EPN - Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network

Netlink 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    

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”                                                                                                                                             2 Corinthians 9:6

This edition includes:

HIV/AIDS treatment literacy workshop scheduled for November 2006
EPN participates in Regional Ecumenical meeting
EPN participates in HIV/AIDS East Africa Partnership Forum
EPN participates in ACT Development meeting
EPN Secretariat has a new staff member
Pomp and colour as MEDS marks 20 years of service
MEDS hosts PAT Seminar

Cameroon Baptist Convention holds pharmacy services supervision visits

The Central Pharmacy, the Drug Supply Organization (DSO) for the Cameroon Baptist Convention,(EPN member), held pharmacy services supervision visits in one hospital and three health centres in Cameroon from 2nd – 6th October 2006. The visits were aimed at inspecting the pharmaceutical services offered in the four health care facilities. The supervisory team which included Nathan Wanyu (CFP of Anglophone Cameroon) examined issues concerning drug storage conditions, security of the stores, dispensing practices, stock rotation, shelving, maximum stock calculations and record keeping. The team also sought to examine the staffing needs of the facilities and the difficulties faced by the staff for which they proposed solutions.

The main findings of the visits included overstocking of drugs in some facilities and lack of stock in others. To remedy these, the team withdrew the excess quantities and supplied them to the under stocked facilities and offered advice on stocking practices. Insufficient staff was also identified as a key area of concern for most facilities. The DSO is seeking solutions for this problem. The team termed the visits ‘a revelation’ and advised other DSOs to make these visits an integral part of their work. While it may be difficult for large DSOs to carry out supervisory visits to all healthcare facilities, a few of the facilities could be sampled at least annually to ensure that pharmaceutical services and products are offered in accordance with the set standards and regulations.

HAI - Africa hosts medicine pricing policies and strategies workshop

Approximately half of the population in Africa cannot access essential medicines primarily because of their high cost. To discuss how to create national pricing policies and strategies to ensure that medicines are affordable in Africa, Health Action International (HAI – Africa), a partner of EPN, hosted a workshop on medicine pricing from 26th – 28th September 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop which was organized in collaboration with WHO had participants from Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. These countries were part of over 30 countries worldwide that participated in a survey of medicine prices, using a methodology developed by WHO and HAI.

Participants at the workshop who were interviewed by the Network communications officer included Charles Allotey from Catholic Drug Centre in Ghana who pointed out how, through pool procurement, mission hospitals in Senegal had managed to lower the prices of medicines which had been as high as those in the public and private hospitals. This was accomplished through advocacy using the media to reach policy makers and educate patients.

Julius Ombogo a member of the International Network for Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD - Kenya chapter) highlighted the main challenges encountered in seeking to develop pricing policies that would cater for the needs of all the stakeholders – patients, pharmacists, suppliers and the manufacturers. These challenges include the need for adaptation and implementation of the medicine pricing policies in all the health facilities, educating patients on the policies particularly in rural settings and the total commitment and cooperation of the Ministries of Health and the Trade ministries in the various countries.

Access to medicines in church health institutions feedback meeting held in Ghana

The Ghana access to medicines in church health institutions feedback meeting was held in Accra from 19th – 21st October 2006. Key findings and recommendations for action will be shared in the next edition of Netlink newsletter.

EPN holds treatment literacy for youth pastors

On 4th September, the EPN secretariat facilitated an HIV/AIDS treatment literacy training for The Nairobi Area Youth Workers Network (NAYNET). The aim of the training was to give the participants, who are youth pastors working within churches in Nairobi, practical information and knowledge for dealing with HIV/AIDS treatment concerns, particularly among the youth. Topics covered included treatment challenges, treatment access, the role of the church in treatment and the experiences of PLWHA. The training was facilitated by among others Dr. Jane Masiga (EPN board member), Monique Wanjala (MSF) and Jonathan Mwiindi of Kijabe Hospital (now part time staff of EPN).

HIV/AIDS treatment literacy workshop scheduled for November 2006

In its continued efforts to increase the capacity of church leaders to respond to the challenge of HIV/AIDS treatment, EPN will hold another HIV/AIDS treatment literacy workshop for church leaders from 13th – 18th November 2006 in Nairobi. The workshop which will be similar to the one held in January 2006 also in Kenya is expected to host participants from Lesotho, Ethiopia, Botswana, Zambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, DR Congo, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya.

The aim of the workshop is to equip church leaders as opinion leaders in the community and as owners of health care institutions to understand the issues around HIV/AIDS treatment. The pastors, priests and other church leaders involved in their church's HIV/AIDS programme who attend the workshop are expected to commit to going back to their communities and actively using the knowledge and skills they gain by developing individual action plans which they should implement in their countries.

