WEEKLY BULLETIN The National Empowerment Network of PLHIV in Kenya (NEPHAK) Say yes to life say yes to life say yes to life say yes to life 17th – 23rd May 2015 Edition 20 Questions & Questions on US NGOs NEPHAK Joins members to Mark Candlelight memorial in Kisumu. Support with Kenya PEPFAR COP. Kenya CSOs over the weekend welcomed suggestions by their US counterparts on the Kenya PEPFAR COP but with questions. First, it was not clear whether the US NGOs gave suggestions on all PEPFAR COPs or the questions were only on the Kenya COP. It was also not clear why the questions were only shared at the PEPFAR review meeting in Frankfurt, Germany whereas the PEPFAR COP process started in February and included more than 10 consultative meetings. The greatest question is why one of the NGOs that engaged in the Kenya COP process and supported the draft COP review by KP representatives still signed on the letter presented at the PEPFAR COP review meeting. It also did not escape the attention of the Kenya CSOs that another NGO that signed the letter had the Coordinator of OGAC, Ambassador, Deborah Birx (in photo below) in its board just a few years back. Nonetheless, most of the questions were really relevant and some even mirrored those sent earlier to Kenya PEPFAR PCO by PLHIV leaders under NEPHAK, and KP leaders under BHESP and, Amb. Debby Birx in which responses had been gotten. past photo The letter by US NGOs only contradicted local CSOs position in one area. Whereas local CSOs, including communities have asked the Kenya Government to increase its domestic financing for HIV to cover the gap arising from the PEPFAR prioritization plan, the US NGOs stated in their letter that “the Kenya Government lack the capacity to provide services in areas where PEPFAR may be phasing out”. This stand fails to appreciate the latest government efforts to ensure strengthened leadership and country ownership of the HIV response. The letter also faulted the Kenya CSOs engagement with PEPFAR at country level citing low capacity among some local CSOs. NEPHAK with support from ICW global joined members from Kisumu under the leadership of Grassroots Network (G-NET); a community based organization and one of active members in Kisumu to Mark the Candlelight celebrations. The members were joined by other civil society organizations and community groups. ‘Sauti Skika’ Champions pose with the Banner in Kisumu In keeping with the theme of the memorial 2015 which is “Supporting the Future” the members supported ‘Sauti Skika’ initiative to various activities aimed at asking leaders and partners to support the future of young people born and living with HIV to engage in decision making platforms. The children and young people; many who are orphans were also supported to light candles for their parents and friends who had passed away due to HIV. FACTBOX: This week, the Chair of NEPHAK Board shall be leading the board and management of NEPHAK in policy and guidelines review meeting in Nakuru. Eleven board members and 4 technical staff are expected to join the meeting supported by Trocaire to enable NEPHAK adapt polices and guidelines and develop new ones to support its operations and programming. Study links some anti-HIV drugs to heart disease NEPHAK to Launch Position on how to #EndAdolescentAIDS at the AGM. Latest research has suggested that there is a link between specific HIV drug combinations and heart disease. Heart attacks, strokes and other forms of cardiovascular disease are important causes of serious illness in people living with HIV. The reasons why rates are higher than in the general population are not fully understood. While it is partly due to higher rates of risky behaviors such as smoking, researchers also think that HIV infection and the persistent immune activation and inflammation that it causes make a difference. After months of consultations with PLHIV networks and groups, NEPHAK team is now set to launch its position on how to #EndAdlescentAIDS at its Annual General Meeting, 29th May. The AGM which doubles as the National PLHIV Conference will bring together around 150 leaders drawn from more than 32 Counties. The researchers say that the findings will be most relevant for people who are older or who are already at elevated risk of heart disease. This includes people who smoke, who have high blood pressure, who have high levels of cholesterol, who do not exercise much, or who have a family history of heart disease. For people in this situation, the information could help doctors choose the best HIV treatment to offer. But in general, the main issues to consider when choosing anti-HIV drugs are how effective they are in reducing HIV viral load and whether they have side-effects. A second study on cardiovascular disease examined hardening of the arteries in HIVpositive people and HIV-negative people with similar lifestyles. Over time, people living with HIV were more likely to have their arteries clogged up by fatty substances known as plaques than people without HIV. The risk was greatest for people who had a low CD4 cell count. For more information, see NAM’s factsheets on The heart, Stroke and Cholesterol. Are you attending the MOH-NASCOP Forum? The 10th Annual HIV Prevention, Care & Treatment Consultative Forum 2015 will provide a platform for sharing experiences, innovations, strategies and best practices by different stakeholders. The theme for this forum is “Accelerating HIV prevention, care and treatment: a comprehensive approach towards 90-9090 targets”. Let us know if you are NEPHAK member and have been invited to this forum. (info@nephak.or.ke). The position was arrived at after consultations with PLHIV leaders at national and county levels. In total, 320 PLHIV leaders, including representatives of adolescents living with HIV under the ‘Sauti Skika’ Initiative were reached during the consultations in various counties (see sample photos below). NN NEPHAK Members in Homa Bay County. NEPHAK Members and Adolescents in Mombasa County. Kisumu members during Consultative Meeting Kisumu Consultative Meeting NEPHAK Weekly Bulletin is published by the Advocacy and Communications Department at the national Secretariat, 3rd Flr, Wood Avenue Court, Wood Avenue off Argwings Kodhek/Lenana Rd, Nairobi. Articles can be reproduced freely as long as NEPHAK is acknowledged. Further details can be obtained from the Editor, P. O. Box 75654-00200 Nairobi. TEL: 0720209694, Email: info@nephak.or.ke, Website : www.nephak.or.ke, Twitter: NEPHAKPLHA
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