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Access to antiretroviral drugs in Brazil

GALVAO, Jane
December 2002

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Since 1996, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has guaranteed free and universal access to antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. Implementation of this policy has had political, financial, and logistical challenges. This article investigates the history and context of antiretroviral policy in Brazil, the logistics of the drugs distribution, and the government's strategies for acquisition of the drugs. Many antiretrovirals used in Brazil are produced domestically; the remainder, including some of the most expensive drugs, are purchased from abroad. Although the Brazilian policy of antiretroviral distribution has had notable success, it remains threatened by the high cost of acquisition of drugs, which has led to disputes with international pharmaceutical companies over prices and patents. Whether or not the Brazilian model of guaranteeing access to antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS can be applied in other countries or regions, much can be learned from the country's experience

World Youth Report 2003 : report of the Secretary-General

UNITED NATIONS. Commission for Social Development
December 2002

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Official UN report, divided into two sections: (i) highlights of the current global situation of youth -- includes priority areas and new concerns; (ii) evaluation of the fourth session of the World Youth Forum

An evaluation of POLICY's advocacy manual : Networking for policy change

DAVENPORT, Anne
FERANIL, Imelda Z
December 2002

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Describes the methodology and results of an evaluation of the POLICY project's popular Advocacy Manual. Tools used include written questionnaires, questionnaire-based interviews, focus group discussions and project records. Questionnaires were developed for different target groups: country managers/resident advisors, trainers, and workshops participants. Questionnaires covered the manual's content, organisation, and language, its application, and outcome and impact. Results are mostly qualitative and are synthesized by the evaluators, and illustrated with excerpts from respondents. The suggestions may be useful to others using POLICY's manual or developing a similar advocacy training resource

One step further : responses to HIV/AIDS

SISASK, Anne
Ed
December 2002

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This volume, a collaboration of Swedish SIDA and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), presents research on the social and developmental aspects of HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment. The papers highlight treatment and prevention, epidemiological analysis, stigma and discrimination, human rights, the role of the private sector, and community responses and innovative approaches to open discussion of sexuality and risk behaviour

Poor, disabled and shut out

WOLFENSOHN, James D
December 2002

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This article advocates for an increase in inclusive development work that more fully considers the needs of disabled people. The author puts forward a set of recommendations including development projects that prioritise accessible infrastructure in developing countries and improvements in data collection and research. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in disability and development

How will the reduction of tariffs and taxes on insecticide-treated bednets affect household purchases?

SIMON, Jonathon L
et al
November 2002

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Presents an approach for analysing the extent to which reforms of tariff and tax policy can be expected to increase ITN purchases. Considers the effect on retail prices if tariffs and taxes are eliminated; and the degree to which consumer demand reponds to changes in the retail price of ITNs. Concludes that the impact will be country-specific, and that information about market structure and cost conditions in each country is needed for accurate predictions

Research for poverty reduction : DFID research policy paper

SURR, Martin
et al
November 2002

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This report proposes policies and principles to guide DFID's research work over the long term. It also identifies the need for better communication to enhance the pro-poor impact of DFID's research programme. The paper argues that research has a crucial role to play in helping to develop evidence-based, innovative approaches to international development and acknowledges the high quality of much current practice. It also acknowledges that research is only one element in a system; research needs to be located within the context of wider knowledge or innovation systems. Networks and trust-relationships between various players are central to knowledge systems. These relationships form the key communication channels. The report is also suggesting that DfID improve its understanding of knowledge systems, in which DfID funded research takes place

Collateral damage : the health and environmental costs of war on Iraq

SALVAGE, Jane
November 2002

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This is a report on the impact of the 1900-1991 Gulf War on the Iraqi population. An estimated 205,000 Iraqis died in 1991, and an excess of 47,000 deaths among children under five were reported from January to August 1991. The consequences of armed conflicts are generally felt for decades, as the natural environment and essential infrastructure (including health services) are damaged or destroyed. Iraq's infrastructure was extensively damaged, and biological and chemical pollutants were widely dispersed. Sanctions, the Oil-for-Food Programme, and No-Fly Zones undermined recovery and reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the war

Water supply and sanitation access and use by physically disabled people : e-conference synthesis report

LEWIS, Ingrid
REED, R.
JONES, Hazel
Eds
October 2002

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The aim of this e-conference was to provide a forum for sharing information, experience and views on issues related to disabled people's access to and use of water and sanitation facilities. The report looks at barriers to accessible water and sanitation facilities; strategies to improve accessibility; and tools to support improvement in access. It is useful for CBR projects, governments, and planners

Improving transparency in pharmaceutical systems : strengthening critical decision points against corruption

