The Following is an article published in Forbes.
The Five Worst Leaders In Africa
Good governance is gaining ground in Africa. It’s happening at snail speed, but it’s happening nevertheless. African leaders are becoming increasingly democratic and are recording significant progress in liberalizing the political environment. They are more accountable to their citizens, and showing more respect for human rights and civil liberties.
But the bad eggs still linger – and there are quite a number of them. Late last year, I put a call through to my African followers on Twitter to nominate the worst African leaders of our times. I received over 800 responses. Based on those responses, these are the five worst African leaders of today.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is Africa’s longest serving ruler. He has ruled Equatorial Guinea, a tiny, oil-rich West African country, since August 1979 when he overthrew his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in a bloody coup d’état. Equatorial Guinea is one of the continent’s largest producers of oil and has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, but this doesn’t necessarily translate into prosperity for its people. The country ranks very poorly in the United Nations human development index; the vast majority of Equatorial Guineans hardly have access to clean drinking water. The country also has one of the world’s highest under-5 mortality rates: about 20% of its children die before the age of five. Many of the remaining 80% of the children don’t have access to quality educational and healthcare facilities. Meanwhile, the first son of the president, Teodorin Obiang (who is in line to succeed his father), spends millions of dollars of state funds financing his lavish lifestyle which includes luxurious property in Malibu, a Gulfstream jet, Michael Jackson memorabilia and a car collection that could easily make billionaires go green with envy.
José Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola
José Eduardo dos Santos is Africa’s second longest serving president. He took the reins of power in September 1979 following the natural death of his predecessor Agostinho Neto. To his discredit, Jose Eduardo has always run his government like it’s his personal, privately-owned investment holding company. His cousin serves as the Angola’s vice president, and his daughter, Isabel Dos Santos is arguably the wealthiest woman in the country. Angola is extremely resource-rich. According to the United States Agency For International Development (USAID), the country is the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa and the seventh-largest supplier to the United States. Angola also has massive diamond deposits and occupies an enviable position as the world’s fourth largest producer of rough diamonds.
But for all its resource wealth, the vast majority of Angolans still live in the most horrid socio-economic conditions. 68% of the country’s total population lives below the poverty line of $1.7 a day, while 28% live on less than 30 cents. Education is free, but it’s practically worthless. Most of the schools are housed in dilapidated structures and there is a severe deficit of skilled and qualified teachers. According to the U.N. Children’s Fund, 30% of the country’s children are malnourished. The average life expectancy is about 41 years while child and maternal deaths are extremely high. Unemployment levels are very high. But José Eduardo dos Santos is unaffected. Rather than transforming Angola’s economic boom into social relief for its people, he has channeled his energies towards intimidating the local media and diverting state funds into his personal and family accounts. Dos Santos’s family controls a huge chunk of Angola’s economy. His daughter, Isabel Dos Santos has amassed one of the Angola’s largest personal fortunes by using proceeds from her father’s alleged corruption to acquire substantial stakes in companies like Zon Multimedia, a Portuguese media conglomerate and in Portuguese banks Banco Espírito Santo and Banco Português de Investimento among others.
Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe
Many Zimbabweans seem to think Mugabe is doing a stellar job. The country is on an economic rebound after several years of decline. GDP growth in 2011 was over 7% and the Southern African state has experienced single-digit inflation since 2009. The country’s agricultural sector is fast recovering after years of food shortages fueled by disruptions caused by Mugabe’s infamous seizure of white-owned commercial farms. Mugabe’s government has also recorded significant achievements in education as a result of extensive teacher training and school expansion projects: At over 80%, the country has one of the highest literacy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.
But Mugabe’s inadequacies overshadow his achievements. For one, he has failed to deal with the ever-present problem of employment. The country’s high literacy rate does not necessarily translate into employment opportunities for its people. Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa: it’s over 60%.
Despite entering into a power-sharing agreement with the former opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Mugabe still wields almost total control over government institutions – a feat he has been able to achieve through his use of violence and subjugation. He remains reluctant to allocate substantial political powers to the MDC, and human rights abuses in the Southern African country are rife. The 87 year-old megalomaniac has vowed not to step down despite having ruled the Southern African state for over 24 years. He is seeking re-election in the country’s presidential polls slated for later in the year. Analysts expect the election to be besieged by fraud as the previous one.
