Update on Affirm's global health work

31 January 2011

Affirm, an InterHealth umbrella organisation that helps facilitate local communities to respond effectively to HIV and AIDS, has been busy so far in 2011.

Read about some of the things that they and other organisations have been doing to further Affirm's cause:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) held a regional meeting on HIV prevention in Bangkok in December. The meeting was based on the Affirm process used in Geneva for the New Staff Orientation and it went well. More Geneva based UNAIDS staff training, plus Prevention team discussion on worldwide strategy, is scheduled for March.
Community counselling and SALT mentoring complemented Habitat for Humanity interventions in Haiti. The local response was fresh, unifying, and strong.
Global Reconciliation partnership with Affirm and with local communities, in Calcutta and Gaza, may lead to widespread expansion of response, if catalytic funding can be found
It was found that local 'Build It' staff and communities want more stimulation and shared learning after a facilitation team visit linked the building of a clinic with community ownership of HIV in Zambia.
Partnership is emerging with DIFAEM (the German Medical Mission Institute) and Hands on Health of USPG, with plans for work in Malawi. Affirm has facilitated the connection.
Invited to join The Order of St. John new development board, which meets for the first time in February 2011. HIV response through home care and youth engagement is a St. John priority for 2011.
Presented key note and participated in panel on evaluation at Nelson Mandela Foundation on 15th November in Johannesburg.
CO-facilitating 'AIDS Competence' process in 2011, in three cities in Russia, including Moscow, for the Constellation for Health and Life Competence, with UNAIDS.

GLOCAN: A Global Local Community Conversation Help is needed for sponsorship of facilitations team mates, and for communicating the story. All donations and sponsorship funds will be channeled through the Affirm account held at InterHealth.

Plans are now forming for the first quarter of next year, i.e. visits to Africa. On the Affirm website homepage are planning charts with the locations and dates, and a core document with the objectives and methods. A sign up form, with updates planning charts, will be available in February. Anyone who wants to support, or join in the journey at any point, please contact Ian Campbell.

Spotlight

Why MyHealth?
"As the Country Representative for Mali at Tearfund, I am often caught off guard when I need to travel at short notice.

Preparation can be a real hassle when you’re focussing on many different things. However, I know I can’t do my job well if I’m not healthy and resilient. When I’m ill on assignment it has a huge impact on my work.

MyHealth will make a real difference to those working internationally by providing expert reassurance if problems arise. This means we can get on with our work, trying to transform the lives of those most in need."
Mark Butler, Tearfund