Four HIV heroes got released same day at AGOA
Zambian HIV Activists got arrested on Friday 10th June at 2:00pm only to get themselves released around 6:00pm the same day. Four activists namely Peter Katongo, Harrison Mwima, Christopher Mumba and Moses Mazyopa who since then have been recognized by TALC as heroes in as far as HIV advocacy is concerned .
The 10th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum under the theme “Enhanced Trade through increased competitiveness, Value addition and Deeper Regional Integration”, took place at the Mulungushi International Conference centre from Tuesday 7th June to Friday 10th June 2011, in Lusaka-Zambia. This is all about the promotion of trade between the United States of America and the Sub-Saharan countries of Africa. The forum was officially by His Excellent the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda and the one invited to officially close it was Madam Hillary Clinton the Secretary of States.
Activists from the Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC) clashed with security wings after they besieged the Mulungushi International Conference Centre to deliver a message to the United States of America Secretary of State. The activists wanted to deliver message of displeasure with the treatment of the USA, Japan and EU so that they stop exerting pressure on the Pharmacy of Africa (India).The other key message was that the USA should stop to divide and conquer weaker nations such as Zambia with vague promises of free trade. They also were asking the Obama administration to spare their lives by letting drug supply continue to flow into Africa with interference with the TRIPS plus measures.
Police surrounded them and grabbed their banners, placards; they arrested and detained four of the activists namely Peter Katongo, Harrison Mwima, Christopher Mumba and Moses Mazyopa who since then have been recognized by TALC as heroes in as far as HIV advocacy is concerned.
One banner was carrying the message “ONLY A HEALTHY AFRICA CAN TRADE WITH USA, INVEST MORE I GLOBAL HEALTH” the other banner written “BROKEN PROMISES KILL, NO RETREAT, FUND AIDS” and messages billow were on placards:
1. Farmers and traders get ill too, prevent and treat diseases for a productive AGOA
2. Step out HIV and AIDS for a much more productive AGOA
3. We yearn for an HIV and AIDS free AGOA
4. More investment in health, more AGOA returns.
5. It is a fact, a health Africa will have a positive impact on AGOA
6. No HIV prevention, treatment, care and support; No AGOA
7. Maintain flexibilities on TRIPS for a meaningful AGOA partnership
8. Africa must first prioritise investment in health, then take a shot at AGOA
9. Only a health Africa can have health AGOA returns
10. Stop capping on health financing for a sustainable AGOA
11. Prevent, treat diseases for a productive AGOA
12. Don’t trade our lives away with Free Trade Agreements.
13. Africa must prioritise investment in health, then take a shot at AGOA.
Activists got arrested on Friday 10th June at 2:00pm only to get themselves released around 6:00pm the same day. This advocacy was ranked a success by TALC, because the message reached the USA administration.
TALC applauds the solidarity shown by many comrades from around the globe.
VIVA GENERIC ARVs!!
VIVA TALC!!
ALUTA CONTINUA!!
By Banza Chela: Advocacy Sub-committee Chairperson
TALC CALLS ON THE MINISTER OF HEALTH TO STRENGTHEN THE DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM!!!
In a letter dated 9th December 2010, signed by both TALC National Coordinator, Mr. Felix Mwanza, and Parliamentary Committee on Health Chairperson, Hon. Jean Kapata, to the Minister of Health, Hon. Kapembwa Simbao, the two institutions in being proactive made the following proposals for the Minister to:
(1) Provide Medical Stores Limited with adequate funding to ensure that it meets its mandate more efficiently. To do this, it is further proposed that the GRZ provides for the autonomy of MSL in as far as providing it with procurement powers as opposed to it working under the Ministry of Health.
(2) Strengthen the supply chain management and streamline the procurement procedures at health facility level
(3) Work on personnel attitudes towards work, specifically those entrusted with ordering and dispensing of the drugs at health facility level
(4) Provide Lusaka District Health Management Team (DHMT) with adequate transportation to ensure that it meets its mandate of providing public health facilities with drugs ordered by those facilities from MSL.
(5) Provide for a more transparent system within the national drug supply chain management that will allow civil society organizations and ordinary citizens an opportunity to provide the necessary timely checks and balances to avoid lapses within the system.
