OCTOBER 5, 2007 - 7th ANNUAL GLOBAL HEALTH MINI-UNIVERSITY (GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES, WASHINGTON, DC)

The Mini-University, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Global Health in collaboration with the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, is a day-long forum (8am to 4:30pm) offering nearly 70 different sessions highlighting evidence-based best practices and state-of-the-art information from a variety of technical areas across the Global Health field. The forum is divided into four hour-long blocks, each offering up to 16 concurrent presentations. In addition, five exciting brown bag sessions are offered during the lunch break. The day culminates with a Knowledge Extravaganza session and the N’Lightening Round, a lively competition during which take-home messages from the sessions are presented and prizes are awarded for the top three.  

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

 

OCTOBER 5-7, 2007 - THE JOURNEY DEEPENS (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA)

The Journey Deepens, co-sponsored by CCIH member In His Image International Medical Missions (http://www.inhisimage.org/internationalmedicine.html) is a weekend retreat to help prospective missionaries explore what it is like to be a missionary, discover whether a missionary or sender role is God's fit, and connect with mission agencies. The retreat, presented by MissionsFocus Int'l, is also co-sponsored by Finishers, MissionNext, Perspectives and the U.S. Center for World Mission. The first 2007 retreat will be October 5-7 in Pasadena, California on the campus of the U.S. Center for World Missions. This will be followed by a retreat on October 26-28 in Atlanta, Georgia. These retreats are for college students, young professionals in their 20s and 30s, adults in their 40s and 50s, and high school seniors willing to explore becoming a missionary. Each retreat of 50 participants and 10 experienced missionaries from multiple agencies is highly relational with extended worship, small group discussions, personal reflection and much prayer. Discussions include guidance, finances, singles/families, etc.  For more information, please go to http://www.thejourneydeepens.com/retreats.asp.

 

OCTOBER 5, 2007 - DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PREFORMED PANEL COVER SHEET FOR 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL HEALTH OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL

OCTOBER 17, 2007 - DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FOR 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL HEALTH OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL

The 35th International Conference on Global Health, sponsored by the Global Health Council, will take place May 27-31, 2008. The theme of the 2008 conference is Community Health: Delivering, Serving, Engaging, Leading. The Global Health Council is soliciting abstracts in two subject areas. The first is the theme of Community Health, and the other pertains to the key issues of global health that are at the heart of health work around the world. The Council also seeks abstracts with findings on the cutting edge of research, practice and policy that are innovative, visionary and in the vanguard of global health.

The official call for abstracts can be found at http://www.globalhealth.org/conference/view_top.php3?id=766. The conference website is http://www.globalhealth.org/conference.

 

OCTOBER 18-20, 2007 - WOMEN DELIVER CONFERENCE: INVEST IN WOMEN - IT PAYS (EXCEL CENTRE, LONDON, UK)

Twenty years ago, the Safe Motherhood Initiative was launched. Its goal: to cut maternal deaths worldwide by half. Two decades of study and experience later, we know how to save lives. The experts agree: with increased political will and adequate financial investment, most women and newborns can survive so that families, communities and nations can thrive. WOMEN DELIVER will unite diverse sectors to act on that knowledge now. The organizing committee for the conference includes international organizations, governmental entities and more than 40 non-governmental organizations. Family Care International serves as the organizing partner.

The program will include high-level plenaries, 80 concurrent sessions, lively debates on current controversies, strategy development, and skills-building workshops. It will focus on five critical areas of investment in women: Women’s and Newborn Health, Advancing Human Rights, Expanding Financial Resources, Building Political Will and Promoting Women in the World. Key themes to be addressed at the conference include: Safe Motherhood, Women's Health and Rights, Gender Equality, Access to Reproductive Health Care, Girl's Education, HIV/AIDS, Poverty Reduction, Maternal and Newborn Health.

More information and registration is available at http://www.womendeliver.org. An informative article on the conference can be found on the Global Health Council website at http://www.globalhealth.org/reports/report.php3?id=307&type=newsletter and further information about the issues affecting women and children can be found in the GHC Global Health Link at http://www.globalhealth.org/assets/publications/HL146.pdf.

 

OCTOBER 26-28, 2007 - THE JOURNEY DEEPENS (ATLANTA, GEORGIA)

See #15 above for information or go to http://www.thejourneydeepens.com/retreats.asp.

 

OCTOBER 31, 2007 - DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS FOR GATES AWARD FOR GLOBAL HEALTH (GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL)

The Gates Award for Global Health was established by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to reward and exemplify organizations which have developed processes for improving health, especially in resource poor settings, with measurable results. The Gates Award for Global Health recognizes past achievements and the promise of continuing activity and improvement. Any organization from any country in the world that has substantively improved the health and the lives of people in need may be nominated for the Gates Award for Global Health; the organization may be a charitable institution, a private company, or a public entity. The award comes with a distinctive award sculpture and a prize amount of 1 million dollars.

For more information on the award and the process for nominations, please go to http://www.globalhealth.org/conference/view_top.php3?id=745.