EPN participates in Regional Ecumenical meeting

EPN was represented at the Ecumenical Africa Regional Group (EARG) meeting by the Secretariat’s administrator. Also present at the meeting was the General Secretary of the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK). During the meeting which took place on 19th and 20th October 2006 at the All African Conference of Churches in Nairobi, Kenya, the General Secretary made a presentation on: The Church’s ministry in health and healing – Experience in East Africa.  In his presentation he stated the need for the church to not only focus on treatment but also on maintenance of health. The presentation also highlighted the human resources for health crisis in Kenya. He mentioned the advocacy work by CHAK and church leaders to prevent a mass exodus occasioned by recruitment of staff to public government-run health facilities. He pointed out that there was positive response by the Kenya government.

EPN participates in HIV/AIDS Eastern Africa Partnership Forum meeting

Stakeholders from in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania held a one day meeting in Kenya to share information on latest developments arising from regional and global processes in HIV/AIDS. During the meeting, which was held on 9th October 2006, it was noted that at a global level, treatment of HIV/AIDS has most recently taken precedence over its prevention. As a result the meeting focused more on prevention measures rather than treatment issues. While EPN supports the HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, its main focus is the universal access to treatment particularly for the infected within resource-poor settings.

EPN participates in ACT Development meeting

Action by Churches Together (ACT) Development is an alliance of ecumenical organizations who are members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) with a mandate to work in development issues. ACT Development held its first meeting on 16th and 17th October 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya. During the consultation which was attended by the Network’s administrator, improved advocacy potential for the participants was highlighted as one of the opportunities for joining ACT Development. This would be achieved by having international support and security to speak out on various development issues. Churches, councils and ecumenical organizations would also be active in taking action for change as a collective body. Other opportunities would include improved capacity building for the participants through information sharing of best practices. The participants voiced various challenges which they anticipate for their organizations should they choose to become members of the alliance. They include the high rates of subscription fees - US$500 for observers and US$1000 for participants, the co-branding of participant organizations’ logos with the ACT logo which could lead to the loss of identity for these organizations and the reconciliation of the different organizations’ policies affiliated to ACT.

EPN Secretariat has a new staff member

The EPN secretariat has a new member of staff. In September 2006, Jonathan Mwiindi was appointed the programme officer for HIV/AIDS. Jonathan who will be based in Nairobi will work on a part-time basis for the Network as he also works as the HIV/AIDS Services Manager for Kijabe Mission Hospital in Kenya. Kijabe hospital offers ARV drugs to one of the highest number of patients in Kenya. While he will be involved in all the Network activities, Jonathan’s key responsibilities will mainly involve programme three of the Network’s organization strategy: increasing the response of church leaders and church health services to respond to HIV/AIDS Treatment. Jonathan has been actively involved in Network activities including HIV/AIDS treatment literacy and the EPN Forum.

Pomp and colour as MEDS marks 20 years of service

Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS), a valued EPN member marked the culmination of its 20th anniversary celebrations with pomp and thanksgiving on 8th September 2006. The celebrations which were held at MEDS premises were attended by the Head of the Catholic Church in Kenya, His grace Rapheal Ndingi Mwana a’ Nzeki who gave the thanksgiving prayers. Other honoured guests included Dr. Hans Hogerzeil, the Director of Medicines, Policies and Standards at the World Health Organization, who was the Chief Guest, MEDS Chairman Bishop George Wesonga and Dr. Geoffrey Irvin the Founder Trustee of MEDS. The chairman of the EPN board and the coordinator represented the Network at the celebrations and presented a beautiful wall clock and card to MEDS to mark the occasion.

MEDS hosts PAT seminar

As part of its activities to mark its 20th anniversary, MEDS hosted a Pharmaceutical Assistants’ Training (PAT) seminar from 28th – 31st August 2006 at the PCEA Guest house in Nairobi, Kenya. The seminar was held for past beneficiaries of the PAT training programme, which was a two year certificate course in pharmacy for staff from Church health facilities in East Africa. The programme initiated by EPN and managed by MEDS on behalf of the three East African countries, ran from 1995 and was concluded in 2004. During the seminar the PAT graduates shared the benefits of the training they had received as well as the challenges they encounter in their work. The issues raised will be considered by EPN in its next three-year plan. They were also sent to the health secretariats of the three countries.

As part of its 25 year celebration activities, EPN used the day to inform the participants of its programme areas. The EPN chairman of the board, the coordinator and the administrator attended the seminar.

end