(6) To put more money in the National Health basket so as to meet and possibly do better than the bare minimum agreed to in 2001 under the Abuja Declaration.
The letter was copied to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and to the general public, through the media.
2010 World AIDS Day Commemoration – Treatment Activists Protest
By Banza Chela
This year’s World AIDS Day was commemorated under the theme ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’. In Zambia, under the guidance and leadership of the National AIDS Council, a number of messages relating to that theme were extracted. It was felt that those messages were appropriate with regards to the state of the pandemic within the country. Among the many other messages developed where:
‘Access to Prevention is my right’
‘Access to Treatment is my Right’
‘Access to Care and Support is my Right’
The National event was held in the provincial capital of the Eastern Province, Chipata. Satellites commemorations were also held in all the other provincial capitals, Lusaka included. I was among many other people that participated in the commemoration events in Lusaka Province and District, and this article serves as a brief account of that experience through my own eyes and six senses.
The events began with a traditional march past which was flagged off at 09:00hrs by the Lusaka District Commissioner (DC) Madam Christa Kalulu. It moved from Melissa shopping centre in Matero compound to the newly constructed Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Mandevu compound along Great North Road. The distance is approximately 5 kilometres.
The march was characterised by the presence of the Zambian National Police Service brass band, with their ever entertaining instruments, a large number of groups of support groups of people living with HIV, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working within the Nation’s health sector, line ministries, various public institutions, community activists and a number of sympathisers and well wishers.
Previous years were commemorated under the theme ‘Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise’. I strongly believe that it was the recollection of that theme that caused treatment activists from Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC) to look back at the many promises that had been made towards the plight of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in the country. The promises that these activists focused on were those made by leaders at all levels from within families, communities in both rural and urban settings and most importantly at national level.
The activists looked at those promises in light of this year’s theme, ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’, more so with regards to continued need to address by way of protecting the human rights of PLWHIV and by so doing removing discriminatory barriers that hinder the attainment of universal access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
This year’s commemoration took place at a time when PLWHIV are facing a lot of challenges considering among other things (i) the global economic crisis threatening to undermine public investments in the health sector, (ii) reports on misappropriation of funds from the report of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Global Funds, (iii) reported drug shortages/stock outs on some essential Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). To the activists, this appeared an opportune time to voice out their concerns on these issues to the leadership and ultimately help to save hundreds of thousands of lives. It was also an opportune time to send a message to the same leaders to demonstrate the importance of continued HIV investments to broader health and development goals.
A total of about a 100 activists interrupted the commemoration when the guest of honour, Honourable Mr. Charles Shawa, MP, Provincial Minister for Lusaka Province, was delivering his official speech. The activists sang songs, trotted, chanted slogans while holding placards with several messages placed on them. These actions attracted the attention of both participants and journalists covering the procession. Interesting enough, even the attention of the National broadcaster, ZNBC, was caught by the actions of the activists.
Journalists went on to hold interviews with the TALC Advocacy & Communications Officer, Mr. Daniel Libati and the Civil Society Health Forum (CSHF) Focal point person, Mr. Paul Kasonkomona, with a view to getting the messages from the activists clearer.
Among the messages that the placards carried were:
‘Fullfill the Abuja declaration now’
‘Introduce the third line treatment in Zambia’
‘Stop corruption over AIDS’
‘I need my 4FDC to cure my TB’
‘Improve the systems of compromised principal recipients’
‘No decision about us without us PLHIV’
‘The country coordinating mechanism has failed’
‘We demand improved ART diagnostic tools’
‘With rampant misuse of global funds it is impossible to attain MDG on health’
‘Broken promises kill’
‘HIV/AIDS money for HIV/AIDS activities’
‘Where is my Abacavir’
‘Viva Global fund abash plunderers for the funds’
‘Drug shortages infringe my right to health’
‘Essential medicines should be made available in all clinics’
‘Here I am thanks to Global fund’
‘Thank you Global fund for round 10’
‘Stop drug stock-outs now’
‘Lack of drugs means no right health’
‘Adherence to treatment means no interruption in drug supply’
By Banza Chela (Mr)
TALC Lusaka Hub
Advocacy Subcommittee Chairperson
Viva TALC, ALUTA CONTINUA