 

NOVEMBER 3, 2007 - PRE-APHA WORKSHOP - THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN IMPROVING CHILD HEALTH: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE AND FINDINGS FROM THE FIELD (WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER, WASHINGTON, DC)

***** UPDATE: REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS CLOSED*****

If you would like to obtain materials related to the presentations at a later date, please let Sandy Hoar know (npaseh@gwumc.edu).

Time: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Fee: $10 (payable at the door; registration for APHA is not required)

Over the past two years, a Task Force of the APHA Working Group on Community-Based Primary Health Care (CBPHC) has been guiding a review of the effectiveness of CBPHC in improving child health. The workshop will focus on the findings from this review and will also provide an opportunity for current insights provided by distinguished CBPHC practitioners.

In the morning, Paul Freeman and Henry Perry will summarize the findings of the CBPHC review and its implications for policy, practice and research. Paul and Henry are Co-Chairs of the Task Force guiding the review. Paul is an international public health consultant based in Seattle, WA, and Henry is Carl Taylor Professor for Equity and Empowerment at Future Generations, in Franklin, WV. Several exemplary case studies of outstanding examples of CBPHC in improving child health will also be presented. This review now benefits from the active collaboration of a distinguished Expert Review Panel from around the world, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank.

Joining the group for the afternoon will be Lisa Howard-Grabman. Lisa is a renowned trainer in community empowerment and developer of the Warmi method of women’s empowerment for improving maternal and perinatal health, which is now being implemented in a number of countries and showing exciting results.

The workshop will be highly interactive. Participants at all levels of public health experience are welcome - from students to highly seasoned professionals.

To register, send an email to Sandy Hoar, Assistant Clinical Professor of Health Sciences Programs and of Global Health, George Washington University (npaseh@gwumc.edu) with your full name, position, organizational affiliation, location, and email address. Registration is limited to the first 80 registrants.

For further information contact: Henry Perry (henry@future.org) or Paul Freeman (freeman.p.a@att.net).

 

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 their public health experiences with peers. CCIH will have a booth in the exhibit hall.

Registration for the meeting is now open. One-day registration is available on-site only. 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 began in 1996 as a way to bring Christian healthcare professionals and students together to network with missions and ministry experts. From its first gathering of a couple hundred people, the conference has grown to become the largest of its kind in the world, drawing more than 2,000 each year.

An interactive pre-conference each year encourages participants to develop strategies on various medical missions issues such as HIV/AIDS, and holistic healing. Plenary speakers at the conference come from both small and large para-church organizations, prominent medical and research schools, and government and church leaders. In addition to main sessions, the conference offers dozens of breakout sessions in smaller, often interactive formats. Many sessions are offered with continuing education credit. The conference also provides a selection of spiritually edifying experiences such as worship and prayer. And there is an abundant amount of time dedicated to networking. CCIH is a co-sponsor or partner in this conference and will have a booth in the exhibit hall. Several CCIH members will be on the program.

Registration is currently available online. For more information about the conference, go to http://www.medicalmissions.com.

 

NOVEMBER 19-22, 2007 - ASIA CUTTING EDGE: THE CHILD OUTSIDE THE DOOR (BANGKOK, THAILAND)

Asia Cutting Edge is the meeting place of the Christian movement for children at risk in Asia. It is organized by the Viva Network (http://www.viva.org). The Conference will enable leaders, decision makers and senior staff of Christian organizations and churches engaged with children to meet. It will advance work that enables children to be all they can be as God intends. Conference participants will be key drivers of the children at risk agenda in their own organizations. They include decision makers and senior staff from a wide range of organizations concerned for children, national, regional and international church leaders, child specialists, seminarians and academics. For more information on the conference, go to http://www.asia.viva.org/asiace. This is an invitation-only event: If you or a colleague would like an invitation to this event please write to the conference coordinator at asiace2007@viva.org.

 

NOVEMBER 26-30, 2007 - ISLAM AND HIV/AIDS (JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA)

The organizers of this conference, although focusing on the Islamic community, invite members of other faith traditions to participate. Sponsored by Islamic Relief Worldwide (http://www.islamic-relief.com), the conference aims to generate practical responses to the HIV and AIDS pandemic from an Islamic perspective. Recognizing that HIV/AIDS is increasingly affecting all communities, including Muslims, this conference aims to contribute to halting the spread of this disease and to ensuring appropriate care for the people who have been affected by it. It will do so by bringing together three groups in an innovative partnership: Islamic scholars (with the ability to forge change within their respective countries and communities); people who are living with HIV and AIDS (ensuring that the conference remains focused on practically addressing the realities of the disease); and HIV and AIDS practitioners, especially those from the various faith-based communities, (who can provide invaluable insights into the multiple dimensions of the disease and the practicalities of tackling its effects on individuals and communities).

For more information about the conference, go to http://islamandhivaids.org.

