Dear colleagues,Most of you know we have been working hard since Jan 1 to line up supportfor a new initiative to train, retain and support enough health workers indeveloping countries to respond to the AIDS crisis that is wreaking havocaround the globe.There are a few more endorsements coming in, but a truly stellar array ofamazing groups have come through and contributed an extremely strong show ofsupport!By Friday -- World Health Day -- we should hit at least 350 - we are rightnow at 343. Can we do better?If your organization is able to sign on and hasn't done so, please help usout by the end of this week if you can -- I hope we can reach 400.Send new endorsements to pdavis@healthgap.orgHere is the latest text of the platform. Its attached as well. This will bethe last mass e-mail of this -- thank you for your patience, and yoursupport!-- Paul DavisHealth GAP (Global Access Project)pdavis@healthgap.org+1 215.833.4102 (mobile)AIM: pdavisx--Urgent Call for U.S. Initiative on Health Workforce in AIDS-ImpactedCountries(January 1 2006) The critical shortage of health care workers and weakhealth systems is the key bottleneck to scaling up access to AIDS treatment.While the needs of individual countries must be determined locally, expertsestimate that sub-Saharan Africa needs at least 1 million new health workersto meet essential health needs. Sustained commitment and creative action arenecessary to develop and support the health workforce needed to secure theright to health and achieve universal access to AIDS treatment by 2010, aswell as other international health goals.We urge the President of the United States and Members of Congress to lead aglobal health workforce initiative in AIDS ravaged countries. The U.S.should:1. Invest significant new resources in a number of impoverished countries torecruit, train, support, and effectively utilize the number of healthworkers needed to achieve universal access to AIDS treatment for all in needby 2010 and universal access to primary health care by 2015, whilesupporting a new G8 initiative to assist additional countries. The U.S.should contribute 1/3 of the funds needed, approximately $650 million in2007 and scaling up over ensuing years. The U.S. contributions shouldsupport national human resource plans within the context of comprehensivecountry health plans that improve health systems performance to achievesustainable results. Funding should be predictable and long-term, flowingdirectly to the public sector and local NGO and faith-based care providersas appropriate. The U.S. should also support effective regional and globalinitiatives.The U.S. should invest in (a) long-term strategic planning; (b)strengthening and expanding capacity of health training institutions; (c)retaining health workers through adequate compensation, safe and improvedwork conditions, stronger supervision, continuing education, and careincluding AIDS treatment; (d) human resource and fiscal management; (e)equitable distribution including incentives to work in underserved areas;(f) re-deploying unemployed health workers.2. Cover costs to public health systems of implementing PEPFAR and otherU.S. initiatives. U.S. agencies should support training and retention for atleast the number of indigenous health workers necessary to meet programgoals. Aggressive proactive measures must be adopted to avoid drawing fromother local health priorities or programs.3. Launch a substantial community health worker initiative to train,compensate, and deploy community members, especially women and PLWHA, toprovide basic care, treatment, prevention services, and referrals. Communityhealth workers should have access to care, including AIDS treatment, and beoffered a career pathway. The program should be integrated into primaryhealth systems, and ensure adequate supervision, support, and ongoingtraining. 4. Reduce brain drain by increasing the number of U.S. health professionalgraduates and improving U.S. health worker distribution. The U.S. governmentand professional health communities should expand training opportunities inthe U.S., discourage active recruitment from poor nations, and work withdeveloping and developed countries and international organizations todevelop migration and recruitment policies that mutually benefit source anddestination countries. Some experts estimate that the U.S. will need toincrease the annual number of medical school graduates by at least 5,000 andof nursing graduates by at least 25,000 over the next 10-15 years.5. Create new possibilities for U.S. and diaspora health workers to serveabroad to help meet immediate care and treatment needs while providingtraining and support to