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FHI a Partner and Participant in Major African AIDS Conference (ICASA 2008)
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DECEMBER 2008 — Family Health International (FHI) was a "bronze sponsor" of the 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), which was held Dec. 3–7 in Dakar, Senegal. FHI led presentations and discussions, and also hosted two booths and displayed a number of posters. ICASA is Africa's leading forum for HIV development discussions. This year's theme was Africa's Response: Face the Facts. In addition to examining the current state of HIV and other STIs, participants exchanged ideas and research on political involvement, scientific and medical advancements, and prevention, care, and treatment initiatives. FHI/Senegal Country Director Barbara Sow said the "key initiatives this year were prevention, care, and treatment within the realm of universal access to a continuum of care, which includes psychosocial, medical, and nutritional support coupled with community support and stable income-generating activities." Eric van Praag, FHI/Tanzania Country Director, further defines this continuum of care as a "comprehensive package of care delivered across a continuum between facility-based and community-based service delivery." FHI's hope is for people to live positively with HIV, instead of dying of AIDS. This chronic disease can be most effectively managed with uninterrupted access to this continuum of care.
Peter Lamptey, FHI President of Public Health Programs, co-chaired a plenary session that discussed long-term funding and reinforcement for health systems, as well as community leadership, PMTCT (prevention of mother to child transmission), and HIV/TB co-infection. Gladys Dube, FHI's Family Planning and PMTCT Advisor for the HIV & AIDS Partnership Project in Zimbabwe, presented a paper on strengthening Zimbabwe's national PMTCT program, and FHI Director of Prevention and Mitigation Kwaku Yeboah presented a comparative analysis of interventions in high- and low-prevalence settings for a session focusing on challenges and solutions for OVC (orphans and vulnerable children) programs in Africa. FHI also had the honor to showcase posters and abstracts from a number of its country offices, including Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Nigeria. In addition, FHI/Senegal was one of the NGOs working in-country to be chosen by the Senegalese government to host a booth in its sponsored tent. FHI was well represented by 28 staff members from country offices and headquarters, including programs and research. On December 5, Fatimata Sy received a prestigious award from the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), in recognition of her tireless efforts against AIDS on behalf of women and children in Africa. Learn more »
To receive a copy of the CD of FHI publications highlighted at ICASA, please send an e-mail to publications@fhi.org. — Claire-Helene Mershon PHOTOS: (Top) ICASA welcome sign at the hotel Meridien President in Dakar, Senegal. (Middle) Marthe Ahui, FHI/Cote d'Ivoire, and Clement Mango, FHI/Tanzania, with visitors to the booth. (Bottom) Senegalese music group Pape et Cheikh performed a song from the CD "Songs of Hope". (Claire-Helene Mershon/FHI) |
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FHI's public health and research programs were highlighted through several presentations, including a dinner debate co-chaired by FHI/Ghana Country Director Fatimata Sy on orphans and other vulnerable children in high-risk settings, and a roundtable session hosted by FHI/Senior Director Public Health Programs Dr. Claudes Kamenga, which showcased the AWARE project's experience in institutional capacity building and south-to-south technical assistance. 
FHI also hosted a reception Dec. 5 for FHI staff and partner organizations. The event featured the music of the Senegalese group Pape et Cheikh, who performed a song from the forthcoming music CD "Songs of Hope". Set for release in early 2009, "Songs of Hope" is a global CD produced by FHI, born out of a partnership between people living with HIV /AIDS and the musical community in seven countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The "Songs of Hope" CD allows adults and children living with HIV/AIDS to share their feelings of isolation and the hope that we share in their sorrow, and care and support them.