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CS4ME, GFAN AFRICA, GFAN AP and SEVEN ALLIANCE HOST A HYBRID WEBINAR TO ACHIEVE UHC BY 2030
In the city of Bangkok, a hybrid event unfolded on December 13, 2023, as the Global Fund Advocates Network Asia-Pacific (GFAN AP), Seven Alliance, and GFAN Africa collaborated to host a webinar. This unique gathering brought together representatives from diverse backgrounds, both physically in Bangkok and virtually online, to engage in crucial discussions surrounding Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and its implications for combating HIV, TB, and malaria. The event commenced with an insightful opening session led by facilitator Ruth Morgan Thomas. The agenda, carefully crafted, aimed to address the pressing issues outlined in the UN Political Declaration on UHC adopted in September 2022. This declaration emphasized the fundamental human right to health and set ambitious goals for achieving UHC by 2030. Marijke Wijnroks, Head of Strategic Investment and Impact Division at the Global Fund, took the virtual stage as the keynote speaker. Her address delved into the current investments and the Global Fund’s commitment to community-led responses and UHC. The importance of community-led monitoring emerged as a central theme, echoing the global need for collaborative efforts in achieving health equity.
A highlight of the event was the interactive dialogue featuring representatives from key populations and policymakers. Four key population representatives, nominated by Seven Alliance, along with community voices from malaria and TB communities, engaged in a dynamic conversation. The dialogue, spanning 80 minutes, allowed community members to voice their concerns, prompting policymakers to respond to the issues raised. This inclusive approach demonstrated a commitment to amplifying diverse voices in shaping health policies. The event featured a lineup of speakers from different corners of the world, each offering a unique perspective on UHC. From the experiences of a youth representative to the insights of policymakers like Dr. Yupadee Sirisinsuk from the Thai National Health Security Office, the global community witnessed the collaborative spirit necessary for achieving UHC. The event highlighted the persistent challenges in achieving UHC, particularly for populations affected by HIV, TB, and malaria. Funding gaps, geopolitical tensions, and escalating threats to human rights underscored the urgency for a unified global response. The event brought attention to the need for increased investments and multilateral collaboration to address these challenges.
The organizers envisioned a dynamic hybrid event that allowed participants from the Second Regional Workshop on Community-Led Monitoring to join in person, while also welcoming online attendees from Asia-Pacific and beyond. Interpretation services in five languages ensured inclusivity and broad participation. As the hybrid event concluded, it left a lasting impact on the global health advocacy landscape. The discussions in Bangkok, coupled with online participation, created a platform for collaborative action. The commitment to UHC, community-led responses, and addressing funding gaps echoed a shared vision for a healthier and more equitable world. The success of this hybrid event serves as a testament to the power of bringing together diverse voices to drive change on a global scale.
“Diseases like HIV, TB and malaria have exposed the faultlines within our societies. Key Populations such as gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people who inject drugs and people who are in prison and their partners continue to be diproportionately affected. ”
In her keynote speech, Marijke Wijnroks, Head of Strategic Investment and Impact Division at the Global Fund starts with shedding a light to stigma and discrimination, criminalisation and other harmful policies that affects the rights of Key Populations, adding the role of inequality and poverty that affects health and accessing healthcare services. Due to these factors, two-thirds of people affected by drug resistant TB are not able to access treatment. “It takes universal health coverage to end inequalities and end HIV, TB and malaria”, Marijke added, the citical role of gender equality and human rights must be at the forefront of the UHC efforts. The Global Fund as a partner of the UHC 2030 movement works to advance better health and human rights. Since its establishment, the Global Fund has committed to put human rights and communities and the centre and forefront of its interventions. The Global Fund 2023-2028 startegy recognises the role of communities and human rights to truly end HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria by 2030. (0:6:40 – 0:16:25)
After the impactful beginning to the webinar, the most anticipated session came into action – conversation between communities and government officials regarding UHC and ending HIV, TB and malaria: by community-led responses. The community panelists included: Abou Mere from India, Evaline Kibuchi from Kenya, Gisèle Takalea from Côte d’Ivoire, Hua from Thailand, Rito Hermawan from Indonesia and Sara Thapa Magar from Nepal. Joining in, representing governments and parliamentarians were Hon Peter Njume, Member of Parliament (MP), National Assembly Cameroon and Dr Yupadee Sirisinsuk, Deputy Secretary General National Health Security Office, Thailand. Below are few takeaways from the panel discussion:
“The Right to Health including, non discrimination and gender equality is a gap in each and every country. We need to sensitise healthcare providers and train them on the needs of key populations, but that is not enough, we also need to train community members about their own rights. Further there are additional two major gaps – 1) comprehensive SRHR services; and 2) mental health. We have community members committing suicide and we need to address that via mental health services incorporated in HIV/TB/malaria responses.”