strengthen health systems. The U.S. should developprograms in cooperation with local governments, prioritize strengtheninglocal institutions, and support South-South exchanges.6. Convene and support country-level teams of all stakeholders to devise andimplement coordinated plans to achieve universal access to health services.The U.S. should provide technical assistance and facilitate the countryteam's access to all necessary sources of external funding. Cross-sectoralcountry-level planning is necessary to promote national ownership, donorcoordination, and cross-sectoral planning and harmonization.7. Contribute 1/3 of the predicted need of the Global Fund to fight AIDS,Tuberculosis and Malaria, for both the coming year and, gradually, a sumequivalent to an additional year to alleviate donor shortfalls and enablemore ambitious applications. Health systems strengthening must be sustainedas a category of GFATM financing.8. Reform IMF-supported spending and wage policies that limit national anddonor investments in health and education. Barriers to access such asuser-fees for health and education should be eliminated. The U.S. shouldprovide funds to compensate for lost revenue and support increasedutilization of services.9. Remove Congressional and agency limits to funding recurrent expenses,salaries, and sectorwide approaches, and allow flexibility to agenciesseeking to strengthen health systems and scale-up access to care andprevention. The undersigned organizations and experts urge the President of the UnitedStates and Congress to adopt and implement this platform.Distinguished experts:Lincoln C. Chen, MD, WHO Special Envoy on Human Resources for Health,Director of the Global Equity Center at Harvard Kennedy School ofGovernment, MA, USAPeter Mugyenyi, MD, Director, Joint Clinical Research Centre, UgandaPaul Farmer, MD, Partners in Health, MA, USA/Int’lJoia Mukherjee, MD, Partners in Health, MA, USA/Int’lFitzhugh Mullan, MD, Murdock Head Professor of Medicine and Health Policy,Department of Health Policy, George Washington University, School of PublicHealth and Health Services, USAAllan Rosenfield, MD, Dean, Mailman School of Public Health, ColumbiaUniversity, NY, USAJames Orbinski, Former International President of MSF-Médecins SansFrontières, Research Scientist, Associate Professor, University of Toronto,CanadaJosh Ruxin, Assistant Clinical Professor of Public Health, Center for GlobalHealth and Economic Development, Mailman School of Public Health and TheEarth Institute at Columbia University, USAGilbert Kombe, MD, MPH, Partnership for Health Reformplus Project, AbtAssociates Inc., MD, USARobert S. Lawrence, MD, Edyth H. Schoenrich Professor of PreventiveMedicine, Associate Dean, Professional Practice and Programs, Director,Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of PublicHealth, MD, USADr. Nelson Sewankambo, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University,Founding Member, Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa,UgandaDr. Anne Merriman, Founder and Director of Policy and InternationalProgrammes, Hospice Africa, Kampala, UgandaBhawani Shanker Kusum, NGO Delegate, PCB UNAIDS for Asia/PacificEzinna Enwereji, President, Health and Environmental Research Society,College of Medicine, Abia State University, NigeriaChiledum A. Ahaghotu, M.D., Associate Professor of Urology, HowardUniversity Hospital. Surgical Team Leader, Imo State Medical Mission,NigeriaDonald Cephas Epaalat, Commonwealth Nurses Federation Board, Member forEast, Central and Southern Africa, KenyaDeborah A. McFarland, PhD, MPH, Professor, Department of Global Health,Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, GA, USAJocelyn Tindiweegi, Head Nursing Officer for Mbarara University TeachingHospital, UgandaLark Lands, M.S., Ph.D. Medical writer, editor, and educator, CO, USAJohn Mandisarisa, MPH, Bsc, Dip, National Workplace HIV and AIDS Preventionand Care Officer, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, ZimbabweJohn S. James, Publisher, AIDS Treatment News, PA, USAChristine C. Quinn, Speaker of New York City Council, NY, USAEwald Horwath, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, College of Physiciansand Surgeons Columbia University, Medical Director, Columbia University HIVMental Health Training Project, NY, USABruce G. Trigg, MD, Medical Director, STD Program, Region 1,3,T, New MexicoDepartment of Health, NM, USAAlan R. Lifson, MD, MPH, Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health,University of Minnesota, USAThomas L. Hall, MD, DrPH, Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSFSchool of Medicine, CA, UAZbigniew S. Pawłowski, MD, retired Professor