By: Mariko Rasmussen, Communications Specialist at Women Deliver
In Lesotho, community health workers are saving lives, one mother at a time. Lesotho is a small Southern African country that faces numerous development challenges. There is a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS – nearly 1 in 4 adults is HIV positive – and there are high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. The mountainous terrain makes it difficult for many people, especially pregnant women, to reach healthcare services. Partners In Health (PIH), with support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation, began a pilot project in 2009 to increase services to pregnant women in the area surrounding the Bobete health center and reverse this problem. Read more...
Updates
Celebrate Solutions: Training Community Health Workers in Lesotho
May 16th, 2011
As Population Hits 7 Billion, UNFPA Focuses on Youth
February 22nd, 2011
By: Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund
This year, world population will hit 7 billion. With this major milestone occurring in my first year as Executive Director of UNFPA, I have an interesting and unique opportunity in leading the organization’s priorities.
One major focus will be today’s large generation of young people. There are an estimated 1.8 billion adolescents and youth aged 10 to 24, accounting for nearly a quarter of the planet's population. Just below 90 per cent of them live in developing countries and that proportion will increase during the next 20 years. They want freedom, participation and dignity and their decisions will define the future. Read more...
Harper Government Announces New Maternal, Newborn and Children Health Initiatives
February 1st, 2011
Last week, at the first meeting of the Information and Accountability Commission on Women’s and Children’s Health, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced support for new development projects that will save the lives and improve the health of mothers and children in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Bangladesh, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to the G-8 Muskoka Initiative. Read more...
11 Actions to Take for World AIDS Day 2010
December 1st, 2010
By: Joanna Hoffman, Program Associate for Women Deliver
Today marks World AIDS Day, and with it comes reflections over both progress made and what lays ahead in preventing HIV/AIDS transmission, exploring treatment options for those infected, and removing stigma and discrimination from the disease. A new report by UNAIDS provides ground-breaking data from 182 countries, and is hailed by the Director of the World Bank’s Global HIV/AIDS Program, Dr. David Wilson, as “one of the most encouraging and substantive reports on the course of the epidemic we’ve seen in years.” Read more...
Celebrate Solutions: The ACQUIRE Project in Tanzania
November 22nd, 2010
By: Mariko Rasmussen, Program Assistant at Women Deliver
The Eastern African country of Tanzania borders the Indian Ocean and sits between Kenya and Mozambique. Much of the population lives in rural areas and the maternal mortality ratio in 2008 was 790 deaths per 100,000 live births. Although contraceptive prevalence in Tanzania has increased over the last few decades, unmet need remains high, and one result of high unmet need is the problem of unsafe abortion, which contributes significantly to maternal deaths. A project that has been working to improve maternal health in Tanzania is doing so by advancing and supporting the availability, quality, and use of facility based reproductive health and family planning services. The ACQUIRE Project – Access, Quality, and Use in Reproductive Health – was a five year global project funded by USAID beginning in 2003. While global work ended in 2008, work continues in several countries around the world, including Tanzania, through USAID Associate Awards. Read more...
Despite Progress, Universal Access to HIV Medicine Still Out of Reach
September 28th, 2010
Earlier today, WHO, UNICEF and UNAIDS launched the report Towards universal access, the fourth report tracking progress made towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care by the end of 2010. Significant strides have been made in the past year, particularly among the low and middle income countries:
- 15 countries provided more than 80% of HIV-positive pregnant women with the services and medicines needed to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission;
- 14 countries provided HIV treatment to more than 80% of HIV-positive children ;
- Eight countries have achieved universal access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) for adults.
Read more...
Women Deliver and Partners Urge Delegates to Act on the MDGs
September 20th, 2010
Read the FULL REPORT from the Accelerating Action on the MDGs event.
Ahead of the opening of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit at the UN in New York City, General Assembly delegates gathered yesterday for a dialogue with bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), First Ladies, youth leaders and the private sector on how to secure the resources and political will needed to achieve the MDGs—with specific focus on delivering solutions for women, girls and babies. (Download photos from the event)
The brunch, “Accelerating Action on the MDGs: Delivering for Girls, Women, and Babies,” was co-hosted by Women Deliver, and several UN, NGO, and foundation partner organizations. Read more...
A Silent Phenomenon Spreads HIV
August 19th, 2010
By: Robert Mukondiwa, one of the Women Deliver 100 Young Leaders, and journalist in Zimbabwe, originally posted at Conversations for a Better World
Young sex workers in rural Zimbabwe have embarked on a fatal path that increases their likelihood of contracting and spreading HIV. Poverty and a lack of information intensify the problem, but instead of embracing the challenge with effective solutions, many are turning away in denial... Read more of Robert's story and join the conversation.
Stigma and Discrimination Surrounding HIV/AIDS
August 18th, 2010
By: Angella Musiimenta, one of the Women Deliver 100 Young Leaders, from Uganda; orginally posted at Conversations for a Better World
A young woman in Uganda contracts HIV/AIDS and faces relentless prejudice that alters every aspect of her life. She is only one of the millions of young people whose physical challenges are multiplied by the cruelties of social discrimination. Read Angella's blog and discuss how stigma affects young women.
