Countries with generalized and emerging HIV epidemics are receiving growing attention from global initiatives, donors, and foundations.
Background
Numerous HIV-specific initiatives, such as the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM), the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR), and World Bank’s Multisectoral AIDS Program (MAP), are providing considerable opportunities for addressing the disease.
At the same time, the increasing emphasis on HIV has caused host-country governments to shift human and financial resources away from other health programs, such as family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH).
Programs that were once integrated are now often operating in parallel, posing a huge challenge for the management of FP supplies.
FP commodities are necessary for both FP and HIV prevention programs. Yet, the management burden to ensure commodity availability often rests upon FP/RH units within ministries of health. How can you, as an FP/RH supply advocate, frame your message around joint responsibility and commitment for contraceptives?
Focus your advocacy messages on one of the following points:
- RH supplies are necessary to achieving HIV-prevention targets (GFATM, PEPFAR, MAP).
- RH supplies are critical because HIV-positive women want access to FP in their care and treatment clinics.
- RH supplies contribute to achieving other health and development targets (e.g., the MDGs).
- Prevention is more cost-effective than treatment, and, therefore, FP is a valuable investment.
