Why Bother? Global Health and AIDS Fighting for Justice and Equity

“Global health and the aids response is about justice and equity. It takes more than technology and professions, finance and systems. It depends on people, on values and norms where decisions are made, and more attention to conversation and consultation among decision-makers, providers, interest groups and communities of people - at all levels.” 

This report describes the discussions and conclusions drawn from a reflection and roadmap planning seminar hosted by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) in January 2011.  Participants were asked to look back at health and AIDS efforts of the last three decades, and use the experiences of the past to develop messages and directions for future action.

The take-away messages of the event include the need to address challenges of global health, AIDS, and development through the sharing of resources across initiatives and movements, both globally and at the community level.  It is recommended that young people be included in these efforts to bring energy and new ideas, and that respectful dialogue between networks, specifically through religious and faith-based communities, is necessary to bringing about change to effectively provide comprehensive health care strategies. As the largest global networks, according to the authors, the normative potential of faith-based organisations is invaluable.  Building strong alliances and open dialogue with religious leaders is central to ensuring that good values underpin their messages.

“Partnership is the way forward. We need to get AIDS out of isolation, enabling us to address key issues such as violence against women, shortcomings in the health sector, and lack of equity.”