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Netlink - May 2005Netlink is the members’ email newsletter for the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN). Netlink aims to help members keep in touch with what is going on in the Network. If you have any information to contribute or comments on the content, or if you would like to unsubscribe, subscribe or recommend someone to receive it, please contact info@epnetwork.org First thought: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not own your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will give you the desires of your heart" Proverbs 3:5-6
Access Work Starts in Malawi Participants at a training workshop held in Malawi from 5th -19th April 2005, conducted the first country baseline study under the “Access to essential medicines programme”. The participants were from 5 African countries namely Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, Tanzania and Malawi. They were also joined by the Programme Officer from Burkina Faso. The workshop had 2 main purposes namely: to train the participants and have them conduct practical exercises on facilitation; and participation in implementation of the baseline study in Malawi based on the Guidelines for effective and efficient pharmaceutical services identified by EPN last year. The participants would then conduct the survey in their own countries. During the 3-day workshop, topics covered on facilitation included; effective speaking, facilitation techniques and brain storming. Methods used in the training included group discussions, fieldwork and role play. After the training, the participants were required to facilitate two workshops in 10 different hospitals. They were grouped into 5 teams, each consisting of 2 people, depending on the countries they came from. The first workshop was with the hospitals’ management teams and sought to discover how access to essential drugs had changed in the last five or less years depending on the age of the hospital. They also sought to find out what forces increase and decrease access to essential drugs for people in different service districts. During the second workshop, participants met with church leaders as community members who live near the hospitals or obtain their health services from these particular hospitals. The Focus Group Discussions (FGD) which were held centred on the factors that affect drug access to the hospitals. Peace Nyankojo from MEMS in Tanzania, Steve Eussuman and Isaac Annan both from the National Catholic Health Service in Ghana were amongst the participants at the training. They were appreciative of the knowledge they acquired which they described as “having met more than their expectations.” They emphasized the importance of networking and interaction because they were able to learn from each other’s experiences. Though she could only attend for 4 days, the EPN Coordinator described the participation as ‘excellent’ and ‘enthusiastic.’ She also paid a visit to CHAM’s Executive Secretary, Ruth Mwandira. HIV/AIDS Study: Feedback Meetings held In 2004, a research to find ways to increase access to, and understand ARVs, was conducted by EPN in Kenya and Rwanda. In February 2005, the research results were presented to representatives from different church and church-related health organizations. Two different meetings were held in Nairobi, Kenya, and Kigali, Rwanda from 9th – 11th and 15th – 17th February, respectively. The reports from the meetings are available at the EPN Secretariat. HIV/AIDS Study Feedback Meeting: A participant’s Response Patricia Sawo is a church leader leaving with HIV. She was one of the speakers at the HIV/AIDS Study Feedback meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in February 2005. After the meeting, she wrote the following letter of appreciation: “I would wish to extend my appreciation and thank you for the good work you are doing. As a result of the EPN meeting you invited me to attend at Gracia Hotel in February; I have since been interviewed by reporters of a local radio station. The interview has been on air on Wednesdays and the response has been overwhelming. I have received calls from people asking for advice on various issues related to HIV/AIDS.” The interview has also helped to promote work done by the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (ANERELA+) and the Kenya Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (KENERELA+). Church leaders have contacted me for advice and members of church congregations struggling with denial have called on me to offer them encouragement. Editor’s Comment: Patricia’s positive response and those of others received at the Secretariat are very encouraging. In June this year, EPN will carry out similar research in the third country. This will be done in Burkina Faso. Pilot Course on Supply Chain Management: A Member’s Perspective One of our members, Jonathan Mwiindi participated in the pilot course on Supply Chain Management of HIV supplies and Medicines. Jonathan is the HIV Services Manager at A.I.C Kijabe Mission Hospital, which is 62 kilometres North West of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. He gave the following report: “On EPN’s recommendation, my application to attend the course was accepted. The course was organized by International Dispensary and Medicines (IDA) and