of Parasitic and TropicalDiseases Clinic, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, PolandLucy Bradley-Springer, PhD, RN, ACRN, FAAN, Principal Investigator andDirector, Mountain Plains AIDS Education and Training Center, AssociateProfessor of Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver Health SciencesCenter, CO, USABadru Male, Senior Health Promotion Manager, Brent and Harrow CommunityHealth Projects, UK. Member of UK Community Advisory Board on HIVTreatments, founding member of Community Health and Information Network(CHAIN), UKBabafemi Adenuga, MD. Assistant Professor, Department of Community andFamily Medicine, Howard University. Program Director, Family MedicineResidency, Howard University Hospital. Medical Director, Family HealthCenter, Howard University Hospital. Medical Team Leader, Imo State ofNigeria, International Medical Mission US and US-Based International Organizations: ACT UP Austin, TXACT UP New York, NY, USAACT UP Philadelphia, PA, USAActionAid International USAActionAIDS, PA, USAAfrica Action, USAAfrica Faith and Justice Network, USAAfrican Immigrant and Refugee Foundation (AIRF), USAAfrican Services Committee, NYAfricare, Int’lAid for AIDS, Int’lAIDS Action Baltimore, MDAIDS Foundation of Chicago, ILAIDS Research Alliance, CAAIDS Survival Project, GAAIDS Treatment News, USAAIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), USAAIDSETI-AIDS Empowerment & Treatment Int’lAmerican Academy of HIV Medicine, USAAmerican Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, USAAmerican Jewish World Service, USAAmerican Medical Student Association (AMSA) USAAmerican Public Health Association, Int’l Health Section, USAamfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. USAAMREF (African Medical & Research Foundation) USAAMSA Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Chapter, PAArtists for a New South Africa, USAAsian Americans United, PAAssociation of Nurses in AIDS Care, USABienestar, CACARE USACenter for Policy Analysis on Trade & Health (CPATH), USAChild Family Health International (CFHI), Int’lChurch World Service, Int’lCitiWide Harm Reduction, NYCommunity Health Worker Network, NYCommunity HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP), USAConstituency for Africa (CFA), USADharmaNet International, USAElizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, USA, Int’lEND AIDS NOW! NYEritrean Community for Human Rights and Refugee Protection, USAEvangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), USAFamily Care InternationalForum for Global Action, Int’lFoundation for Integrative AIDS Research (FIAR), NYGlobal AIDS Alliance, USAGlobal AIDS Interfaith Alliance, CAGlobal Health Council, USAGMHC Gay Men's Health Crisis, NYHarambee Africa Int’l, DCHarm Reduction Coalition, USAHarvard AIDS Coalition, MAHealth Alliance International, WA, Int’lHealth Equity Project, USAHealth GAP (Global Access Project), USAHesperian Foundation, USAHOPE Universal Family Connection, ILHousing Works, NYInova Hospital Juniper Program, VAInstitute for the Study of Civic Values, PAInternational AIDS Empowerment, TXInternational Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), Int’lJubilee USAKAIPPG International, USAKentucky Divest Campaign, KYLos Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, CAMake Art/STOP AIDS, CAMarley AIDS Advocacy, PAMedilinks, USAMennonite Central Committee, USAMesoAmerica Health Assistance Project of California, Inc (MAHAPCA), CAMetropolitan Community Church of New York, NYMinnesota International Health Volunteers (MIHV), Int’lNational AIDS Fund, USANational Association of Black Social Workers, USANational Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) USANational Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), USANew Mexico POZ Coalition, NMNew York City AIDS Housing Network, NYPangaea Global AIDS Foundation, Int’lPartners in Health, Int’lPathWaysPA, PAPeople's Health Movement-USAPer Ankh Institute, US Virgin IslandsPhiladelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), PAPhiladelphia FIGHT, PAPhysicians for Human Rights, USAPlanned Parenthood Golden Gate, CAPresbyterian Church, Washington Office, USAPriority Africa Network (PAN), CAProject Inform, USAPROTOTYPES, Centers for Innovation in Health, Mental Health and SocialServices, USAQueers for Economic Justice, NY, USAQuixote Center/Quest for Peace, USARESULTS, USARoots of Promise/Thomas Merton Center, PASan Francisco AIDS Foundation, CASeattle University College of Nursing, WAShare International, USASisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, USASisters of the Holy Cross-Congregation Justice Cmte, INSojourners, USASouth Africa