 

NOVEMBER 28, 2007 - DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FOR NEW INVESTIGATORS IN GLOBAL HEALTH FOR 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL HEALTH OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL

The Global Health Council invites abstract submissions for its New Investigators in Global Health (NIGH) program. The NIGH program is a competitive abstract submission and selection program designed to highlight exemplary research, policy and advocacy initiatives of new and future leaders in global health, and empower participants with global health advocacy skills. The program also provides the selected participants with the opportunity to make a presentation at a major international conference. The NIGH Program is open to all students currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program in a health-related field OR new professionals who have received their terminal degree in a health-related field within the past two years (i.e. graduating in or since May 2006).
Abstracts are sought from across the global health spectrum.

For more information about the program, go to http://www.globalhealth.org/conference/view_top.php3?id=770.

 

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 a high profile 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.

A special guest for this year's summit will be Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, who will be speaking on November 29. And Saddleback is inviting all of the leading US Presidential candidates to participate in a panel discussion on what they plan to do about the HIV and AIDS pandemic on both the global and domestic front.

Also offered this year for the first time is a choice of 6 Pre-Summit sessions on the morning of November 28. You must register for the main summit and pay an additional registration fee of $45 to attend these pre-summit sessions. A special World AIDS Day concert is planned for the evening of November 30 and a Global Youth Post-Summit session will be offered on December 1 in the morning.
 
Registration is now open but space is limited. Local hotels are offering a limited number of rooms at a special conference rate. Go to http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/HIVAIDSCommunity/GlobalConference/Initiative.htm for more information.

 

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER1, 2007 - AFRICAN HEALTH CARE WORKER SHORTAGE: FORUM ON PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONSES (DUKE UNIVERSITY, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA)

This conference is being organized by the Health Sector Management program at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business (http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/health) and the Duke Global Health Institute (http://globalhealth.duke.edu) and co-sponsored by the Global Health Workforce Alliance (a partnership, administered by WHO, http://www.who.int/workforcealliance/en). It will feature leaders from the private sector who are pursuing innovative, effective ways to respond to the pressing needs of the health workforce in Africa. Among the speakers is CCIH member Dr. Jono Quick of Management Sciences for Health and Dr. Mark Jacobson, Medical Director of the Selian Lutheran Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania.

The conference will be organized around the following topics: 

• analysis of the labor force shortage
• impact of the shortage on existing African health-oriented initiatives
• incentives and the economics of private sector involvement
• future directions and priorities

For information and to register, go to http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/health/conferences/afhcconf/index.html.

 

JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 2, 2008 - INTERNATIONAL FAITH AND DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE: FRUIT THAT LASTS (CALVIN COLLEGE, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN)

The overarching theme of the 2008 Faith and International Development Conference is sustainability. A focus will be on the key role of partnerships between the Global North and the Global South. The goal of the conference, which is co-sponsored by CCIH, is to encourage dialogue between students and development professionals about what authentic sustainability and partnership looks like and to challenge one another to cooperate more fully.

The conference schedule will be split between five plenary and five breakout sessions. Plenary sessions will cover Sustainability in community development, Ecological view of sustainability, Sustainability in health care for the poor, the contribution of business to economic sustainability, and a final panel discussion reflecting on the ideas presented throughout the conference.

More detailed information about the Calvin Conference will be available soon. The contact person for the conference is Michelle Fraser (maf8@calvin.edu).

 

APRIL 12-13, 2008 - UNITE FOR SIGHT 5th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CONFERENCE: BUILDING GLOBAL HEALTH FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW (YALE UNIVERSITY, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT)

Join 2,000 people interested in public health, global health, international development, social entrepreneurship, nonprofits, philanthropy, microfinance, medicine, human rights, anthropology, education, health policy, advocacy, public service, environmental health, and eye care. This empowering, energizing conference brings together students, doctors, nurses, Peace Corps volunteers, public health, business and nonprofit professionals, anthropologists, policy makers, philanthropists, educators, and others.

The conference will include keynote addresses by 130 experts from around the world including Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Dr. Sonia Sachs, Dr. Susan Blumenthal, and Dr. Jim Yong Kim. Registration is now available online with prices rising monthly.

For more information, go to http://uniteforsight.org/conference/2008/index.php.

 

MAY 24-26, 2008 - CCIH ANNUAL CONFERENCE: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WHOLENESS (BISHOP CLAGGETT CENTER, BUCKEYSTOWN, MARYLAND)

The CCIH Annual Conference will once again be held at the Bishop Claggett Center. The theme for 2008 - Community Health and Wholeness - celebrates the unique and important role that faith-based organizations can play in providing quality health care at the community level, where they are often the only ones working. Participants will mark the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration by taking a critical look at the track record of FBOs and the church with regard to serving the needs of communities and will discuss ways in which this service can be even more effective and appropriate in the future.

Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we share, reflect, debate and join for fellowship on May 24 - 26! The Conference planning committee will be contacting members for suggestions for topics for plenary and workshop sessions during the conference and pre-conference. For the first time, CCIH has decided to invite its members and others interested in presenting to submit abstracts to the planning committee to aid in identifying the best topics and presenters. More information on this will be available soon.

Any comments, suggestions or questions may be sent to Sharon at sfranzen@ccih.org.