King Mswati III, King of Swaziland
Sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch presides over a country which has one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates: ver 35 percent of adults. Its average life expectancy is the lowest in the world at 33 years; nearly 70 percent of the country’s citizens live on less than $1 a day and 40 percent are unemployed. But for all the suffering of the Swazi people, King Mswati has barely shown concern or interest. He lives lavishly, using his kingdom’s treasury to fund his expensive tastes in German automobiles, first-class leisure trips around the world and women. But his gross mismanagement of his country’s finances is now having dire economic consequences. Swaziland is going through a severe fiscal crisis. The kingdom’s economy is collapsing and pensions have been stopped. In June last year, the King begged for a financial bailout from South Africa, and the country is at a dead end, so badly that it recently announced its withdrawal from the 2013 Africans Nations Cup, citing lack of finances as the principal reason.
Omar Al-Bashir, President of Sudan
Sudan’s President seized power in 1989 in a bloodless military coup against the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi- a government which was democratically elected by the people of Sudan. Soon after seizing power, Al-Bashir dispersed all political parties in the country, disbanded the country’s parliament and shut down all privately-owned media outlets. His reign has been characterized by a civil war in which over one million have been killed, while several millions have been displaced. Al-Bashir is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for instigating crimes against humanity, particularly in directing and funding acts of violence against the Southern Sudan. Famously corrupt, a diplomatic wikileaks cable revealed that Al-Bashir likely siphoned some $9 billion of his country’s funds into his private bank accounts in the United Kingdom.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2012/02/09/the-five-worst-leaders-in-africa/
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Marula Festival 2012 Edition
In Northern HhoHho there’s a small but charming town named Buhleni. You’re sure to think you’re seeing an oasis when you set sight upon this beauty of a town for the first time. Situated about a half hour south of the Matsamo border, this weekend getaway offers an allure that only a town with both a bar AND a PEP store can offer. The aforementioned bar, gas station, and bus rank are the perfect places to have conversations with unintelligible Swazi men and not to be missed are the public toilets (pit latrines) which have overflowed and are no longer in service. Don’t drive too fast nor blink, for you just might miss this magic wonderland which would be a terrible shame since once a year this sleepy town awakens to become the social gathering place and highlight of its existence. Welcome to Buhleni!
King Mswati hosts the kickoff to the Marula Season with the Marula Festival in the Buhleni Royal Kraal. An event not to missed, Bo-Gogo (grandmothers) from ALL over Swaziland gather to drink, sleep, eat, drink, dance, sing, offer their marula to the king and drink some more. Last year I was ill prepared for such an event and though, for the most part, I found it fun and entertaining I did not enjoy the endless harassment received from the drunken men. This year things were different.
Not only did I know what to expect, but after living here for almost 2 years, I am more than happy to yell at inappropriate and disgusting men to teach them lessons on how to respect women and not treat them like dogs or as their own personal servants. I am no longer fearful of their opinions of me nor timid in my responses and it has SIGNIFICANTLY improved my entire service. Another reason why I enjoyed the festival significantly more this year than last? I had my Swazi friends with me and many people from my community there. These men and women introduced me to others, they protected me and they danced with me. It was wonderful to see them in a different setting. And last but certainly not least, I was prepared with marula of my own. It made for a more entertaining and relaxing day!
In the midst of drinking, dancing, and socializing, we also made sure we did our job as Peace Corps Volunteers. 9 of my fellow PCVs came out and we passed out condoms, talked about safe sex, had discussions on living and being healthy, etc. It’s amazing how easy and wonderfully rewarding it can be to talk about our work here in Swaziland, all while experiencing and participating in cultural events. I LOVE my job.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
12 Reasons to Date A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
In honor of Valentines Day where I was stuck in my hut sweeeping, mopping, waxing the floors, killing scorpions, spiders, and insects, hand washing a months worth of clothes and taking a 3 hour nap from the 100+F degree day and in doing so forgot about the holiday until facebook started blowing up with "I love you"s and "Best BF/GF" status', here is a wonderful and hilarious article about Peace Corps Volunteers.
