1) Satellite Session: Universal Access to Female Condoms. Ready for a New Approach
Organizer: World Population Foundation/ Oxfam International
Session Date: Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Session Time: 15:30-17:00
Session Room: level E2 next to IAS offices, Centro Banamex
Summary:
The female condom is the only contraceptive, women can use which also protects them against STIs, including HIV and which is available NOW! However it is hardly being used and promoted. This is clearly a missed opportunity considering the lack of progress regarding the feminisation of HIV and Millenium Development Goal 5. We will explore progress and barriers, looking at what is available in the market, perceived high costs, biased perceptions and conducting power analysis. Following up on key recommendations made time and again, a plan combining research and development, large scale country programming and international advocacy, will be presented aiming at making the female condom available and accessible.
2) Workshop: Access to Medicine Index
Location: NGO tent of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Time: 14.30-15.30
Chair: Nathalie Lasslop (Cordaid)
Speaker: Kwasi Boahene (HIVOS)
The world's largest pharmaceutical companies differ strongly in their efforts to provide millions of people in low-income countries with better access to affordable drugs and vaccines.
During a 1 hour workshop, HIVOS and Cordaid will present the Access to Medicine Index, discuss the results and explore how the voice and expertise of the southern partners can be included in defining and refining the model. This was one of the main areas of improvement brought forward by the Dutch partners of ATM. The Access To Medicine Index is being supported among others by a group of Dutch NGO’s : Icco, Hivos, Oxfam International and Cordaid.
The Access to Medicine Index, developed by the Dutch Access to Medicine Foundation, measures and rates efforts by individual drug companies to increase the number of people that have access to effective and affordable medicine. The Index ranks twenty of the world's largest drug companies, offering investors and other stakeholders a new and powerful tool with which to take pharmaceutical companies' social responsibility record into account. Last June the first Index has been presented. This first Access to Medicine Index identifies GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom) as current industry leader when it comes to improving access to drugs and vaccines.
For more details on Oxfam Activities at IAC 2008 visit:
Oxfam HIV and AIDS thematic learning & sharing website:
http://hivaids.oxfamkic.org
Visit the “Communities: Oxfam at IAC" link on this site and join to log in and view the Oxfam at IAC website for all information
Ansuyah Maharaj
Communications - Global Centre of Learning on HIV and AIDS
Oxfam Great Britain
Tel: +27 (0) 12 342-5256
Fax: +27 (0) 12 342-3484
mailto:AMaharaj@Oxfam.org.uk
Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering.
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