Implementation of regional and international HIV prevention - SAfAIDS

General recommendationsGovernments and national AIDS co-ordinating bodies should:12a) Create an enabling environment for rights-based approaches to service provision. TheGovernment should consider drafting and passing HIV and AIDS specific legislation toguarantee the rights of health service users in the national response.b) Consider a formal feedback mechanism from users of health services. Activation ofthe office of the ombudsman, or in the least case, suggestion boxes at health deliverycentres is imperative.c) Continue to encourage integration of responses, especially those that are clinical andthose based in the community.d) Provide the required leadership in meeting and reporting against commitments,including the Abuja and Maseru declarations, and the Convention on the Elimination ofall forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rightsof the Child (CRC), at least at the same level of commitment expressed within the UnitedNations Genenral Assembly Special Sessions (UNGASS) process.e) Strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems of key departments such as thoseaddressing vulnerable children and abuse of women, including linking with stakeholderswho are willing to share skills in these areas. There is need to consider placing M&Eofficers at lower levels.f) Pro-actively share information on successes and challenges with implementers at alllevels. Establish a mailing list or e-forum where information can be shared regularly.g) Provide additional funding to national HIV and AIDS co-ordinating bodies and otherplayers to ensure that their monitoring and evaluation capacity is strengthened androlled out at all levels.h) Provide frameworks for pro-active national level discussions on Accra Agendas for Action(AAA) and the Paris Declaration.i) Honour budgetary obligations in the HIV and AIDS intervention processes. Meet theAbuja Declaration regarding the 15% governments agreed to allocate to their HealthSectors, and specifically increase actual spending on HIV and AIDS.j) The Government should create adequate frameworks for the protection of the rights ofvulnerable groups. All relevant international instruments like CEDAW and the CRC shouldbe translated into national laws and policies.k) Government should encourage positive utilisation of the media so that it can be used asa vehicle for education and dissemination of information on HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDSprogrammes should be aired during prime time.l) Government needs to come up with attractive remuneration packages that will becompetitive enough to retain staff. In the long term it would be prudent for governmentto develop a career progression plan with each new essential health worker recruited tothe Public Service.