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES

On April 24, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing on the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR) featuring Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. This was an important event, given that Congress will be deciding later this year future directions of U.S. assistance for international AIDS. Committee Chairman Tom Lantos assured that there would be a bipartisan reauthorization of the program, although some changes in policies will likely be considered.

In his testimony, Amb. Dybul maintained that output and impact data from PEPFAR suggest that the program is strengthening health systems in countries and having a positive impact on child survival and other health outcomes. Some critics have argued that PEPFAR competes with other health objectives. Representatives in attendance asked questions about PEPFAR’s emphasis on abstinence-until-marriage for HIV prevention. Dybul defended the effectiveness of these programs. The hearing also exhibited interest and affirmation for the work of faith-based organizations.

One bill already introduced in the House, designed to give greater emphasis to HIV prevention for women and youth, is entitled the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (PATHWAY Act). In addition to the heightened focus on women and girls, it would eliminate the earmark that one-third of prevention funds go to abstinence and fidelity programming. Information about this bill is accessible at http://www.pepfarwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101&Itemid=101.

Here are links to the written statements as well as verbal testimony from the April 24 hearing:

• Opening Statement by Chairman Tom Lantos http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/110/lantos042407.htm

• Submitted Testimony of Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/110/dyb042407.htm

• Hearing Webcast of testimony and Congressional questions and Dybul responses (RealPlayer required) http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/testimony.asp?congress=&mo=04&day=24&year=2007&title=&committee=1&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

• Record of previous Congressional Hearings on PEPFAR http://www.pepfarwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=33

KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION TB RESOURCES

The Kaiser Family Foundation announces new TB data and other resources available through its two health websites, GlobalHealthReporting.org (http://www.globalhealthreporting.org) and GlobalHealthFacts.org (http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/index.jsp). The easy-to-access and up-to-date information on TB includes data from the recently released 2007 report by the World Health Organization: “Global Tuberculosis Control: Surveillance, Planning and Financing.” (http://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/index.html). The data on GlobalHealthFacts.org are displayed in tables, charts, and color-coded maps and can be downloaded for custom analyses. GlobalHealthReporting.org provides daily news summaries about TB (http://www.globalhealthreporting.org/news.asp?id=826); new reports and resources released for World TB Day (March 24, 2007); detailed country profiles; webcasts, including detailed coverage of the 37th Union World Conference on Lung Health (http://www.kaisernetwork.org/paris2006/index.cfm), and a calendar of events. Both websites have information of other diseases, including coverage of Africa Malaria Day activities around the world. Also available from the GlobalHealthReporting.org TB/Malaria Report is a free news headline syndication service and RSS feeds.

GREATER COMMITMENT AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MEET UNIVERSAL ACCESS GOALS

Joint Report by WHO, UNAIDS AND UNICEF Calls For Scaling Up Efforts

A new report, “Towards universal access: scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector” was launched by WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF. The report gives the latest figures on access to HIV treatment and an overview of the global progress in a number of other priority health sector interventions areas, such as interventions for most-at-risk populations, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and HIV testing and counseling. To view the joint press release on the report, go to http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/News_and_Events_pressrelease170407.pdf.

The report shows that access to antiretroviral therapy for advanced HIV infection in low- and middle- income countries continued to grow throughout 2006, with more than two million people living with HIV/AIDS receiving treatment in December 2006, a 54% increase over the 1.3 million people on treatment one year earlier in these countries. However, the report details a number of key areas in which efforts to scale up services are insufficient if the global goal of moving towards “universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support” for HIV by 2010 is to be achieved.  While recognizing and lauding the progress that has been made globally, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO, said “in many ways we are still at the beginning of this commitment.  We need ambitious national programmes, much greater global mobilization, and increased accountability if we are going to succeed."

The report highlights challenges and recommendations for the international community. These include attention to

• prevention and diagnosis of HIV in children;
• significantly increasing the numbers of people being tested for HIV;
• scaling up services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV;
• improving access to services for most-at-risk populations;
• better services for people living with HIV and AIDS to avoid HIV transmission and to prevent, diagnose and treat TB infections;
• recognizing male circumcision as an important additional HIV prevention initiative; and
• addressing concerns about longer-term financial sustainability, including attention to pricing of ARVs.