12 reasons to date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer:
1.We can woo you in multiple languages. Who else is going to whisper sweet nothings to you in everything from Albanian to Hausa to Quechua to Xhosa? That’s right. Only a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
2.We’re pretty good dancers. Yeah, we don’t like to brag, but after 27 months in Latin America or Africa we know how to move it.
3.We’ll eat anything. Seriously. No matter how bad your cooking, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have had worse and will eat it with nary a blink. Sheep’s eyeball? Water buffalo gall bladder? Grasshoppers? Bush rat? Bring it.
4.We know all about safe sex, thanks to our very thorough Peace Corps health training. In fact, there’s a chance that we’ve stood unblushingly in front of hundreds of villagers and demonstrated good condom technique with a large wooden phallus.
5.We’ll kill spiders for you. Well, actually, we’ll nonchalantly scoop them up and put them out of sight. Same goes for mice, geckos, frogs, snakes. Critters don’t faze Returned Volunteers.
6.We have great date ideas: wandering a street market, checking out a foreign film, taking in a world music concert, volunteering…. Romantic getaway? Our passport is updated and our suitcase is packed. With us, life is always an adventure.
7.We like you for “you”… not your paycheck. Especially if we are freshly back from service, a local joint with “character” will win out over a pretentious eatery. Living in a group house? No problem. Does it have running hot water? What luxury!
8.You won’t get lost when you’re with a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Navigating local markets on four continents, we’ve honed an uncanny sense of direction. Or else we’ll ask for directions. We’re not afraid to talk to “strangers.”
9.Waiting for a late train or bus? Don’t worry, we’ve been there, done that. We can share lots of funny stories about “the bus ride from hell” that will make the time go quickly and put it all into perspective.
10.Our low-maintenance fashion style. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer guys are secure in their manhood and don’t mind rocking a sarong. Women often prefer flip flops to high heels. We don’t spend hours in front of a mirror getting ready to go out.
11.Marry us, and you won’t just get one family — you’ll get two! When we refer to our “brother” or “mom,” you’ll want to be certain we’re talking about our American one or our Peace Corps one. You might even get two wedding ceremonies, one in the U.S. and one back in our Peace Corps country.
12.And last but not least, we aren’t afraid to get dirty.
From: http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/2012/02/12-reasons-to-date-a-returned-peace-corps-volunteer/
Happy Valentines Day All!
12 reasons to date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer:
1.We can woo you in multiple languages. Who else is going to whisper sweet nothings to you in everything from Albanian to Hausa to Quechua to Xhosa? That’s right. Only a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
2.We’re pretty good dancers. Yeah, we don’t like to brag, but after 27 months in Latin America or Africa we know how to move it.
3.We’ll eat anything. Seriously. No matter how bad your cooking, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have had worse and will eat it with nary a blink. Sheep’s eyeball? Water buffalo gall bladder? Grasshoppers? Bush rat? Bring it.
4.We know all about safe sex, thanks to our very thorough Peace Corps health training. In fact, there’s a chance that we’ve stood unblushingly in front of hundreds of villagers and demonstrated good condom technique with a large wooden phallus.
5.We’ll kill spiders for you. Well, actually, we’ll nonchalantly scoop them up and put them out of sight. Same goes for mice, geckos, frogs, snakes. Critters don’t faze Returned Volunteers.
6.We have great date ideas: wandering a street market, checking out a foreign film, taking in a world music concert, volunteering…. Romantic getaway? Our passport is updated and our suitcase is packed. With us, life is always an adventure.
7.We like you for “you”… not your paycheck. Especially if we are freshly back from service, a local joint with “character” will win out over a pretentious eatery. Living in a group house? No problem. Does it have running hot water? What luxury!
8.You won’t get lost when you’re with a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Navigating local markets on four continents, we’ve honed an uncanny sense of direction. Or else we’ll ask for directions. We’re not afraid to talk to “strangers.”
9.Waiting for a late train or bus? Don’t worry, we’ve been there, done that. We can share lots of funny stories about “the bus ride from hell” that will make the time go quickly and put it all into perspective.