 

MAY 27-31, 2008 - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL HEALTH - COMMUNITY HEALTH: DELIVERING, SERVING, ENGAGING, LEADING (OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL, WASHINGTON, DC)

Participants at the Global Health Council Conference will examine past and present approaches to community-based health care, digesting failures and successes, best practices, key players, etc. in their quest to learn to use this knowledge to move forward and scale up services to those who need it most. The GHC has put out a call for abstracts for the conference (see #16 and #26 above). CCIH encourages members of the faith community to submit abstracts so that the FBO voice of experience can be even more influential in discussions about the future.

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

 

JULY 31- AUGUST 2, 2008 - ECUMENICAL PRE-CONFERENCE TO THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE (MEXICO CITY, MEXICO)

This pre-conference, sponsored by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA - http://www.e-alliance.ch) will be attended by about 500 faith-based delegates. The EAA has played a critical role in coordinating the participation of faith-based representatives in the last three International AIDS Conferences (2002 Barcelona, 2004 Bangkok, and 2006 Toronto) and will play the same role for the 2008 IAC in Mexico City. A coordinating team is forming and specific information will be available in the coming months. Initial information may be viewed at http://www.e-alliance.ch/iac_2008.jsp.

 

AUGUST 3–8, 2008 – INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE (MEXICO CITY, MEXICO)

The International AIDS Conference is the world’s largest HIV/AIDS forum, with over 20,000 participants, including 2,500 journalists. As the first International AIDS Conference to be held in Latin America, the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) is expected to increase awareness of the disease and its impact throughout the region. Planning for AIDS 2008 is now underway, with planning committees organized along the three main program areas: the Scientific Program, the Community Program and the Leadership Program. Organizers are committed to creating a far-reaching program featuring the latest developments in HIV research, prevention and treatment, with continued attention given to the dangers of HIV-related stigma, discrimination and misinformation.

Plans are underway for a Christian Pre-conference. More information about this event will be posted as soon as it is available.

For further information about the conference, go to http://www.aids2008.org. For information about the International AIDS Society, go to http://www.iasociety.org.

 

SEPTEMBER 7-10, 2008 - INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN MEDICAL AND DENTAL ASSOCIATION HIV INITIATIVE EURASIA REGIONAL CONFERENCE (GRAZ, AUSTRIA)

The Eurasia regional conference of CCIH member ICMDA will draw together doctors and AIDS activities from the churches across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. A call for papers will go out soon. For further information about the conference, go to http://www.icmda2008.archae.at and http://www.icmdahivinitiative.org or contact Michael Burke at team@icmdahivinitiative.org.

 

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

The 15th ICASA Conference, originally scheduled to be held in Gabon in 2007, will now be held in Senegal in December 2008. With more than 5,000 delegates from across the globe, ICASA 2008 will be organized by the Society on AIDS in Africa (SAA) under the patronage of the Government of Senegal. The initial planning has already begun. Keep an eye on the conference website, http://www.icasadakar2008.org, for further information.

The Pan African Christian AIDS Network (PACANet - http://www.pacanet.net) will most likely be organizing a Christian Pre-conference for this event.

 

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

HARVARD RESEARCH PROGRAM ON HIV PREVENTION HAS NEW WEBSITE    

The AIDS Prevention Research Project (APRP) at the Harvard University Center for Population and Development Studies has just gone online with a stand-alone website.  It is http://www.harvardaidsprp.org. Those wishing to sign up for the APRP newsletter may do so online at the homepage.

Many CCIH members know and appreciate the work of the Project's director, Dr. Edward C. (Ted) Green.  He has presented at several CCIH annual meetings about his research on Uganda's success in reducing HIV transmission with a strong emphasis on promoting reduction of sexual partners, referred to in Uganda as "zero grazing," and delayed sexual debut or abstinence to young people, in addition to the use of condoms for high risk sex.  He has been a champion of this "ABC" (Abstain, Be faithful, or use Condoms) approach and has advocated this strategy in many appearances before the U.S. Congress and as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council for HIV/AIDS (PACHA), to which he was appointed in 2003.  Ted has also researched and written about the role of faith-based organizations in health, specifically in HIV prevention.

Many CCIH members also know Allison Herling Ruark who was CCIH's first Program Associate in 2005 and helped conceptualize and create the monthly bulletin to CCIH members. Allison serves as a Research Fellow in the Center, focusing on youth and women, specifically youth sexual behavior and the timing of sexual debut, the transition to adulthood among adolescents, links between youth and adult sexual behavior, HIV risk within marriage, and the vulnerability of women to HIV.

Ted and Allison were the authors of CCIH's publication, The ABC approach to preventing the sexual transmission of HIV: Common questions and answers. It can be purchased online through the bookstore of SIM-USA for $5 plus shipping and handling. Go to http://store.sim.org/catpgN3.htm, jump to page 3, and scroll down to find the volume, and order and pay online. If this doesn't work, email literature@sim.org, or phone 704-587-1435.  Multiple copies for distribution overseas can be obtained free by contacting ccih@ccih.org.

