| 1. PREAMBLE
The Emergency Plan of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering covers a 3-year period from 2007 to 2009...
It is a contribution to the attainment of the objectives contained in the Millennium Declaration, which is aimed at:
- Reducing by half cases of abject poverty and hunger in the world;
- Attaining universal primary education for gender equity;
- Reducing by 3/4 maternal mortality and by 2/3 infant mortality;
- Rolling back the spread of HIV/ AIDS;
- Reducing by half the ratio of persons who do not have access to potable water.
The Emergency Plan of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering is in line with the Abuja OAU Heads of States Declaration whose objectives are to:
- Formulate policies and strategies aimed at preventing HIV/ AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infections and reducing the impact of the pandemic on the socio-economic development of Africa;,
- the needs of such vulnerable groups as children, youths, women, the disabled, workers and mobile persons.
It shows the adherence of the members of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering to the priorities contained in the New York commitment Declaration, namely to:
- Ensure that people everywhere, particularly youths, know how to prevent HIV;
- Eradicate the most tragic mode of HIV transmission, or mother-to-child transmission;
- Treat all infected persons;
- Redouble efforts to conduct research and develop a vaccine and drugs;
- Care for persons whose lives have been shattered by HIV/ AIDS, particularly orphans who are already 13 million in number.
2. GENERAL CONTEXT
The commitment of African First Ladies falls in line with world’s reaction to HIV/AIDS.
- Aids in Africa is a crisis whose socio-economic impact is great.
- Almost 27 million of persons infected live in Africa, among whom 57% are women.
- In countries with low and middle revenue, only one woman out of ten has access to centres specialised in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
- On the other hand, the importance of the stigmatisation and discrimination hinders the impact of the riposte against AIDS, limits the use of counselling and voluntary screening centres, hinders the use of condom and prevent HIV-positive mothers from protecting their children during breast-feeding.
- Almost 12 million of individuals in Africa who have lost at least a relative due to AIDS are not correctly taken care of.
- Due to poverty and weakness of health systems, only 7% of persons requiring an antiretroviral treatment have access to it.
- Malnutrition is also a factor of vulnerability for the infection of women and children.
- Apart from HIV/AIDS, the quality of reproductive health is poor in terms of access and use of health services. This results in a high rate of mortality in most sub-Saharan African countries.
- As far as the child is concerned, the rate of infant mortality is still high, mostly the neonatal one, which alone constitutes 50% of child mortality.
- In addition, the different armed conflicts existing on the continent are responsible for the impoverishment and the precariousness of African populations.
This situation increases the vulnerability of women, and mostly that of children whose future is seriously compromised.
In response, HIV/AIDS fighting programmes, maternal and infant mortality programmes are developed. The main difficulties for the implementation of these programmes in the different member states are the shortage of financial and qualified human resources, a deficit in social mobilisation for a greater implication of populations to programmes. The First Ladies’ action therefore corresponds to this context and aims at contributing to the reinforcement of national strategies. With regard to their leading role, not only will they advocate communicative and social mobilisation, but will also promote concrete actions that will be felt directly by the populations on the field through an adequate plan of communication. The work of synergy undertaken by the First Ladies at the continental level will have to be intensified with emphasis on the priorities of the present emergency plan, following specific projects.
3. PROJECTS
The First Ladies of African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering have, for the 2005/2007 period, planned to undertake the following actions in their respective countries.
Project No. 1: Reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV
This entails:
- Early prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through awareness-raising targeted on women of child-bearing age;
- Facilitating the treatment of HIV-positive pregnant women;
- Providing substitute foods to the: newborn babies of HIV-positive mothers.
Project No. 2: Reducing maternal and infant mortality
The First ladies will, in conjunction with the relevant services, contribute to:
- Sensitising the population
- Mobilizing resources to protect mothers and children against tetanus; Reducing the vulnerability of women in the face of HIV/ AIDS;
- Opening Family Planning and Counselling centres;
- Providing emergency obstetrical services in at least two health districts.
Project No. 3: Alleviating the suffering of the African child
The main objectives of this project are to promote the rights of the African child in general and develop the African girl child in particular. Through direct contact with the population, particularly community leaders and administrative authorities, the First Ladies will encourage and lend support to any action aimed at promoting the rights of the African child and stepping up the school attendance rate for the girl child.
Principles of implementation of the Emergency Plan
By way of constant advocacy, "African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering" will mobilize the resources needed to implement the Emergency Plan in countries, international institutions, Foundations and any other cooperation bodies.
The Executive Secretary shall ensure the implementation of the resolutions and recommendation of the conference of African Synergy.
The impact of the projects of First Ladies will be measured at the end of the third year of execution.