10.Our low-maintenance fashion style. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer guys are secure in their manhood and don’t mind rocking a sarong. Women often prefer flip flops to high heels. We don’t spend hours in front of a mirror getting ready to go out.
11.Marry us, and you won’t just get one family — you’ll get two! When we refer to our “brother” or “mom,” you’ll want to be certain we’re talking about our American one or our Peace Corps one. You might even get two wedding ceremonies, one in the U.S. and one back in our Peace Corps country.
12.And last but not least, we aren’t afraid to get dirty.
From: http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/2012/02/12-reasons-to-date-a-returned-peace-corps-volunteer/
Happy Valentines Day All!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
2 libraries; donate ARTS & CRAFTS supplies to African children
In the past few months I have been getting more and more involved with my high school. From teaching classes, helping set up and run the computers, installing Wikipedia, and working with the teachers and students, I have come to LOVE and ADORE my high school. The headmaster and deputy are wonderful, kind, dedicated, and passionate people. They are at school from 7am-5pm (sometimes even until 6pm or 7pm) daily. On top of being administratively in charge of the school, they are also teachers- in charge of their own classes/subjects. Despite their long and exhaustive days at school, they are always welcoming, happy and receptive to anyone offering help to their school. The opposite might be said about one of my primary schools. Perhaps I’ve just spent too much time with them and now they are taking all I do for granted but I no longer look forward to going there. It got to the point where I was contemplating taking their library and offering it to the high school. But that would go against what PC is about, and not to mention-plain cruel. So when I heard that a school dropped out of the Books for Swaziland project because they couldn’t raise the money, I jumped into their conversation.
Eric: “What are we going to do now? That messes up the financial breakdown”
Me: “Are you talking about the school that dropped out? That sucks. Sorry to hear that.” Pause. “So…If you need another school, and want the money now now, my high school would LOVE to be chosen. I’m sure they are highly interested, and I would be more than willing to pay the money NOW. Let’s go to town.” (It should be stated that I have never actually approached my high school to ask if they wanted to expand their current library. I just assumed. Mainly though, I desperately wanted to work with them and offer this wonderful opportunity.)
Eric: “Woah. Shauna. Thanks, but we have a waiting list of schools.”
Me: “I know, but if you’re looking for money right now, I’m your girl.”
Eric: “Ok.”
Me: “So, I get the library?”
Eric: “Nope. I’ll talk it over with the others (those in charge of the Books for Swaziland project) and we’ll decide the course of action.”
Me: “Dang. Well, I’m always here. With the money. Just in case.”
-1 week later-
Eric calls while I’m on public transport to teach swim lessons. The annoyingly terrible Swazi gospel music is blasting and I am unable to hear a word that is spoken. I hang up. 20 minutes later, I call back.
Eric: “Yo. Your school still interested in a library?”
Me: “OMG YES. YES THEY ARE!” (I am now yelling and running around in a circle with excitement. Also- I have not asked my school)
Eric: “Ok. Just get the money to us asap.”
Me: “DONE, DONE, DONE!” (I proceed to talk fast and ask a lot of questions)
As soon as I stopped panting from the ridiculous hill I just sprinted up, I called my headmaster. After spending a few minutes on the phone explaining the project, he jumped on board. I knew he’d be as excited as I was! Well maybe not AS excited, but he could definitely relate.
So, NOW I HAVE 2 SCHOOLS getting libraries! Whoohoo! As I have mentioned in a previous blog post, there will be a chance for you to send any library materials (i.e. construction paper, scissors, markers, pens, pencils, paint, crayons, beads, etc.) to the Books for Africa warehouse in America, which will then be included in the cargo ship and given directly to my primary and high school. Though we finally have the address (written below), we are told not to mail anything yet. Books for Africa informed us that we need to wait until our shipping container is chosen. From there, we will have a very short period of time to mail the library materials to be included into the shipping container. So please, please start collecting all those art and craft supplies around the house- unused, collecting dust, and taking up space- and send them to Swaziland where you will make hundreds upon hundreds of children in my community happy!
PCV Swaziland- Eric Hall
Books For Africa
2971 Olympic Industrial Dr. – SE, Suite B
Smyrna, GA 30080
Please put my name, PCV Shauna Biggs inside of the box. This will ensure that the wonderful supplies you send end up at my schools.
