RAA Foundation continues its activities of lobby and advocacy for insuring the sustainability of the programs developed through Round 6 of the GFATM Grant
February 15th, 2010
Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation (RAA) continued the lobby and advocacy efforts during the first months of 2010, in accordance with its mission as Principal Recipient for the Round 6 of the program financed by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM).
The focal point of these activities which were initiated as early as 2008 is to ensure the continuity of interventions for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C prevention among vulnerable groups through financing from the Ministry of Health budget.
Starting with June 30th 2010, the most important international donors and financers will cease their support. This includes the GFATM, the international financing organization that had the most important financial contribution to developing the interventions for HIV/AIDS prevention among vulnerable groups.
The programs financed by the Global Fund came to complement the national deficit in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention and contributed to a great extent to consolidating the capacity of the national health system to respond efficiently to the challenges raised by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
At the same time, these programs had a decisive role in ensuring the access of vulnerable groups to efficient services for prevention, treatment and professional support.
From this perspective, the continuity of activities for HIV/AIDS prevention currently developed with Global Fund financing is a definite requirement for ensuring an effective control over the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Otherwise, one can expect a worrisome increase in prevalence of the HIV, HBV and HCV infections among vulnerable groups and consequently in the general population.
Following the request filed by RAA, on January 27th 2010, a first meeting took place at the Ministry of Health with representatives of RAA Foundation and of two other organizations that implement prevention programs targeted on vulnerable groups.
RAA Foundation sent to the Ministry of Health, the State Secretary Cabinet, an official note that includes information about intervention areas, target groups, cost per beneficiary, estimated number of beneficiaries reachable through prevention programs and a table of the medical supplies needed, correlated to the interventions and activities financed by the Global Fund, Round 6.
This official request was brought to final shape with the help and input of the implementing organizations, thus incorporating the necessity of continuing the prevention interventions, at the same quality, with governmental financing.
At a later date, due to RAA Foundation being accredited by the Chamber of Deputies, a representative of the organization was invited to take part as member of a debating group concerning the change of the legislation for drug abuse. RAA Foundation brought into discussion and will include on the agenda of public debates the issue of drug users' access, as vulnerable groups, to HIV/AIDS prevention services, treatment and professional support.
Non-governmental organizations that develop programs in this area will be invited at this public debate to express the view of the civil society on the issue in case.
RAA Foundation will continue the lobby and advocacy activities for ensuring the continuation of financing for the projects developed within Round 6, permanently informing both the donor, The Global Fund, and its partners and other stakeholders about our efforts and their outcomes.