The Harvard AIDS Prevention Research Project was established to support evidence-based research on the impact of behavioral approaches in reducing the transmission of HIV worldwide. The Project investigates documented HIV prevention successes, as well as other promising behavior-based approaches, to help guide the development of evidence-based models of behavior change for both generalized and concentrated epidemics. The APR Project is supported by the John Templeton Foundation (http://www.templeton.org).

The pivotal role of partner reduction in reducing HIV prevalence in generalized epidemics will be investigated, as well as other prevention strategies that have been shown successful, such as the ABC approach used in Uganda and elsewhere. This Project also seeks to promote a deeper understanding of the influence that spirituality, beliefs and values, such as respect and responsibility, can have on human behavior and health, especially with regard to the AIDS pandemic.

 

CATHOLIC CHURCH AN EARLY RESPONDER TO THE AIDS PANDEMIC

During the quarter century history of the AIDS pandemic, many Christian communities were slow in mobilizing to focus on this emerging global crisis; however, the Catholic Church was in the forefront of a faith response. Some perspectives are contained in a report to the 18th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis, http://www.caritas.org, a confederation of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories.

CCIH member Catholic Relief Services, http://www.crs.org, is a U.S. member of this global confederation.

The report, entitled Action in Response to the HIV Pandemic 2003-2007, states that “the Caritas response to HIV and AIDS is grounded in the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church which mandates the Catholic faithful and Church-related institutions and agencies to read the ‘signs of the times’ in order to accompany the most vulnerable and marginalized persons found in contemporary society.” It is “based on the social teaching of the Church, which focuses on the dignity of the human person.”

The report was prepared by the Rev. Robert J. Vitillo, Bobvitillo@cs.com, a friend of CCIH and Special Advisor on HIV and AIDS to Caritas Internationalis. It states that:

“Caritas Internationalis has contributed significantly to the global response to HIV in the following ways:

• by disseminating information and educational opportunities about HIV and AIDS among its member organizations and other Church structures in all parts of the world;
• by promoting solidarity in support of HIV care, support, treatment, and prevention programmes sponsored by Caritas and other Catholic structures in developing countries;
• by advocating on the global, national, and local levels for a more comprehensive laws and policies to assure full access to care, treatment, support and education among those living with and/or affected by the pandemic;
• by discouraging stigma and discrimination and encouraging compassionate, nonjudgmental care and attention toward those who directly know the impact of HIV.”

Fr. Vitillo authored a Best Practice book on the Catholic Church response to HIV in Southern Africa, published by UNAIDS in December 2006 (see http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0107.htm#5). The 79-page paper, entitled A Faith-Based Response to HIV in Southern Africa: the Choose to Care Initiative, is accessible online at http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2006/jc1281-choosetocare_en.pdf.

Fr. Vitillo has been a prominent voice in international circles for the importance of faith-based organizations in the global response to AIDS. He maintains that faith-based organizations are often undervalued or misrepresented in their work, pointing out that WHO estimates that one-fifth of all organizations engaged in HIV programming are faith-based. He laments that despite the prominent role of FBOs, they receive only a tiny fraction of funding from donors. He advocates for changing the decision-making processes for allocation of donor resources so that the potential of FBOs to scale up their activities is effectively exploited.

For a copy of Action in Response to the HIV Pandemic 2003-2007, please contact Ray Martin at martinrs@aol.com.

 

DONORS PLEDGE $9.7 BILLION TO GLOBAL FUND BUT CRITICS SAY MORE IS NEEDED

In a meeting in Berlin September 26-28, donors pledged $9.7 billion for 2008-2010 in the second replenishment round of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (http://www.theglobalfund.org). More than 50 delegations from donor countries, the private sector, civil society and UN partner organizations attended the session which was chaired by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The Global Fund press release on the meeting can be found at http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/media_center/press/pr_070927.asp. A press release by the Friends of the Global Fight, a US-based group that works to educate, engage, and mobilize Americans in the fight to end the worldwide burden of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, can be found at http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0907files/Press_Release_Friends_of_the_Global_Fight_0907.doc.

While Annan and others praised the amount pledged, which represents significant increases for some countries, critics were disappointed. The pledges fall short of the $12-$18 billion needed to meet the needs of existing programs and to fund new ones. A third replenishment meeting will be held in early 2008 and the funding gap will need to be made up then. News articles covering the replenishment meetings can be found at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27325989.htm and http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=47819.

CCIH has been a leader in a dialogue between the faith-based communities and the Global Fund. It has encouraged Global Fund officials to listen to the comments and experiences of people of faith and to make an increased effort to ensure that FBOs receive a larger portion of Global Fund money. CCIH has also challenged faith organizations to raise the bar on their GF proposals and has encouraged them to work together to improve the quality of their proposals and their chances of receiving grants. In May 2007, CCIH co-sponsored a luncheon meeting with Global Fund Executive Director, Dr. Michael Kazatchkine, which was attended by about 75 members of the faith community and others. During that meeting, a manual designed to serve as a guide for FBOs and other community-based groups on the Global Fund’s structures and policies was launched. The manual, Engaging With The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria: A Primer for Faith-Based Organizations, is available on the CCIH website at http://www.ccih.org/Global_Fund/FBO.Manual.pdf. It was co-authored by CCIH Board President Dr. Milton Amayun, and was published by CCIH, Friends of the Global Fight and World Vision. For more information about the May meeting, go to http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0607.htm#6.