“Sex workers still do not have national IDs in order to access social security and health insurance. Many of the sex workers in Indonesia are migrants, migrating from one city to another, and they lose their ID cards in the process sometimes. The impact of which becomes, them not being able to access healthcare services. There are also social and cultural barriers leading to difficulty in accessing contraceptives, since its only given to those who are married. Many sex workers in Indonesia are single parents.”
“I want to introduce you to the four A’s which will help improve healthcare access for transgender people. 1) Accessibility: in the sense of attitude, because the attitude of the healthcare provider is very important; 2) Availability: gender-affirming care and all transitioning services should be available to transgender people; 3) Affordibility: transgender people have to pay a lot out of their own pockets when they access gender-affirming care and many times can’t avail the highest standard of services – which everyone deserves to get; and 4) Awareness: knowledge owners like healthcare providers do not make an effort to explain to the communities the hard to understand lingo because of which knowledge and awareness becomes limited.”
“The major issues of people affected by malaria are accessing treatment. Healthcare facilities should be closer to people. It is true that Global Fund has been a huge support in Côte d’Ivoire but that can not be enough – we need more domestic resources. We’ve sent letters to MPs for the same too. We need our own funds to achieve #TheUHCThatWeNeed”
“We have been working with the communities. The communities and CS have been doing a great job says hon Peter Njume MP from Cameroon while recommitting to the goal of achieving #TheUHCthatWeNeed by 2030.”
“To acheive Universal Health Coverage and actually put communities in the centre – we need to decriminalise drugs, because of criminalisation and stigma attached, we are not able to access healthcare services. In Asia most of the countries criminalise drug use, in some regions, as an example, rapists and terrorists get beaten up by public and still receive first aid, but when a drug user is experiencing withdrawl, the police will say – let it be, because of which we don’t get first aid. Sometimes, from the government and donor side, there is selective program implementation – not inclusive of harm reduction or capacity skill building. We are not subjects, data, numbers or targets, but are human beings.”
“TB patients should incur ZERO costs when availing testing and treatment. For #TheUHCThatWeNeed we want TB affected people to get affordable/free services. TB patients are massively stigmatised which leads to self stigma. We can not end TB without adequate investments. TB isn’t getting enough funding and inclusion of budget in national governments.”
“We have the big challenge to achieving UHC. The way to improve is on us – we need to make efforts every minute, every hour. We work with community partners to inform them rights. We have really good relations with the Global Fund. Since years they have supported the communities and CS in Thailand.”
Following the panel discussion, Claudia Ahumada from The Global Fund joined in virtually to address the participants. While going through her presentation (see below), she shared the lessons learned from the Seventh Replenishment held in 2022 and the planning, strategies and preparation for the Eight Replenishment efforts to Meet The Target. The major lessons from Seventh Replenishment were to have a host country, investment case, campaign, resource mobilisation strategy, Global Fund Voices, and strategies for key events ready in advance. She further explained what the Investment Case is and asked for community inputs in terms of issues and streams. When talking about plans for Eight Replenishment resource mobilisation, she said, “the communities are at the heart of the Global Fund. As advocates it is important to speak to already existing allies but it is also important to explore and engage in new spaces for advocacy and resource mobilisation”. She announced for the Eight Replenishment campaign the Global Fund will be developing a new campaign in consultation with Communities and Civil Society across the globe. Lastly, she added, while the Global Fund reflects on the responsibilities, the partnership will be expanding the work of areas to financially support and also amplify the amazing work done by communities and civil society.
