Innovation is a key characteristic of the Centre of Excellence, which the IPPF Member Associations (MA) is setting up in their respective countries. IPPF SARO understands innovation as something which is ‘tried first time ever’ in its MA. It involves an ‘element of risk’. Innovation ‘generates a new discourse’ and it also ‘catalyzes related action’ in partner networks. We call upon all our MAs to be innovative in our work so that we would remain contemporary by maximizing our potential in an ever changing environment outside.
Research Summary: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2006; 6) has published a review titled ‘Containing HIV/AIDS in India: the unfinished agenda’. To this review, India's HIV epidemic is not yet contained and prevention in populations most at risk needs to be enhanced. HIV prevalence as measured through surveillance of antenatal and sexually transmitted disease clinics is the chief source of information on HIV in India, but these data cannot provide real insight into where transmission is occurring or guide programme strategy. The factors that influence the Indian epidemic include the size, behaviours, and disease burdens of vulnerable groups, their interaction with bridge populations and general population sexual networks and migration. The interplay of these forces has resulted in substantial epidemics in several pockets of many Indian states that could potentially ignite sub-epidemics in other, currently low prevalence, parts of the country. India's national response to HIV began in 1992 and has shown early success in some states. The priority is to build on those successes by increasing prevention coverage to saturation level, enhancing access and uptake of care and treatment services, ensuring systems and capacity for evidence-based programming, and building in-country technical and managerial capacity. Website: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473309906705515/fulltext
Resources: The State of the World's Children 2007, published by UNICEF is available at http://www.unicef.org/sowc07/. It examines the discrimination and disempowerment women face throughout their lives -- and outlines what must be done to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls. It looks at the status of women today, discusses how gender equality will move all the Millennium Development Goals forward, and shows how investment in women's rights will ultimately produce a double dividend - advancing the rights of both women and children.
News: Dr. Safieh Shahriari Afshar, the President of FPA Islamic Republic of Iran was elected in January 2007 as ‘one of the seven outstanding Iranian women in the fields of science, culture and physical education’ of the year 2006 by International Television of Islamic Republic of Iran, Jame Jam. She has also been selected as ‘one of the Female Health Experts’ in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Health Radio in May 2006.
Events: The 8th international congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific will be held at Colombo from 19-23, August 2007. The theme of the 8th ICAAP is ‘Waves of Change, Waves of Hope’. IPPF is the major sponsor of this event, which aims to achieve “meaningful exchanges of expertise, experiences, advances, lessons learnt, challenges faced and successes achieved in HIV/AIDS programmes” in the region. See details at: http://www.icaap8.lk/
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IPPF SARO Team