SIYABONGA (we thank you!)
Eric: “What are we going to do now? That messes up the financial breakdown”
Me: “Are you talking about the school that dropped out? That sucks. Sorry to hear that.” Pause. “So…If you need another school, and want the money now now, my high school would LOVE to be chosen. I’m sure they are highly interested, and I would be more than willing to pay the money NOW. Let’s go to town.” (It should be stated that I have never actually approached my high school to ask if they wanted to expand their current library. I just assumed. Mainly though, I desperately wanted to work with them and offer this wonderful opportunity.)
Eric: “Woah. Shauna. Thanks, but we have a waiting list of schools.”
Me: “I know, but if you’re looking for money right now, I’m your girl.”
Eric: “Ok.”
Me: “So, I get the library?”
Eric: “Nope. I’ll talk it over with the others (those in charge of the Books for Swaziland project) and we’ll decide the course of action.”
Me: “Dang. Well, I’m always here. With the money. Just in case.”
-1 week later-
Eric calls while I’m on public transport to teach swim lessons. The annoyingly terrible Swazi gospel music is blasting and I am unable to hear a word that is spoken. I hang up. 20 minutes later, I call back.
Eric: “Yo. Your school still interested in a library?”
Me: “OMG YES. YES THEY ARE!” (I am now yelling and running around in a circle with excitement. Also- I have not asked my school)
Eric: “Ok. Just get the money to us asap.”
Me: “DONE, DONE, DONE!” (I proceed to talk fast and ask a lot of questions)
As soon as I stopped panting from the ridiculous hill I just sprinted up, I called my headmaster. After spending a few minutes on the phone explaining the project, he jumped on board. I knew he’d be as excited as I was! Well maybe not AS excited, but he could definitely relate.
So, NOW I HAVE 2 SCHOOLS getting libraries! Whoohoo! As I have mentioned in a previous blog post, there will be a chance for you to send any library materials (i.e. construction paper, scissors, markers, pens, pencils, paint, crayons, beads, etc.) to the Books for Africa warehouse in America, which will then be included in the cargo ship and given directly to my primary and high school. Though we finally have the address (written below), we are told not to mail anything yet. Books for Africa informed us that we need to wait until our shipping container is chosen. From there, we will have a very short period of time to mail the library materials to be included into the shipping container. So please, please start collecting all those art and craft supplies around the house- unused, collecting dust, and taking up space- and send them to Swaziland where you will make hundreds upon hundreds of children in my community happy!
PCV Swaziland- Eric Hall
Books For Africa
2971 Olympic Industrial Dr. – SE, Suite B
Smyrna, GA 30080
Please put my name, PCV Shauna Biggs inside of the box. This will ensure that the wonderful supplies you send end up at my schools.
SIYABONGA (we thank you!)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Creatures in my hut
In the past 1.5 years there's been a lot of crazy african bugs, rodents, and reptiles in my hut. Here are a few photos of them!
Hlane National Game Park
2 Weeks Ago as a Christmas present to myself, I went to Hlane National Game Park with some wonderful and amazing Peace Corps Ladies. It was the first big game reserve I have been to and as you can probably tell, I was stoked!
Rhinos!
Native: Washing dishes with grass and weeds. Hard Core.
Hippos, Rhinos, and Crocs all chilling at the water hole.
We love jumping Rhino photos!
Kiss me Hippo!
The deadly and poisonous BLACK MAMBA.
Hold the apple under the chin!
A lion's footprint!
Rhinos!
Native: Washing dishes with grass and weeds. Hard Core.
Hippos, Rhinos, and Crocs all chilling at the water hole.
We love jumping Rhino photos!
Kiss me Hippo!
The deadly and poisonous BLACK MAMBA.
Hold the apple under the chin!
A lion's footprint!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Paul Farmer and the Global Fund
Everyone who knows me knows my somewhat strange obsession, respect, admiration, love and wish that I could be as passionate, caring and selfless as Paul Farmer. If you are unfamiliar with him, I highly recommend reading the book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder- a biography on the life and work of Dr. Paul Farmer. If you find both him and the medical field/anthropology/international global health interesting, he has a few other fantastic books out that are definitely worth checking out.