“We can’t think about effective advocacy efforts without acknowledging and addressing the external geo-socio-political factors in the world.”
“There are barriers like lack of political commitment, people working in silos. As an HIV advocate I understand the issues arising from HIV, TB malaria: we need to fight for The UHC That We Need. Primary health care is the key to fight! ”
Lastly, Dr Justin Koonin joined in virtally to give closing remarks and sheds a light on the issues of affordability of healthcare services when millions of people live in poverty across the world. He started by sharing his experience working in AIDS advocacy space in New Wales.
Presentations:
- Claudia Ahumada, The evolving advocacy ecosystem and its implications for our partnerships with civil societies and communities. [download here]
Speakers Bio
Ruth Morgan Thomas
Sex work and Global Health Activist
Ruth Morgan Thomas (she/her) has been involved in sex work for 40 years — as a fulltime sex worker, as an academic researcher looking at HIV related risks in the sex industry and as a sex workers’ rights advocate campaigning for, developing and maintaining services and support for sex workers within a human rights and labour framework. Ruth was one of the founding members of the Scottish Prostitutes Education Project estabished in 1989 by sex workers for sex workers in Edinburgh, which she managed for 20 years. She was a founding member of the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), which formed in 1992. In 2012, Ruth coordinated the Sex Worker Freedom Festival — the alternative IAC2012 event for sex workers and their allies in protest at the legal travel restrictions imposed upon sex workers by the US government
Marijke Wijnroks
Head of Strategic Investment and Impact Division, The Global Fund
Marijke Wijnroks has served as Head of the Strategy, Investment and Impact Division since January 2023. She served as Chief of Staff at the Global Fund from 2013 to 2022. During that time, she also served as interim Executive Director from June 2017 to February 2018, as interim Head of Human Resources from September 2021 to February 2022, and interim Head of the Strategy, Investment and Impact Division from April to December 2022. She also oversees the Catalytic Investments Office and acts as Chair of the Grants Approval Committee. With over 30 years of experience in global health and development, Wijnroks served one term on the Global Fund Board as a Board Member and two terms as an alternate Board Member, as well as for two years as Vice Chair of the Board’s Ethics Committee.
Sara Thapa Magar
Gender Equality Officer, International Committee of Women Living with HIV Asia Pacific (ICWAP)
Sara is a young activist from South Asia advocating for the needs and rights of children, young people and women living with HIV. Sara is President of National Federation of women living with HIV and AIDS (NFWLHA) in Nepal. Sara has years of experience working in the community. Since, her activism journey Sara is fighting for equal representation of women and girls in all sector, women focused program, stigma and discrimination free right to health treatment for all. Sara possesses the heart of an activist and backs up her passion with experience in both governance and leadership. Sara is engaged in Global Fund national processes, including CCM and is engaged in the country dialogue to develop funding request to the Global Fund.
Rito Hermawan
Coordinator of the Network of Sex Workers of Indonesia (OPSI)
Prior to joining the CSEM, Laura was a Youth Advocate at ONE Campaign, where she advocated for the end of preventable diseases by 2030. She was also a Public Affairs researcher at IPSOS on international public health concerns before joining Rare Diseases International (RDI) to raise awareness of challenges faced by the over 300 million Persons Living with a Rare Disease (PLWRD) worldwide. Laura holds a double master’s degree in Global Communications and Culture from CELSA (Communications and Journalism School) and Sorbonne Paris University.
