Regional workshop on treatment preparedness

[Guest guest]

Announcement of a Three Day Regional workshop on Treatment Preparedness

Kathmandu, Nepal; 5-9 November, 2004

Introduction

A three-day regional meeting on " treatment preparedness " is being organized by

an international coalition of HIV/AIDS organizations and individual advocates in

November 2004 in Kathmandu, Nepal with support from the Tides Foundation. This

is a follow-up meeting to the International Treatment Preparedness Summit, held

in Cape Town, March 2003, which brought together a diverse group of 125

treatment advocates from 67 countries. The principles that were enunciated at

that meeting are now cited as the fundamental principles guiding WHO in its

support of community mobilization in scaling up to treatment and readiness to

receive it.

" Treatment preparedness " is a term used to describe HIV/AIDS treatment education

and advocacy efforts that are designed to increase access to and demand for

HIV/AIDS treatment and prepare communities for safe and effective use of HIV

therapies. We are using the term " HIV/AIDS treatment " to encompass a broad

range of treatment and care interventions, including, but not limited to,

treatment of opportunistic infections and sexually transmitted infections, drug

use, nutrition, TB, palliative care, and antiretroviral therapy.

Goal of the meeting

The main goal of the meeting is to strengthen a treatment advocacy movement in

South Asia, which is pursuing better and broader access to medical treatment for

HIV infection and its health consequences. This goal will be achieved through

training, sharing experiences, skill building sessions and networking

opportunities and strategic planning.

Participants

The Kathmandu meeting will be a gathering of approximately 40 people. Priority

will be given to the representatives of networks of people who are living with

HIV, since the success or failure of global HIV treatment efforts depends on the

cumulative experience of the individuals needing treatment and their

communities. As the ‘end-users’ and the intended beneficiaries of HIV/AIDS

treatment, people living with HIV/AIDS must be able to adequately express demand

for treatment, overcome social, economic and political barriers to treatment

access, possess enough treatment knowledge to be involved in their own health

care decisions, and be active participants in sustained long-term treatment and

care.

People who live in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tibet, Maldives, Nepal, Bhuta,

Sri Lanka and Bagladesh are invited to apply.

Outcomes

The meeting will equip the participants to more effectively engage in advocacy

efforts for better and broader access to treatment. The meeting will also be a

chance for many people working on treatment education and advocacy in the region

to meet and discuss their work and experiences and establish broad regional

network of support and collaboration. Finally, the meeting will offer an

opportunity to prioritize issues and strategize on efforts for systemic

challenges that affect treatment advocacy and education efforts.

Applications and inquiries should be submitted by country as follows:

BANGLADESH - asharalo@...

INDIA - inpplus@...

PAKISTAN - newlightaids@...

SRI LANKA - wilrand@...

AFGHANISTAN, MALDIVES, BHUTAN AND TIBET – kgrc@...

2 notes about language:

Applications should be in English, except for Bangladesh and Pakistan, where

applicants can apply in either English or the national language.

The conference will be simultaneously conducted in Hindi, Nepalese and English

Applications should be received by NO LATER than 25 September, 2004

Results of selection will be announced by 5 October, 2004

APPLICATION FORM

Please answer ALL the questions of the form (Note that all information will

remain strictly confidential)

Please double-check your passport information, since it is necessary for

preparation of official invitation letters and making travel arrangements

Surname (Family name)

First names

Passport

Country

Number of passport

Birth date

Date and place of issue

Issued by

Date of expiry

Contact information

Mailing address (permanent or other relevant address)

Country

City/town

Street, house, apartment No

Telephone

Contact information of organization you represent

Name

Country

City

Street, house, apartment No

Telephone +

Fax +

E-mail

Alternative E-mail

Do you require a visa to travel to Thailand?

_______________________________________________________________________

Do you have a current valid passport?

_______________________________________________________________________

Would you require translation and information materials in other languages (if

yes please specify which language)

______________________________________________________________________

Your personal email address

How long have you been involved in the field of HIV/AIDS?

0 0-2 years 0 2-5 years 0 5+ years

Please indicate

Your gender 0male 0 female 0 transsexual

HIV status (the information is confidential and won’t be distributed) 0 HIV+ 0

HIV- 0 not available (or: do not wish to disclose?)

Age 0 <21 0 21-30 0 31-40 0 41-50 0 50+

Please describe your organization’s activities

__________________________________________________________________

Please describe your work at your organization

_____________________________________________________________________

Which other groups working on HIV/AIDS issues does your organization currently

work with?

________________________________________________________________

Have you participated in seminars or conferences on education and advocacy of

HIV/AIDS treatment access?

0 Yes

0 No

If yes, please specify

_________________________________________________________________

Please indicate your areas of interest by ranking the following topics from 1 to

10 with 10 being the topic that hosts the most intrest for you

TREATMENT SPECIFIC

0 ARV Treatment

0 OI’s treatment

0 Treatment Advocacy

0 Human Rights, Treatments Access and HIV/AIDS

0 Legal Policy Barriers to Treatment access TRIPS/FTA/WTO

0 Treatment Issues for Children

0 Treatment Issues for Drug Users

0 Treatment issues for Migrant Workers

0 Barriers to Treatment Access

GENERAL ISSUES

0 Basic Advocacy

0 Fundraising and Grant writing

0 Mass Media

0 Networking

Please indicate any additional topics you are interested in, (if any)

________________________________________________________________

Why do you want to take part in this meeting

___________________________________________________________

What do you see as being the key components of HIV and AIDS treatment

___________________________________________________________

How do you understand “activism on treatment advocacy”

__________________________________________________________________

How would you describe treatment advocacy?

__________________________________________________________

What is your experience in the field of HIV education and advocacy?

______________________________________________________________

What are the needs in HIV/AIDS treatment education and advocacy among PLWHA in

your country?

_______________________________________________________________

If you are selected to attend, how will you use knowledge gained at the

conference

_________________________________________________________________

How did you hear about this meeting?

___________________________________________________________________

Date _________________

PLEASE COMPLETE PAGES 2 and 3 IN FULL. Any additional information you wish to

submit about yourself or your organisation can be sent as an attachment to your

Email.

Thank you for your time in completing the application form. Please note that all

information will be treated confidentially