HIV/AIDS

Civil society worried on cuts in HIV/AIDS project funding under the Public Health Programme

The release of the 2011 Public Health Work Plan revealed a shift from projects to a tendering system, which the EU HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum and the Civil Society Forum on Drugs considers a barrier to NGOs and civil society to contributing to the development of effective health policy development, implementation, and limits provision of services. The EU HIV/AIDS Civil Society Forum and the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, wrote a letter of concern to highlight the importance of Commission (...)

WHO European Region meets in Baku - Overview of the discussions and results

Representatives from the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region meet in Baku, Azerbaijan on the 12-15 September , for their 61st session to discuss the reform of the WHO, the new WHO EURO policy for health, health governance, and several action plans particularly on noncommunicable diseases and alcohol. The Regional Committee sessions represents the annual meetings during which representatives from the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region take decisions for the WHO EURO and (...)

EPHA Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights - 4th August 2011

The EPHA Secretariat will organise, on 4th August 2011, a Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for its members. The EPHA Secretariat will organise, on Thursday the 4th of August 2011, a Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The meeting will take place from 10.00-12.00 in the EPHA offices - Rue de Treves 49-51, 2nd floor, B-1040 Brussels. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and exchange on relevant EU policies, initiatives and developments, (...)

EPHA briefing on health threats from communicable diseases

EPHA has developed a ’’Briefing on Health Threats from Communicable Diseases, including well-prepared Health Systems’’. The paper provides an overview of the existing structure at EU level and internationally, and it stresses the importance of ensuring that health systems are adequately financed, equipped and coordinated in order to cope with outbreaks and epidemics such as the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. The briefing coincides with the EPHA response to the European (...)

Highlights from the 2011 World Health Assembly

The 64th World Health Assembly took place in Geneva from the 16th to the 24th of May. A total number of 28 resolutions and three decisions were adopted, among which some were characterized as ‘historical’. Introduction The Conference lasted for 8 days, and was introduced by the opening speeches from Dr Margaret Chan Director-General of the WHO (speech), Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister of Bangladesh (speech), and Bill Gates co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (...)

Increased action by the EU on HIV/AIDS

Background information on EU action in the field of HIV/AIDS The European Union was one of the founding member, in 2002, of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and is today the largest donor, contributing to 52% of the GFATM resources. EU programmes such as the Research Framework Programme, the Health Programme and the Development Cooperation Instrument are financing projects in the field of HIV/AIDS, the EU acts through the strenthening of health systems (...)

Impact of criminalisation of HIV transmission in Europe

In the context of current European Parliament activities related to Human Rights and AIDS, as well as the 2010 World AIDS Day, IPPF EN, the International Planned Parenthood Federation coordinated a joint statement emphasising the impact of the criminalisation of HIV transmission. The statement, which has been endorsed by numerous not-for-profit organisations working in the field, is available below. "From the UK to the USA, from Sweden to Australia, criminal laws are increasingly being (...)

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Working Group - July 2010

EPHA organised a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Working Group on Friday 8 July 2010. The EPHA Secretariat organised a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Working Group on Friday 8 July 2010. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the follow-up to the EPHA briefing note on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights which addresses issues such as gender equality, access to services, mental health, discrimination and health related inequalities. All members are welcome to (...)

European Parliament hearing on the EU towards the UN summit on the MDGs

Alliance2015 - a partnership of cross-European non-government organizations working in the field of development cooperation - urged the European Commission (EC) at a hearing in the European Parliament on June 1st to show bold and responsible leadership in the preparations towards the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). EPHA was present during the hearing. The sixth 2015-Watch Report "The EU’s Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals. Keeping the Goals (...)

EPHA report on European Parliament event on HIV/AIDS treatment gap widening in Sub-Saharan Africa

Hosted by Michael Cashman MEP and organised by the European Parliament Working Group on Innovation, Access to Medicines and Poverty-Related Diseases, a debate on the widening HIV/AIDS treatment gap in Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Union`s action on it was held on 23 June 2010. Opening the event, Michael Cashman MEP welcomed the Working Group and warned against the discontinuation and reduction of HIV/AIDS treatment which could destroy the results achieved so far. Ms. Mit Philips (...)