A CCIH Working Group on the Global Fund has been established. To subscribe to its listserv, send a blank email to globalfund-join@ccih.org. For more information, contact its chair, Dr. Milton Amayun, at iaimilton@aol.com.

 

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN CHILD SURVIVAL – CHILD DEATHS FALL BELOW 10 MILLION FOR FIRST TIME

Many CCIH members are involved in programs to reduce infant and child deaths and to promote child health. Although the number of children still dying of easily preventable diseases is still unconscionably high because child survival interventions are not reaching them, some progress is being made.

UNICEF reported in a September 13 press release (http://www.unicef.org/media/media_40855.html) that global under-five deaths have reached a record low, falling below 10 million for the first time. Current annual child deaths of 9.7 million are down 25 percent from the 1990 level of almost 13 million.

This achievement is both a cause for celebration and a call for all of us to redouble our efforts, since about 2/3 of those deaths could be prevented with already available, relatively low-cost, interventions.

"This is an historic moment," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman. "More children are surviving today than ever before. Now we must build on this public health success to push for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals." Among these goals is a commitment to a two-thirds reduction in child mortality between 1990 and 2015, a result which would save an additional 5.4 million children by 2015.

CCIH is active in the child survival issue. Executive Director Ray Martin serves on the steering committee of the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival, http://www.child-survival.org/, which advocates for greater U.S. commitment for child survival, including the new Global Child Survival Act to be introduced into the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

To learn more about these issues, or how you can add your voice, contact the Coalition or Ray. CCIH members interested in child survival are invited to join the Coalition by going to its website or contacting Ray at martinrs@aol.com. The following CCIH members are already Coalition members:

• Christian Connections for International Health
• Food for the Hungry
• Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church
• LifeRise AIDS Resources
• World Relief
• World Vision

 

CHILD MARRIAGE STILL AN ISSUE FOR THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY

In October 2006 CCIH highlighted the issue of child marriage. A year later the issue has not gone away. An estimated 51 million girls in the developing world are married before the age of 18, even though the practice is actually illegal in many countries. At present trends this number will blossom in the next decade to 150 million. Child marriage is most common in Sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South Asia and the Middle East. In Ethiopia's Amhara region about half of all girls are married before the age of 14. Most do not know their husbands before marriage and more than two-thirds of them have their sexual initiation within marriage before their first menstrual period. In Bangladesh two out of five girls between the ages of 14 and 17 are married. The numbers are not much different in Mali, Nigeria, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic and many other countries.

Child marriage

• violates the sanctity of the sacrament of marriage, since most such marriages are forced, often for a bride price;
• violates the rights of children and childhood;
• violates the rights of girls and women;
• has negative effects on the health of young girls, including significantly increased risk of maternal death, infant mortality, complications from childbirth such as obstetric fistula and contracting sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, from their (usually) much older husbands who may have had, or continue to have, multiple sexual partners;
• generally condemns young girls to a life of poverty, poor health, low literacy, and even violence at the hands of their husband or in-laws;
• usually creates a situation where young married girls have few social connections, restricted mobility, limited control over resources, and little power in their new households.

These are the facts - but why should people of faith be concerned about this? FBOs work to improve living conditions among the poor, to ensure that basic health care is available and to protect basic human rights. They spend millions of dollars on projects to improve the availability of food and water, to support educational opportunities, to promote community and individual self-worth, and to improve the chances that such changes will be sustainable. And most importantly they proclaim and show God's unconditional love. In the midst of all of this, how can the effects of child marriage, which jeopardize the success of these efforts, be tolerated?

In many ways the faith-based community is uniquely situated to influence communities on the issue of child marriage. Religious leaders and organizations across a range of faiths can play a very significant role in helping to end the practice of child marriage because

• they perform marriage ceremonies and set standards for acceptable unions;
• they have an already established network of activities and partners and a rich history of reaching out to even the most isolated populations;
• they are trusted and respected by their communities and have tremendous influence over what is and is not acceptable behavior;
• they are good at organizing and mobilizing their populations;
• they are involved in all aspects of life, being present at the important transitions in life – birth, name celebrations, confirmations, marriage, illnesses, death, etc. – and so have many opportunities to raise life-affirming issues;
• they are entrusted by their communities to provide leadership in moral issues,
• on a practical level, their local knowledge, extensive networks and position in the community enable them to address the realities of the poverty and hopelessness that lead families to see child marriage as an attractive, and usually an only, option.