The full report is accessible at http://www.searo.who.int/en/Section10/Section18/Section2008_13202.htm as well as a summary from UNAIDS at http://www.unaids.org/en/MediaCentre/PressMaterials/FeatureStory/20070417_Latest_figures_treatment.asp.

Faith Community Urged to Sign Letter to G8 Leaders Regarding Universal Access

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA - http://www.e-alliance.ch) has joined the World AIDS Campaign (http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/index.php/en/home), global labor unions and other key civil society actors to develop a G8 AIDS accountability campaign. As part of these efforts, the EAA will send a joint letter signed by religious leaders and people of faith to each G8 head of state (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia) calling for increasing funding towards achieving universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, strengthened health systems, affordable medicines and support for women and girls. The EAA is also advocating for care and treatment accompanied by a time-bound funding and action plan. In July 2005, G8 leaders made a commitment to "develop and implement a package for a comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all people who need it by 2010." This promise was made global at the UN World Summit in September 2005, and in June 2006 all UN member states endorsed a commitment to "universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010". This promise is not being kept, neither in terms of sufficient and sustainable funding nor in terms of concrete action. Religious leaders made a powerful statement to G8 leaders in advance of the July 2006 summit on the need to keep the promise of Universal Access. The letter will serve to strengthen this call before the G8 Summit, to be held in Germany, 6-8 June. Click here to view the EAA Action Alert with more details on the subject and to view the letter.

The EAA is asking everyone who supports their call to sign onto the letter they have prepared no later than May 17, 2007. The letter will be sent to all G8 heads of state on May 21 with all received signatures. They are also calling on all those living in G8 countries to use the ideas expressed in the letter to contact their leaders directly, urging support for universal access to comprehensive prevention programs, treatment, care and support by 2010. More information, including a list of those who have already signed the letter may be found at http://www.e-alliance.ch/g8_summit.jsp. There is even an easy way to sign the letter through this webpage. Further information is available from the World AIDS Campaign at http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/index.php/en/campaigns/key_events/g8. For past Action Alerts and Bulletins from the HIV and AIDS Campaign, go to http://www.e-alliance.ch/newsletters.jsp.

HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION IN SENEGAL

An April 22, 2007 article in the Chicago Tribune, What the rest of Africa could learn about AIDS, examines HIV prevention efforts by the government and the community that have resulted in an HIV infection rate of 0.9%, one of the lowest in Africa and close to the 0.6% infection rate of the United States. What is this low rate attributed to?

• Religious leaders are part of the team: The government cultivated a relationship with religious leaders, recognizing their social and political power and influence in their communities. Many Imams stress abstinence and fidelity and do not shy away from discussion of HIV and AIDS. While they do not talk about using condoms in their official messages, religious leaders can steer their audiences toward the expertise of medical officials who will.
• Sex Worker Registration: Legalized prostitution means that sex workers can be reached on a regular basis and can be provided with weekly health care and free condoms. In a recent survey, 1005 of the prostitutes surveyed (all of whom attended government –sponsored classes in STD prevention, including HIV) reported using a condom with every customer.
• Frank, open and comprehensive conversations about sex and early education about HIV: Sex education has been strongly mandated by the government, with HIV education beginning as early as Grade 1. ABC is alive and well in Senegal. Open discussions which include information about condom use and STDs are an everyday lesson, taught and received without embarrassment. Abstinence and fidelity are strongly encouraged with the result that today’s generation of young women are delaying their sexual debut for three years beyond that of their mothers. And condom use has tripled in ten years to 70%.

The author, Jennifer Reaves, obviously feels that Senegal's government has something to teach the rest of Africa regarding HIV prevention. It also seems that the religious community in Senegal could teach its counterparts in other countries also. To read the article, go to http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0704210035apr22,1,3345595.story?coll=chi-opinionfront-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true .

4. GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The following list of grants and other funding opportunities appears monthly. CCIH welcomes information leading to new and varied sources of funding to share with its membership. Please contact Sharon at sfranzen@ccih.org. Please note that the list is now divided between entries that have been newly identified this month and those which have been previously listed. We hope that this will assist you in sifting through the information.

NEW LISTINGS AND UPDATES

USAID RFA: FERTILITY AWARENESS-BASED METHODS (FAM) PROJECT NEW

Funding Opportunity Number: M-OAA-GH-POP-07-906

Estimated Total Program Funding: $38,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Applications: May 23, 2007  

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from eligible U.S. for-profit, non-profit, or private voluntary organizations registered with USAID for a program titled, “Fertility Awareness-Based Methods.”

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=13606&mode=VIEW.

USAID-UKRAINE RFI: SERVICES FOR HIV-AFFECTED CHILDREN IN UKRAINE NEW

Funding Opportunity Number: USAID-UKRAINE-07-002-RFI

Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Archive Date: July 31, 2007

This is a Notice Of Intent to publish a Request for Application (RFA), which is anticipated in May/June 2007.  The goal of the project is to continue to reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine on HIV-affected, –infected and high-risk children, including orphans, children in HIV-affected families, children born to HIV-positive mothers, children in juvenile detention or other institutions and street children by improving family, health and community services, such as increasing family-based care options, reducing child abandonment and improving access to prevention, treatment, care and support, for these children and their families and caregivers.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=13550&mode=VIEW.

USAID RFI: HIV/AIDS SERVICE CAPACITY PROJECT IN UKRAINE NEW

Funding Opportunity Number: USAID-UKRAINE-07-003-RFI

Estimated Total Program Funding: $12,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Archive Date: July 31, 2007

This is a Notice of Intent to publish a Request for Application (RFA), which is anticipated in May/June 2007. The overall goal of the project is to reduce transmission of HIV in Ukraine and improve the quality of life of those affected by expanding access to quality HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and support services for most at-risk populations (MARPs) including injecting drug users (IDUs), commercial sex workers (CSWs), infants born to HIV-positive women and their families, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), and other more marginalized groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM), and prisoners. The objectives include 1) reducing policy, legal, regulatory and fiscal barriers inhibiting access to quality HIV/AIDS related services; 2) expanding and strengthening continuum-of-care networks of public and civil society service providers; 3) Strengthening institutional capacity of civil society and public sector organizations; 4) implementing pilot approaches for MSM, street children, and prisoners.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=13551&mode=VIEW.

PREVIOUS LISTINGS

HHS PA: DRUG ABUSE, RISKY DECISION MAKING AND HIV/AIDS (RO1)

Funding Opportunity Number: PAS-07-324

Parallel FOAs:PAS-07-325; PAS-07-326

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: Multiple dates, next deadline is May 7, 2007

This program announcement is intended to stimulate model driven research that will increase understanding of how drugs of abuse or processes of addiction influence decisions about high risk sexual behavior, thereby enhancing vulnerability for acquiring or transmitting HIV. Research supported by this announcement will emphasize interdisciplinary studies that incorporate approaches from psychology, economics, anthropology, sociology, decision sciences, neuroscience and computational modeling.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=12452&mode=VIEW. For additional information, go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/locates/LocateFund.asp?SearchType=Simple and search for Fund Number 3276.

NIH FOA: DRUG ABUSE ASPECTS OF HIV/AIDS (R01)

Funding Opportunity Number: PA-07-307

Parallel FOAs: PA-07-308; PA-07-309

Estimated Total Program Funding:

Funding Instrument type: Grant

Closing Date for Applications: Multiple dates, next deadline is May 7, 2007

The purpose of this FOA is to encourage drug abuse research to address the changing dynamics of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S and Internationally: studies are needed on how to translate and adapt interventions that have proved effective in the U.S. to other communities and international settings and to learn from other conditions and cultures to inform our understanding of the causes, consequences, and differences in HIV-associated risks, morbidity, and mortality in diverse populations.

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=12292&mode=VIEW. For additional information, go to http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/locates/LocateFund.asp?SearchType=Simple and search for Fund Numbers 3272, 3273, and 3274.