Integration of Migration – Embracing the Newcomers
August 18th, 2010
By: Emily Akullu, one of Women Deliver's 100 Young Leaders and Deputy Resident District Commissioner from Uganda; originally posted at Conversations for a Better World
Ongoing migration is a reality. The goal is not to end migration, but to value, respect and integrate the people who leave their homes in search of resources and safety. Read more... and discuss how migration affects girls and women, especially pregnant girls and women.
Many Hands: How to Reach HIV Positive Youth
August 16th, 2010
By: Diana Sera, one of Women Deliver's 100 Young Leaders and Monitoring & Evaluation Manager of Northern Uganda Malaria AIDS & Tuberculosis Program (NUMAT). Originally posted at Conversations for a Better World.
HIV positive youth encounter profound and varied challenges. We say we want to help, yet we continually let them down when we don’t provide the services they need. It’s a growing problem without a single solution. NUMAT is one of many organizations that is serving the underserved through a layered approach that supports, nurtures and strengthens the youth whose lives have been redefined by HIV.
Ten years ago, I took an HIV test. I was motivated to take the test because I lost my closest relative to HIV. Knowing my own HIV status has empowered me to make informed decisions about my life and to reach out to my family and peers to encourage them to get tested early too. While at school, some of my peers were HIV positive and faced a number of challenges, including stigma and discrimination, and many didn’t know how to find youth-friendly HIV services. All of the above inspired me to join an organization that aims to fulfill the needs of HIV positive youth. Read more...
New Microbicide Gel May Allow Women to Protect Themselves
July 20th, 2010
A new study shows that topical application of a microbicide before and after sex reduced transmission of HIV by 39% and transmission of herpes by 51%, according to an article published in Science magazine. Those who used the gel most regularly reduced their chances of HIV infection by 54%. Unlike other microbicides, which have been shown to be ineffective, this new product contains tenofovir, an anti-retroviral medication used to treat HIV/AIDS patients.
Annie Lennox Appointed as International UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador
June 2nd, 2010
In her new role as International UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, Ms Lennox will be in Washington D.C. with Mr Sidibé, from the 7-9 of June to participate in the Women Deliver 2010 conference and 2010 Global Business Coalition conference. She will use these events to advocate for a global movement to focus on the HIV-specific needs of women and girls as well as to empower women and girls so that they can better protect themselves from HIV.
Originally posted at UNAIDS.
Geneva, 2 June 2010 – The world renowned Scottish singer songwriter and women’s activist Annie Lennox has been named as International Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). With an award winning career spanning several decades, Ms. Lennox is one of the world’s most outstanding musical voices. Now, she renews her commitment to speak out for women and girls affected by the HIV epidemic.
World AIDS Day 2009
December 1st, 2009
“The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is Universal Access and Human Rights. For me, that means doing everything we can to support countries to reach their universal access goals for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support - all the while protecting and promoting human rights.”
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé
2009 World AIDS Day message
Women Deliver: A Global Conference To End Maternal Deaths
November 30th, 2009
Women Deliver, a landmark global conference, will be held in Washington DC on June 7-9, 2010 to halt the needless deaths of over 500,000 girls and women who die every year during pregnancy and childbirth, and the four million newborn babies. These tragic deaths are a major contributor to poverty around the world, and can be easily prevented with effective, low-cost investments.
Health Systems are Failing the World’s Women
November 20th, 2009
Despite progress, health system shortfalls and gender discrimination are severely impacting women’s health worldwide, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report Women and Health: Today’s Evidence, Tomorrow’s Agenda.
Event: Advancing Policy Dialogue on Maternal Health
November 18th, 2009
The Maternal Health Task Force has been working with the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Global Health Initiative and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to create a series of events on Advancing Policy Dialogue on Maternal Health. The first event will occur next month on December 3 from 12PM to 2PM in Washington D.C. at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The topic is the integration of HIV/AIDS and maternal health services. We encourage you to attend. If you are unable to attend the event in person, a live webcast will be broadcasted (and archived for later viewing) at www.wilsoncenter.org.
FIGO Launches Report on Maternal and Infant Deaths
October 8th, 2009
Cape Town, South Africa – More than two million infants and women die worldwide each year from childbirth complications, outnumbering child deaths from malaria and HIV/AIDS, according to a new study released at the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) world congress.
Top Ten of 2008
January 6th, 2009
Beth Fredrick wrote a REALLY great post today on RH Reality Check of the top ten wins for women's health for 2008. We've copied the quick list below, but click here to read the full details and her opinion of "what's next."
HIV in Marriage
December 12th, 2008
Late last month, Population Action International (PAI) showed the world premiere of their documentary The Silent Partner: HIV in Marriage. The screening drew more than 170 community leaders, members of the media, and local and international advocates together in Nairobi, Kenya.