An article of his was published in the New York Times yesterday. Having been in Swaziland for just under 2 years, working daily with friends and family on ARVs and those fighting against TB, bearing witness to the next generation of children born without HIV (mother to child transmissions have significantly lowered), and seeing firsthandedly how the global fund and PEPFAR has positively impacted and improved the lives of Swazis, I couldn't agree more with Paul Farmer. I have attached his article below, entitled: WHY THE GLOBAL FUND MATTERS.
Op-Ed Contributor
Why the Global Fund Matters By PAUL FARMER
Published: February 1, 2012
Ten years ago, the heads of the G-8 countries met in Genoa, Italy, to back the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — a new funding mechanism that dramatically increased resources available to fight preventable, treatable diseases stalking the poor and depleting developing economies around the globe.
In 2001, very few people — almost none, really — living with H.I.V. in Africa had access to antiretroviral medicines. Today, more than 3.3 million people — more than half of those on treatment worldwide — are on treatment supported by the Global Fund: A true victory for the global community. The fund and the U.S. international AIDS program, Pepfar (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program), are the most ambitious global health endeavors in generations.
Now, 10 years since its founding, the Global Fund is facing a serious financial shortfall, and the fund’s board voted recently not to accept new grant requests until at least 2014. Bill Gates’ announcement of a $750 million contribution to the fund in Davos last week was welcome news — the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been among the greatest supporters of the Global Fund since its inception — but will not change the board’s decision. They knew of Gates’ donation before they canceled the current round of grant-making.
This funding deficit hit right when the end of AIDS became plausible: Last year, scientific breakthroughs provided conclusive evidence that putting more people on treatment earlier can significantly reduce incidence of H.I.V. Treatment is prevention.
Beyond AIDS, the Global Fund is currently the largest donor in the world for tuberculosis and malaria programs. Operating in 150 countries, it has treated more than 8 million cases of tuberculosis and distributed 230 million insecticide-treated nets. Deaths from malaria are down nearly 40 percent in most of Africa. The question is not whether the Global Fund works, but how to ensure it keeps working for years to come.
In my mind, there are four reasons this is imperative:
First, the world needs to expand, not contract, access to health care because of the sheer burden of disease. It is unconscionable that, in 2012, we are still living in a world where millions of poor people die of preventable and treatable diseases.
Second, the Fund doesn’t simply give handouts; it takes the longer road of investing in and working with health ministries. In doing so, it seeks to build (or rebuild) local health systems, develop platforms for transparency and accountability, boost local procurement and improve supply chains, and help train civil servants and health professionals.
This approach has had profound spillover effects on other health and development priorities. In central Haiti, for example, establishing effective treatment programs for AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria has raised the standard of care for chronic conditions like major mental illness, heart failure and several forms of cancer.
Third, the Global Fund proves how much multilateral organizations can accomplish. While the usual players — the G-8, say — bear the greatest financial burden, I would urge some of the recipient countries to consider themselves partners of and contributors to the fund. In today’s global economy, countries like India, Russia and China play meaningful roles as donors and as recipients of grants. Gabriel Jaramillo, a Brazilian banker who last week was named the fund’s general manager, will surely strengthen these links and reinvigorate its leadership. The Global Fund is a truly multilateral organization, and stronger for it.
Fourth, a recession is a lousy excuse to starve one of the best (and only) instruments we have for helping people who live on a few dollars a day. Most marginalized populations around the globe have always faced economic contraction; “financial crisis” has been ongoing for them since the day they were born. It would be a great mistake to allow one of the world’s most effective global health institutions to fail because we need to get our own fiscal house in order.
Along with Pepfar, the Global Fund has, without question, helped turn the corner on AIDS. It has also helped realize substantial gains against TB and malaria that must be maintained. We need to summon the funding and political will, now, to protect the hard-fought progress of the past decade.
Simply put, if we allow the fund to fail, many people will die, and we will forfeit the chance at the “AIDS-free generation” that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for in November. This is no time to step back.
Paul Farmer is chairman of the department of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School and a cofounder of Partners in Health, which has received support from the Global Fund in Haiti, Lesotho and Russia.