What can be done, then, to tackle this issue? Education. Advocacy. Integrating elements within projects that discourage child marriage and that address the needs of those already married. Influencing local, national and international attitudes and policies. There is a wealth of information available on Child Marriage:

• Many organizations promote education and advocacy on child marriage. Some are: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW-http://www.icrw.org/html/getinvolved/advocacy-childmarriage.htm#tools), the Population Council (http://www.popcouncil.org/ta/mar.html), the International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC-http://www.iwhc.org/resources/childmarriagefacts.cfm) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF- http://www.unicef.org/protection/index_earlymarriage.html).
• A quick web search on "child marriage" will turn up many websites to visit.
• On October 12, 2007 a special broadcast from NOW on PBS will air nationally about the child marriage issue. Check local listings for times. A Washington DC reception will take place on October 9th to highlight this film. This invitation to this reception can be found at http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0907files/NOW_Reception_Oct9_WashDC.pdf.

A major effort for ICRW at the moment is building support for child marriage bills currently before the US Congress: H.R. 3175, The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2007, introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) The bill would provide U.S. assistance to prevent child marriage in countries with high prevalence rates by integrating prevention programs into existing development and democracy-building programs. Additionally, it would scale up innovative community-based efforts offering viable alternatives to early marriage. For information on the bill go to http://www.icrw.org/docs/Advocacy/2007_houseCMbill.pdf. In the Senate, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced S. 1998 that would will help ensure that U.S. assistance supports and builds on efforts to help eradicate child marriage in our lifetimes as well as ensure greater success in other international development efforts.  The bipartisan bill has the support of six co-sponsors. For information on the bill go to http://www.icrw.org/docs/Advocacy/2007_senateCMbill.pdf. ICRW is encouraging individuals to contact their members of Congress to request that they sign on to these bills. It is also collecting organizational endorsements for the bills. For further information on this, go to http://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:3404.743667228/rid:7f44b518694143cf36e4324205b7e12e. For further information, contact ICRW's Senior Policy Advocate, Kathy Selvaggio at kselvaggio@icrw.org.

CCIH welcomes comments and suggestions regarding what the response of the faith-based community to the child marriage issue should be. Please contact Sharon (sfranzen@ccih.org) or Ray (martinrs@aol.com).

 

HELPING PEPFAR COUNTRY TEAMS AND NEW PARTNERS FIND EACH OTHER: PARTICIPATORY MAPPING TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY- AND FAITH-BASED SERVICE DELIVERY

This is the title of a paper produced by the Bureau of Intelligence and Research in the U.S. State Department. It argues that PEPFAR teams in-country should make an effort to systematically identify local community and faith-based assets in the fight against AIDS so as to most effectively support and strengthen them to scale up the response to AIDS.  It encourages country teams to seek help from PEPFAR headquarters for developing participatory geographic information systems (PGIS).  The paper cites two projects that CCIH has been involved in to some degree: the Tanzania mapping coordinated by CCIH member the Christian Social Services Commission (http://www.cssc.or.tz), and the WHO-funded Lesotho/Zambia mapping conducted by the Africa Religious Health Assets Mapping project, reported extensively in the February 2007 CCIH monthly bulletin (http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0207.htm#13). The paper also cites CCIH's mapping project, the Global Religious Health Assets Mapping project (GRHAM -  http://www.ccih.org/grham).

The author of this paper in the State Department, who would welcome hearing about any mapping activities that CCIH members are aware of is, Nathan Heard, Senior Public Health Project Manager, Humanitarian Information Unit, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, US Department of State. He can be reached at HeardNJ@state.gov or by telephone at 202-203-7788. To view the three page paper, go to http://www.ccih.org/bulletin/0907files/NateHeard_US_State_Dept_PEPFAR_and_New_Partners.doc.

 

INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY SOLICITS PROPOSALS FOR RESEARCH TRUST SCHOLARSHIPS

This year the International AIDS Society (IAS) is again working with the UK-based HIV Research Trust to promote their 2008 competition for research training scholarships. These scholarships are for physicians, nurses, scientists, and other health care professionals who are undertaking research in resource poor settings. The award is used to develop a candidate's career and, on return to the home institution, add to the capacity of their department to carry out research related to treatment and prevention.

Examples of acquired skills might be clinical trial experience, good clinical trial practice, data and trial
management, acquisition of laboratory techniques and analyses, trial nurse skills, statistical expertise,
aspects of ethics, economics, education and health behavior. 

The scholarships are usually for a period of 3-6 months depending on the nature of the proposal.
Approximately US$1,200 a month will be available to cover return travel and subsistence while carrying out the research project with an additional sum (maximum US$2,000) to cover consumables and other additional expenses incurred by the hosting unit. This year, the top-scoring grantee will also receive a scholarship to attend the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) in Mexico City.

The deadline for submission of applications is October 31, 2007. For more information go to the HIV Research Trust website at http://www.hivresearchtrust.org.uk or visit the IAS website at http://www.iasociety.org/Default.aspx?pageId=109.