Hua
Partnerships Manager, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
Nachale Boonyapisomparn or Hua is a transwoman activist who has experience working as a project coordinator and project assistant on different research and advocacy projects. She has worked with organizations and groups of all sizes – from local non-profit organizations to international organizations and networks. Her experience in founding successful support and advocacy groups and lasting networks are her career achievements that prove her passion and commitment to supporting the health and human rights of transgender and LGB people locally and globally. This includes being the first transgender program supervisor of Sisters, the leading transgender organization in Thailand, being a founding member of the Foundation of Transgender Alliance for Human Rights (TGA), and being the first coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN).
Abou Mere
President, India Drug User Forum, National Network of People Who Use Drugs
Abou is the Regional Director of Kripa Foundation, an organization working on Drug use, HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Tuberculosis and is based in the North-Eastern part of India. He has more than two decades of working experience in the field of Drugs and HIV. Abou is the founding member of the Indian Drug Users’ Forum (IDUF) and has served as its President from 2012 till 2018. He still serves the IDUF as President for the current period 2020-22. IDUF got a legal identity under his leadership and got recognized as the National Drug Users’ Network in India.
Currently Abou serves as the Chairperson of the board of Network of Asian People Who Use Drugs (NAPUD).
Gisèle Takalea
President, “Collectif des Organisations de Lutte contre la Tuberculose et les Maladies Respiratoires en Côte d’Ivoire (COLTMR-CI)’’
Mrs. TAKALEA Gisèle has been fighting against tuberculosis since 2005 alongside the COLTMR-CI. In addition to being an advocate, she accompanies and coaches CSOs in their consideration of tuberculosis in their programmes and in strengthening their capacities. According to UNAIDS, with a seroprevalence of 2.8% and a co-infection rate of 18%, Côte d’Ivoire is deeply affected by the dual pandemic of TB and HIV/AIDS.
Evaline Kibuchi
Chief National Coordinator, Stop TB Partnership-Kenya
Evaline Kibuchi is a global health advocate with a key focus on Tuberculosis (TB) with over ten years in TB advocacy. Since 2015, she has served as the Chief National Coordinator, Stop TB Partnership-Kenya. She previously worked with International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in Community preparedness for the HIV vaccines trials. She is also the African Director of African Parliamentary TB caucus and a member of the Civil Society Task force the WHO TB team and a member of Access to Covid Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) an advocacy group that pushes for covid tools and other services. She is the Chair, board of Directors, WACI Health a South African based Global Health advocacy organization. She is also the Vice Chair, Aids Healthcare Foundation, which is also a global advocacy organization based in the US.
Hon. Peter Njume
Member of Parliament (MP), Cameroon
Member of Parliament, National Assembly of Cameroon, Founder and Executive President, Parliamentary Network on the SDGs. Member of the National Assembly of Cameroon since 2013. Member of the Education, Youth Affairs and Vocational Training committee. Founder and Executive president of the parliamentary network on sustainable development goals. Plays advocacy on several national and international networks on climate change, health and education. Doctorate in Educational Administration. Additionally, leads the Regional Task Force of Parliamentarians on Domestic Resource Mobilization for Health in Africa.
Dr Yupadee Sirisinsuk
Deputy Secretary General, National Health Security Office, Thailand
Claudia Ahumada
Manager, Civil Society and Communities Advocacy, The Global Fund
Claudia Ahumada is a global human rights lawyer and gender expert from Chile and Canada, specializing in participatory change. Working at the intersection of rights and evidence, she has built capacity and developed resources to meaningfully mainstream gender and diversity across change efforts. A former UNAIDS staff member, she denounced the institutional actions taken to discredit women who spoke out against harassment.
Justin Koonin
Co-Chair 2030; President, ACON
Justin Koonin represents Global North Civil Society Organisations on the UHC2030 Steering Committee. He is co-chair of the WHO Social Participation Technical Network, co-chair of the SDG3 Global Action Plan Civil Society Advisory Group, and the civil society representative on the Health Data Collaborative Steering Committee. At a national level, Justin is President of ACON (formerly AIDS Council of New South Wales). He is a former chair of the New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.