Development Fund, MA, USAStreet Works, TNStudent Campaign for Child Survival, USAStudent Global AIDS Campaign, USATechWrite Inc., COThe AIDS Institute, USAThe GLEA Foundation, HIThe River Fund, USAThe Well Project, VAThe Women's Center Montefiore Medical Center, NYTitle II Community AIDS National Network, USATransparency and Accountability Network, USATreatment Action Group, USAUganda Village Project, USAUkimwi Orphans Assistance, USAUnited Church of Christ Network for Environmental and EconomicResponsibility, USAUnited Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society, USAUniversities Allied for Essential Medicines, USAUniversity Coalitions for Global Health, USAUS Committee for Scientific Cooperation with Vietnam, USAWhite Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, Int’lWho's Positive, PAWilson Resource Center, IAWomen's Equity in Access to Care and Treatment (WE-ACTx)-U.S./RwandaWorld Hunger Year, Inc. (WHY), USA International and multicountry organizations: ACT UP Kathmandu, NepalACT UP Paris, FranceAction Against Aids, GermanyAction for Community Development, UgandaAction Group For Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA), Ugandaaction medeor, GermanyAfrica Health and Community Programmes (AHCP), KenyaAfrica Rural Outreach, UgandaAfrica Rural Sustainable Development Association, TanzaniaAfrica Youth Leadership, Development and Health (AYLDH), Uganda/int’lAfrican Council for Sustainable Health Development (ACOSHED), Int’lAfrican Regional Youth Initiative, Int’lAfrihealth Information Projects/Afrihealth Optonet Association, NigeriaAgir ici, FranceAgua Buena Human Rights Association, Costa RicaAIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), South Africa/Int’lAIDS Cell, Ibn Sina Academy, IndiaAIDS Law Project, South AfricaAIDS-Care-Watch Campaign, ThailandAIDS-Hilfe Baden-Württemberg e.V., GermanyAktion Canchanabury e.V., GermanyAlliance Cornerstone Youth Organization, NigeriaAll-Ukraine PLWH Network, UkraineArt-net Development Centre, KenyaArunodhaya Migrants Initiatives, IndiaÄrzte für die Dritte Welt/German Doctors for Developing Countries, GermanyAssociação Grupo Aids, Apoio, Vida, Esperança, BrazilAssociation for Rural Development (ARD), IndiaAssociation of Kenyan Medical Laboratory Science Officers, KenyaAssociation of Positive Youth in Nigeria (APYIN)Association of Protestant Churches and Missions (EMW), GermanyAtbalsta Grupa Inficétajiem HIV un AIDS Slimniekiem (AGIHAS), LatviaBangladesh Health Foundation, BangladeshBeijing AIZHIXING Institute of Health Education, ChinaBritish Columbia Persons With AIDS Society (BCPWA), CanadaBrot für die Welt/Bread for the World, GermanyBUKO Pharma-Kampagne, GermanyCanadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, CanadaCanadian Treatment Action Council (CTAC), CanadaCentre for Development Research, UgandaChildren for Children Organisation, GambiaChina Orchid AIDS Project, ChinaChristian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), GhanaChristian Health Association Of Kenya (Chak)Civic Life International Inc., Nigeria/USA Comet Ltd, MalawiCommon Ground Program, KenyaCommunity Aid UgandaCommunity and Family Health Initiative, Abuja, NigeriaCRIAA SA-DC (Centre for Research, Information and Action in Africa-SouthernAfrica Development and Consulting), NamibiaDeutsche Welthungerhilfe / German Agro Action, GermanyDevelopment Initiatives International, UgandaDignitas International, CanadaEast European and Central Asian Union of PLWH Organisations, UkraineEcumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) Int’lEquinet Network for Equity in Health in east and southern Africa, Int’lEuropean AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), Int’lFoundation for Human Rights Initiative, UgandaFreedom Foundation-India, Centers of Excellence- Substance Abuse & HIV/AIDS,IndiaFXB (Francois-Xavier Bagnoud) InternationalGays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ), ZimbabweGertrude's Children's Hospital, KenyaGhana AIDS Treatment Access Group (GATAG), GhanaGlobal Equity Gauge Alliance (GEGA) Int’lGlobal Healthcare Information Network, UKGlobal Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+), Int’lGram Bharati Samiti (GBS), IndiaGrupo de Trabajo sobre Tratamientos del VIH (gTt), SpainHealth Action International (HAI) Africa, Int’lHealth and Development Networks (Ireland/Thailand), Int’lHealth Systems Trust, South AfricaHealthpartners, KenyaHelping Others International, NigeriaHelpless Rehabilitation Society (HRS), NepalHIV/AIDS Control Agency (HACA), NigeriaHospice Africa, UgandaInternational Community for Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS),Int’l-Kenya, Ireland, CanadaInternational