took place from 6th – 18th February 2005 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The course’s aim was to find ways of applying principles to ensure uninterrupted supply of HIV medicines and supplies. The 12 participants were professionals in various fields including pharmacy, accounts, procurement and administration. This mix provided for a broad view during discussions on factors affecting purchase and supply of drugs in Africa. Participants with a background in pharmacy had good ideas on pharmaceutical policy formulation. I also noted that most of the participants are not involved in designing the policy in their countries; this is left to other professionals. However, the participants implement the policy. Due to the course, I have been able to view the supplies of medicines from a different perspective. I appreciate that national policies affect offering of services to the rural centres. Therefore one working in the rural setting cannot ignore what goes on at the national level.” Based on the above, Jonathan poses the following questions to the network members:
Editor’s comment: Over to you members! How do we respond to Jonathan’s questions? Understanding new findings As Network members, we are always on the look out for research findings related to the medical profession. In this regard, here are some tips for health practitioners to keep in mind when reading new medical findings:
Source: The Standard Newspaper, Medical News section, Wednesday May 4th 2005. HealthNet Newsletter Since a number of our Network members work in the nursing profession, this information would be beneficial to them. HealthNet News - Nursing is a monthly newsletter which aims to provide relevant, reliable information that can help nurses in patient care, project planning and management and other aspects of their careers. It is freely available to nurses and health professionals, via e-mail. To subscribe free of charge to the newsletter, kindly send an email to: mailto:info@healthnet.org.. HAART: Discussed at CHAK Meeting The treatment of HIV and AIDS especially the use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in relation to adherence was discussed at length during CHAK’s Annual Health Conference and AGM. A representative from Hope Centre, a program affiliated to the Coptic Hospital made a presentation on their success of using Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART). In addition to offering pharmaceutical services, the centre offers counselling services to gauge a patient’s commitment to treatment and nutritional guidelines. There were calls during the conference to strengthen PEPFAR funding especially at the grass roots level. A representative from the AIDS Relief Project, Dr. Salvador dela Torre gave the assurance that PEPFAR was committed to funding projects in poor countries on a long-term basis. Dr. Sylvia Ojoo gave the Kenyan government’s goal to provide antiretroviral drugs to 95,000 HIV and AIDS patients by the end of 2005. This figure is inclusive of those targeted in the 3 by 5 plan. Currently, 35,000 patients are on ART drugs. During the conference CHAK also launched its Strategic Plan 2005-2010 whose theme is “promoting access to quality health care.” Visits to North America and Europe The EPN coordinator travelled to U.S.A. to attend a conference at the University of Notre Dame from April 24th - 26th 2005. The initial aim of the conference was to answer questions including:
In the end however, the conference did not focus on ethics but on HIV/AIDS. Look out for more information on the conference in subsequent issues of Netlink. She also attended 3 days of the 58th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. On 18th May, EPN in conjunction with HAI, held a session to discuss strategies to make rational drug use part of the political agenda. The outcome of the session will be shared in detail to Network members and on E-drug. While in America, the coordinator also attended her daughter Rahel’s graduation at the Columbia College of Arts. We join her in congratulating Rahel and wish her a bright future! News from the Network News from CMSI EPN’s member in India ICSA, reports that the Comprehensive Medical Services India (CMSI) has recently been granted licence to manufacture the following antiretroviral drugs by the Director of Drug Control, Tamil Nadu.
The preparation stage leading to the trial production and commercial production has begun. When launched, the CMSI’s ARV drugs will cost significantly lower than the branded drugs in the market. Enquiries on production of the drugs can be made via e-mail on mailto:cmsi_drugs@vsnl.net.. New Staff Member at Secretariat The EPN Secretariat has a new staff member. Jackie Nyagah joined the Secretariat from 1st April 2005 as the Communications Officer. She has previously worked with MAP International, one of EPN’s member organizations as a Communication’s Assistant. She will be responsible for the production and dissemination of the network publications including Netlink, e-Phamalink, Pharmalink and the annual reports. This will ensure that these publications are produced on a regular basis. Kindly give her your support. We take an opportunity on behalf of the network to welcome Jackie to the Secretariat and the network. —end— ( categories: Netlink )
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