An article of his was published in the New York Times yesterday. Having been in Swaziland for just under 2 years, working daily with friends and family on ARVs and those fighting against TB, bearing witness to the next generation of children born without HIV (mother to child transmissions have significantly lowered), and seeing firsthandedly how the global fund and PEPFAR has positively impacted and improved the lives of Swazis, I couldn't agree more with Paul Farmer. I have attached his article below, entitled: WHY THE GLOBAL FUND MATTERS.
Op-Ed Contributor
Why the Global Fund Matters By PAUL FARMER
Published: February 1, 2012
Ten years ago, the heads of the G-8 countries met in Genoa, Italy, to back the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — a new funding mechanism that dramatically increased resources available to fight preventable, treatable diseases stalking the poor and depleting developing economies around the globe.
In 2001, very few people — almost none, really — living with H.I.V. in Africa had access to antiretroviral medicines. Today, more than 3.3 million people — more than half of those on treatment worldwide — are on treatment supported by the Global Fund: A true victory for the global community. The fund and the U.S. international AIDS program, Pepfar (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program), are the most ambitious global health endeavors in generations.
Now, 10 years since its founding, the Global Fund is facing a serious financial shortfall, and the fund’s board voted recently not to accept new grant requests until at least 2014. Bill Gates’ announcement of a $750 million contribution to the fund in Davos last week was welcome news — the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been among the greatest supporters of the Global Fund since its inception — but will not change the board’s decision. They knew of Gates’ donation before they canceled the current round of grant-making.
This funding deficit hit right when the end of AIDS became plausible: Last year, scientific breakthroughs provided conclusive evidence that putting more people on treatment earlier can significantly reduce incidence of H.I.V. Treatment is prevention.
Beyond AIDS, the Global Fund is currently the largest donor in the world for tuberculosis and malaria programs. Operating in 150 countries, it has treated more than 8 million cases of tuberculosis and distributed 230 million insecticide-treated nets. Deaths from malaria are down nearly 40 percent in most of Africa. The question is not whether the Global Fund works, but how to ensure it keeps working for years to come.
In my mind, there are four reasons this is imperative:
First, the world needs to expand, not contract, access to health care because of the sheer burden of disease. It is unconscionable that, in 2012, we are still living in a world where millions of poor people die of preventable and treatable diseases.
Second, the Fund doesn’t simply give handouts; it takes the longer road of investing in and working with health ministries. In doing so, it seeks to build (or rebuild) local health systems, develop platforms for transparency and accountability, boost local procurement and improve supply chains, and help train civil servants and health professionals.
This approach has had profound spillover effects on other health and development priorities. In central Haiti, for example, establishing effective treatment programs for AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria has raised the standard of care for chronic conditions like major mental illness, heart failure and several forms of cancer.
Third, the Global Fund proves how much multilateral organizations can accomplish. While the usual players — the G-8, say — bear the greatest financial burden, I would urge some of the recipient countries to consider themselves partners of and contributors to the fund. In today’s global economy, countries like India, Russia and China play meaningful roles as donors and as recipients of grants. Gabriel Jaramillo, a Brazilian banker who last week was named the fund’s general manager, will surely strengthen these links and reinvigorate its leadership. The Global Fund is a truly multilateral organization, and stronger for it.
Fourth, a recession is a lousy excuse to starve one of the best (and only) instruments we have for helping people who live on a few dollars a day. Most marginalized populations around the globe have always faced economic contraction; “financial crisis” has been ongoing for them since the day they were born. It would be a great mistake to allow one of the world’s most effective global health institutions to fail because we need to get our own fiscal house in order.
Along with Pepfar, the Global Fund has, without question, helped turn the corner on AIDS. It has also helped realize substantial gains against TB and malaria that must be maintained. We need to summon the funding and political will, now, to protect the hard-fought progress of the past decade.
Simply put, if we allow the fund to fail, many people will die, and we will forfeit the chance at the “AIDS-free generation” that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for in November. This is no time to step back.
Paul Farmer is chairman of the department of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School and a cofounder of Partners in Health, which has received support from the Global Fund in Haiti, Lesotho and Russia.
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