Planned Parenthood Federation, Int’lInternational Women AIDS Run, Int’lInternational Women's Health Coalition, Int’lIntersect Worldwide, Int'lIP-Left, South KoreaJoint Clinical Research Centre, UgandaJoint Effort To Stop Tears of AIDS (JESTA), UgandaJyotirmayee Mahila Samiti, IndiaKatholische Arbeitnehmer-Bewegung Deutschlands (KAB), GermanyKenya AIDS Intervention Prevention Program Group (KAIPPG), KenyaKenya AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO), KenyaKenya Health Professional Society, KenyaKenya Treatment Access Movement, KenyaKenya Voluntary Women Rehabilitation Centre, KenyaKenya Women Participating in Rural Development (KEWIRA), KenyaKenya Youth Programmes, KenyaKiota Women's Development Organization (KIWOHEDE), TanzaniaKiyindi HIV/AIDS community Initiatives, UgandaLaboratory Concepts, KenyaLaikipia HIV/AIDS Control Organization, KenyaLife Restoration Organization (LIRO). NigeriaLife Vanguards, NigeriaMalawi Health Equity Network (MHEN), MalawiMalteser International, GermanyMariam Foundation Centre, UgandaMashiah Foundation, NigeriaMcGill Global AIDS Coalition, CanadaMedia AIDS Project (MAP), NigeriaMedias Au Ruban Rouge, DR CongoMedical Mission Sisters' Alliance for Justice, Int’lMedical Missionaries of Mary, Int’l, IrelandMedical Students Against AIDS (MESA), University of Nairobi Medical School,KenyaMentor Volunteers UgandaMeru Hospice, KenyaMgbala Agwa Youth Forum, NigeriaMOMS Club International, NigeriaMOPGEL, Movement for the Promotion of Gender Equality in LiberiaMother Africa and Child Care Organisation (MACCO), GhanaNational Association of People living with HIV/AIDS in Nepal (NAPN), NepalNational Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK), KenyaNational Women's Lobby and Rights Group (NWLRG), MalawiNepal Red Cross Society,NEPWHAN (Network of People living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria)Neusser-Eine-Welt-Initiative e.V. (NEWI), GermanyNigeria Model UN (NgMUN), NigeriaNigerian Air Force Hospital, NigeriaNo Limit For Women Project, CameroonNorwegian Church Aid (NCA), EthiopiaOrganization for Social Development of Unemployed Youth (OSDUY), BangladeshOxfam InternationalPamojahope Center, KenyaPartners for Int’l Development and Education, NigeriaPeople Affected By HIV Organization, DR CongoPeople’s Health Movement, DR-CongoPlanned Parenthood Federation of NigeriaPopulation & Environmental Monitoring Int’l, NigeriaPositive Malaysian Treatment Access and Advocacy Group (MTAAG+), Malaysia.POWL: Positive Women Leaders of UgandaPreventive Healthcare Initiative, NigeriaProgressive Organization of Gays in the PhilippinesProject Green, NigeriaPROMETRA, KenyaPromoters Of Environmental, Rural Development and Agric- Business Group(PERDAB), CameroonPublic Health Impact Research Centre, NigeriaPublic Services International (PSI), Int’lRaks Thai Foundation, ThailandResearch, Training and Management (RTM) International, BangladeshResources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (RAPCAN), SouthAfricaSafe Observer International, DR-CongoSamo Development organization, SomaliaSave Our Planet Earth (SOPE), UgandaSave Visions Africa, NigeriaShen Yang Ai Zhi Yuan Zhu Center for Health and Education, ChinaSociety of Women Against AIDS in Africa (SWAA), DR-CongoSociety of Women Against AIDS in KenyaSolidarité Sida, FranceSpurthi, IndiaSri Surya Clinic, Child Foundation of IndiaSt. Joseph's Matale Youth Organisation (MAYO), UgandaSt. Mary’s Hospital, NigeriaStrides Society, IndiaStudent Christian Movement of Great Britain, UKStudent Stop AIDS Campaign, UKStudents Against Global AIDS (SAGA), CanadaStudents For Equity In Healthcare (SEHC), Makerere Medical School, UgandaStudents Partnership Worldwide (SPW), Int’lSudan Council of Churches, SudanTask Force Of Women For HIV Prevention, DR-CongoThai AIDS Treatment Action Group (TTAG), ThailandThe AIDS Support Organization (TASO), UgandaThe Carpenter’s Foundation International, NigeriaThe Third Choice, NigeriaTogether Against AIDS Positive Association (TAAPA), UgandaTreatment Action Campaign, South AfricaTwana Twitu, KenyaUganda CARESUganda Catholic Secretariat HIV/AIDS Focal Point, UgandaUK Coalition of People Living with HIV/AIDS, UKVital Hope Support Group, ZimbabweVSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) UKWE CARE Development Initiative, NigeriaWomen Living With HIV/AIDS DRC Taskforce, DR-CongoWorkplace Dignity Institute, South AfricaWorld AIDS Campaign, Int’lWorld Care Council, FranceYouth Empowerment Network, NigeriaYouth HIV/AIDS Alliance (YOHA), NigeriaZimbabwe Activists on HIV and AIDS (ZAHA), Zimbabwe

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