KCteam
World AIDS Day 2008: Article briefing for Key Correspondents
Greetings from Health and Development Networks! As World AIDS Day (WAD) approaches (1st December 2008), HDN is inviting Key Correspondents (KCs) from across the world to ‘Speak Your World’ about WAD 2008!
BACKGROUND
This year is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, and HDN would like all Key Correspondents to write articles for dissemination on Healthdev.net, and other potential outlets, such as a RSS feed to the World AIDS Campaign website.
Past themes of WAD have included:
- Communication (the very first, in 1988)
- Family (1994).
- Men (2000)
- Stigma (2002 & 2003)
- Women and girls (2004)
This year’s WAD theme is ‘Leadership’– the same as 2007, continuing the series of linked themes from 2005 all focusing on the slogan ‘Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise’.
Lots of details about WAD are available here: worldaidscampaign.org, including the following summary:
“The 1st of December, World AIDS Day, is the day when individuals and organisations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Whilst we have come a long ways since 1988, there is still much more to be done.”
Also on the website, is a World AIDS Campaign press release, which can be viewed here: http://tinyurl.com/6h4qac
The release includes this statement:
“In the midst of a global financial crisis, leaders must deliver on their AIDS promises or hard fought gains will be lost, declares the World AIDS Campaign in highlighting the theme of leadership for World AIDS Day.
This 1st of December 2008 is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, which is marked by significant progress in prevention and treatment over the past two decades, but highlights how much more still needs to be done by leaders at all levels to reach universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.”
Visit the website (link above) for more information.
CONTENT
We would like KCs to share your thoughts on one (or more) of the following themes:
- What does ‘leadership’ look like in your region and country – governmental and non-governmental – in continuing the progress, and identifying what YOU believe are areas requiring new interventions?
- It has been 20 years since the first WAD. What has WAD done to increase the visibility and response to AIDS in your country or region? Some questions to reflect upon – what progress has there been in your country? What are the key areas that still need attention? How has your country and region changed over the past two decades with regard to HIV?
- How can the impact of WAD be expanded beyond a single day, to have an effect throughout the year?
- HDN has been focusing on the effects of HIV on children during 2008 – you may wish to focus on this topic, and a recent HDN report can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/55gfhh
- What are your hopes for ‘leadership’ to achieve Universal Access by 2010 – what do you wish for in the fight against HIV & AIDS, and the support and treatment of affected people?
LOGISTICS
We would like KCs to write articles of between 500-800 words, and post these on healthdev.net by the week of December 1st at the latest. Please add the tag “WAD 2008” when uploading your story so that others can find your contribution through the RSS feed that we are creating for other sites.
If you would like to contact HDN to discuss ideas, or for access to a critical reader, please email in the first instance:
Ian Hodgson: ian@hdnet.org
Amber Phalen: amber@hdnet.org
We look forward to reading your articles!
Labels: article, Campaign, Day, International AIDS Conference, KC, WAD, World, World AIDS Day 2008
Anyone going to ICASA in Dakar?
The 15th ICASA Conference, entitled: Africa’s Response: Face the Facts, will be happening in Dakar, Senegal from December 3rd to 7th. HDN will be present, along with the Alliance and other partners, to take part and present some of our partnership activities. More information on the conference can be found at: http://www.icasadakar2008.org/en.php.
At this time we would love to know if you will be attending the conference. We, as always, would love the opportunity to meet with you in person. Additionally, there will be a presentation at the planned Alliance Family Meeting on the 3rd of December from 10:40am. At that time, after the presentation, you’ll be able to meet with Mr. Roman Mukendi – the head of the Africa Department for HDN. The Alliance will also have a booth in Zone A of the conference centre where HDN will have some of our materials and projects on display.
It would be great to hear from you and see if anyone would be interested in meeting with us and submitting some stories from the conference itself. You can follow up with Godsway (godsway@hdnet.org) to let him know if/when you'll be there.
All the best and HDN hopes to see you there!