COHEN, Jillian Clare
CERCONE,James A.
MACAYA, Roman
October 2002

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This is a diagnostic framework and methodology to evaluate a pharmaceutical system’s vulnerability to corruption and to determine which corrupt practices can have a major impact on the system’s ultimate efficiency. While developed in the context of the health systems of Latin America and the Caribbean (and implemented in a pilot study in Costa Rica), the methodology can be modified with ease so that it is applicable to other regions

Uganda national drug policy

MINISTRY OF HEALTH, UGANDA
October 2002

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The Uganda national drug policy has been created to help ..."contribute to the attainment of a good standard of health by the population of Uganda, through ensuring the availability, accessibility and affordability of essential drugs of appropriate quality, safety and efficacy and by promoting their rational use"

Awareness of reproductive rights, HIV prevention and sexual exploitation among women with disabilities

NANGENDO, Florence
October 2002

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This research report identifies issues of awareness of reproductive rights and HIV prevention among women with disabilities. The report presents the respondents’ discussions about the rights that are relevant to them and also if they revealed how they are either protected or abused. The report’s recommends increased sensitisation, to parents, communities and other service providers to continue supporting disabled women in satisfying their sexual and reproductive needs as well as protecting them from HIV/AIDS

Water supply and sanitation access and use by physically disabled people : literature review

PARKER, K J
JONES, Hazel
REED, R
September 2002

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This review, of published and unpublished literature from all over the world, was undertaken in order to gain an overview of available information. The majority of disabled people in low-income countries face barriers to accessing and using water and sanitation facilities. CBR projects, policy makers and governments need to address these findings

Integrating intellectual property rights and development policy : report of the commission on intellectual property rights

COMMISSION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (CIPR)
September 2002

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This detailed and thorough report considers whether and how intellectual property rights (IPRs) can play a role in achieving the Millenium Development Goals. It explores the potential benefits of IPRs in stimulating economic growth, and the associated benefits in terms of productivity and reduced poverty. It considers also the barriers that IPRs may present to developing economies, including discouraging invention, research, technology transfer, domestic production and driving up the costs of medicines and agricultural inputs. Key issues covered in successive chapters include: current evidence about the impact of IPRs in developing countries; development of and access to medicines; protection of plants and genetic resources; the Convention on Biological Diversity, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and geographic indicators; copyright and patents; IPR legislation for developing countries; international and national institutional framework for IPRs

Cross-generational and transactional sexual relations in sub-Saharan Africa : prevalance of behaviour and implications for negotiating safer sexual practices

LUKE, Nancy
KURZ, Kathleen
September 2002

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This paper is a literature and evidence survey of cross-generational and transactional sex in Africa. It examines the age and economic asymmetries in sexual relationships in an African context, prevalence of cross-generational and transactional sexual relationships, adolescent girls' and men's motivations and adolescent girls' negotiating power in relationships. It comes to the conclusion that adolescent girls have power when negotiating the start and end of relationships and they are strongly motivated to enter into cross-generational relationships for the material benefits and status that they bring. However, once they have entered the relaltionship the balance of power shifts to the man, especially in the context of gift-giving.
The paper also examines the evidence around cultural acceptance of cross-generational and transactional sexual relationships, violence and rape within the relationships, multiple relationships, and outcome of the relationships. The authors' recommendations are to: gather policy support for changing the social norm; mount programmatic responses; conduct research to investigate the success of programmatic responses, document the policy process, and fill other important information gaps

Forgotten villages : struggling to survive under closure in the West Bank

O'BRIEN, Lee
PICKUP, Francine
September 2002

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This briefing paper describes the humanitarian impact of the Israeli government's policy of closure and restriction in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Closure policies have undermined or even broken links to markets, services and jobs, leaving rural communities facing impoverishment and unemployment, lack of access to services, a weakened agricultural sector, and increased vulnerability to Israeli settler violence. The recommendations in this paper focus particularly on the social and economic impact of closure on those living in Palestinian villages across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The most urgent of these call for an immediate end to the Government of Israel's policy of closure of Palestinian civilian areas

Africa Union of the Blind advocacy manual

AFRICA UNION OF THE BLIND (AFUB)
September 2002

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The purpose of this manual is to train members of national organisations of the blind on how to best advocate and lobby their governments. The aim is to raise awareness on the needs and rights of the visually impaired, and promote government policies that can improve their quality of life. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in advocacy and policy development

Definition of disability in Europe : a comparative analysis

MABBETT, Deborah
September 2002

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This resource provides an overview of the definitions of disability found in anti-discrimination laws and social policies of member states of the European Union. The aim is to show how different definitions of disability are relevant to different policies and the importance of specificity to avoid poorly targeted programs. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in legislation, advocacy and policy development. It is also available in French and German

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