1-REDUCING MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV
Overall Objective |
Specific Objectives |
Activities |
Impact Indicator |
1. By 2007, reduce by 40% the ratio of new-born infected by HIV/AIDS |
1.1Promote basic HIV prevention facilities among women in all member states |
1.1.1 Carry on a campaign to make accessible and available men and women’ s condoms |
The ratio of the reduction of mother-to-child transmission |
1.1.2 Facilitate the implementation of a programme
reducing women’s vulnerability through the sensitisation and community education with emphasis on men’s implication |
1.2Increase by at least 20% the ratio of women of child-bearing age and by at least 50% that of pregnant women who adhere to screening tests |
1.2.1 Organise sensitisation sessions in women’s associations and cooperatives, secondary and high schools students, young girls, couples…
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1.2.2 Put in place and reinforce in each member state at least 10 PMTCT sites, counselling and family planning centres in at least 50 of them.
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1.33 Increase by at least 80% the ratio of HIV infected women and children who have access to efficient treatment
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1.3.1Reinforce by at least 50% the capacities of PMTCT medical staff
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1.3.2 Mobilise resources for the low cost acquisition of antiretroviral drugs by HIV-positive mothers and children
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1.4 Increase by at least 80% the ratio of children born HIV-positive who have access to food that substitute mother’s milk |
1.4.1Organise fund raising activities for the supply of food that substitute mother’s milk |
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REDUCING INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY
Overall Objective |
Specific Objectives |
Activities |
Impact Indicator |
2. By 2007,contribute to reducing maternal and infant mortality |
2.1 Vaccinate at least 50% of women of child bearing age and pregnant women in all member state |
2.1.11 Organise sessions to raise awareness of women and couples on the importance of the frequent use of reproductive health units (maternal health centres, family planning and PEV)
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The ratio of the reduction of maternal and infant mortality |
2.1.2 Mobilise resources for the supplying of SMI centres and maternities with vaccines.
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2.1.3 Make available vaccines of PEV in 50% of infant and maternal health units and maternities. |
2.2 Reinforce obstetric and neonatal emergency treatments in 20% of structures offering obstetric treatment. |
2.2.1Form and re-train medical staff on obstetric and neonatal emergency treatment.
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2.2.2 Facilitate the supply of essential drugs to services offering emergency obstetric and neonatal treatments |
2.2.3 Make blood equipment and products available during surgical interventions |
2.2.4 Subsidy emergency obstetric services at the community level. |
2.3 Increase by at least 50% the number of deliveries assisted by a qualified health personnel |
2.3.1 Increase by at least 50% the number of deliveries assisted by a qualified health personnel |
2.3.2 Undertake advocacy for improving access to infant and maternal treatments to all geographic areas |
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THE SUFFERING OF THE AFRICAN CHILD (ORPHANS, VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND VICTIMS OF CONFLICS)
Overall Objective |
Specific Objectives |
Activities |
Impact Indicator |
3.1 1 Contribute to the basic education of the girl child
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3.1.1 1 mobilise opinion leaders to encourage School attendance by the African girl child(traditional, religious and political authorities)
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3.1.1.1 1 organise meeting to sensitize traditional authorities and family head in backward areas . |
3.2.1.1.1.Ratio of families in areas with low school attendance rates who send their girl children to school |
3.1.2 Advocate free education for the girl child |
3.1.2.1 Introduce prizes of excellence for young girls with outstanding performance in primary schools and institutions of higher learning
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3.1.2.2 Acquire subsidy to help families pay school fees in areas with low school attendance rates for girls.
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3.2 promouvoir les droits de l’enfant africain |
3.2.1 Advocate the application of laws on the African child
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3.2.1.1 1 Undertake actions to popularize the law on the protection of the African child.
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3.2.2 Mobilize communities on the dangers of child trafficking |
3.2.2.1 Organize campaigns to sensitize communities to the dangers of child trafficking |
3.2.3 Educate at least 10% of such children in at least 50% of member countries. |
3.2.3.1 sensitize communities on the rights of orphans, vulnerable children and victimsof conflicts |
3.2.3.2recenser les orphelins et enfants vulnérables dans les communautés |
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3.2.443 Ensure psycho-social support to these children in 50% of member countries. |
3.2.3.3 Identify at least 3 Community-based Associations (CBAin view of implementing the programme |
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3.2.3.4 identify 3 NGO per country to ensure capacity building for CBAS |
3.2.4.1Advocate for and mobilize resources to support country programme |
3.2.4.2 Train CBAS in psychological care of these children |
3.2.4.3 former les ABC à la prise en charge psychosociale des orphelins |
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