 

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

HHS/CDC RFA: IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS FOR THE PREVENTION, CARE AND TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA UNDER THE PRESIDENT’S EMERGENCY PLAN FOR AIDS RELIEF (PEPFAR) NEW

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-PS07-730

Estimated Total Program Funding: $8,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Application: October 4, 2007

HHS/Nigeria, in conjunction with other U.S. Government agencies, is supporting the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the expansion of HIV prevention, care and treatment throughout the country.  The purpose of this announcement is to engage new partners that are currently working in Nigeria, as well as indigenous organizations, to continue to expand such interventions.  This program announcement covers a wide range of activities.  Individual applicants may, but do not have to, respond to all outcomes described in this announcement.  Applicants should focus only on program areas in which they have existing expertise and experience.  HHS anticipates making approximately four awards through this announcement.

For more information, go to http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=15242&flag2006=true&mode=VIEW.

 

HHS/CDC RFA: PROVISION OF FULL-ACCESS, HOME-BASED, CONFIDENTIAL HIV COUNSELING AND TESTING AND BASIC CARE IN HIGH HIV-PREVALENCE DISTRICTS IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA UNDER PEPFAR NEW

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-PS07-736

Estimated Total Program Funding:$925,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Application: October 5, 2007

 

The purpose of the program is to provide 100 percent access to confidential, home-based, HIV counseling and testing in selected high HIV-prevalence Districts in the central region of Uganda.

 

For more information, go to http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=15447&flag2006=true&mode=VIEW.

 

USAID TANZANIA RFA: CHANNELING MEN’S POSITIVE INVOLVEMENT IN A NATIONAL HIV/AIDS RESPONSE (CHAMPION) NEW

Funding Opportunity Number: USAID-TANZANIA-07-008-RFA

Estimated Total Program Funding: $16,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Application: October 15, 2007

 

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to solicit applications from organizations interested in working with the United States Agency for International Development in Tanzania (USAID/Tanzania) to slow and prevent new HIV infections in Tanzania by focusing on men and their roles, attitudes and behavior. The goals of the CHAMPION project (Channeling Men’s Positive Involvement in a National HIV/AIDS Response) are to: 1) Promote partner reduction and fidelity and reduce high-risk behaviors. 2) Promote supportive social norms that discourage multiple partnering, violence, and sexual coercion. 3) Promote positive health-seeking behavior by men, including male participation in health services and in the national HIV/AIDS response.

 

For more information, go to http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=15510&flag2006=true&mode=VIEW.

 

USAID ZIMBABWE RFA: ORPHANS AND OTHER VULNERABLE CHILDREN PROJECT NEW DEADLINE ANNOUNCED

Funding Opportunity Number: 690-07-015

Estimated Total Program Funding: $11,750,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Application: October 22, 2007

 

The United States Agency for International Development in Zimbabwe (USAID/Zimbabwe) plans to award a new five-year bilateral cooperative agreement for orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) activities. The new project will build on lessons learned through the implementation of the USAID-funded Support to Replicable Innovative Village/Community Level Efforts for Vulnerable Children (STRIVE) Project. The overall goal of the new project is to reduce the vulnerability and improve the well-being of Zimbabwe’s OVC by increasing resources for community-driven efforts.

 

For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=15324&mode=VIEW.

 

DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: AFRICAN HEALTH INITIATIVE NEW

Estimated Total Funding: $8 -20 million over five to seven years with some smaller complimentary grants

Closing Date for Letters of Interest: November 15, 2007

 

The African Health Initiative seeks to catalyze significant advances in strengthening health systems by supporting partnerships that will design, implement and evaluate large-scale models of care that link implementation research and workforce training directly to the delivery of integrated primary health care. A hoped for outcome is a shift in current public health focus from single-disease programs to an emphasis on strengthening health systems to effectively deliver integrated primary care to underserved populations. The initiative will focus on the following countries: Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia. It will support the creation of up to six Population Health Implementation and Training (PHIT) Partnerships, each of which will:

• Provide integrated primary health care and achieve significant, measurable health improvements for underserved communities of at least 250,000 people;
• Strengthen health systems in a manner that enables local and national governments to sustain improvements beyond the grant period;
• Increase the knowledge available for evidence-based health systems planning through rigorous operations and implementation research.

For more information, go to http://www.ddcf.org/page.asp?pageId=720. For a summary of the grant, go to http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=190200038.

 

 

 

USAID APS: ANNUAL PROGRAM STATEMENT ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE NEW TO THIS LIST

Funding Opportunity Number: M-OAA-EGAT-WID-07-248

Award Ceiling: $500,000

Award Floor; $300,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

Closing Date for Application: June 12, 2008

 

The purpose of this Annual Program Statement (APS) is to solicit applications for funding for activities in support of creative and timely responses to encourage the abandonment of traditional practices that promote and condone gender-based violence. USAID is specifically interested in those traditional harmful practices that have received limited attention from the development community. The geographic focus under consideration is USAID’s geographic definitions of Africa and Asia & the Near East (ANE).

For more information, go to http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=14451&flag2006=true&mode=VIEW.

 

PREVIOUS LISTINGS

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

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

Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,000,000

Funding Instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

 

This is a Notice of Intent to publish a Request for Application (RFA), which is anticipated in late September or October 2007 with an award granted in December 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.