Jobs and Announcements

12-15 November 2002, Arusha, Tanzania
Health research is essential to improve the design of health interventions, policies and service delivery. Every year more than US$ 70 billion is spent on health research and development by the public and private sectors combined. However, only about 10% of this is devoted to 90% of the world's health problems, a misallocation often referred to as the "10/90 gap". Throughout the year and particularly at its annual meeting, the Global Forum for Health Research acts as a marketplace where problems of the 10/90 gap can be examined by a broad range of partners, i.e. representatives from governments, multilateral and bilateral aid agencies, international and national foundations and NGOs, women's organizations, research institutions and universities, pharmaceutical companies and the media. Forum 6 is the sixth annual meeting of the Global Forum for Health Research and the first to be held in Africa. Presentations will address the latest thinking on the 10/90 gap and act as a catalyst for action during the coming year. The global objective is to review progress in helping correct the 10/90 gap and plan further actions. In November 2002, Arusha will be the centre of world attention on health research, with Forum 6 followed by the third MIM Pan-African Malaria Conference. The National Institute for Medical Research of Tanzania is the local partner for the organization of both meetings. For further information and registration, please see the website.

Satellite Meeting, Barcelona, Spain, 5 July 2002
A one-day satellite meeting on vaccines, access to treatment and the law will be held on Friday, 5 July 2002, in Barcelona, Spain, just prior to AIDS 2002. The meeting is being organized by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the AIDS Law Project (South Africa), and the HIV/AIDS Unit of The Lawyers Collective (India), and will be co hosted by UNAIDS. Two issues will be examined in substantial depth:

1. HIV VACCINES: Participants will discuss the inadequacies of current approaches; the obstacles to vaccine development; strategies to mobilize greater support for vaccine development; and strategies to facilitate the widest possible access to HIV vaccines once they are developed.

2. ACCESS TO TREATMENT: Participants will discuss strategies for using the law to advance access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries – both directly through the use of legal proceedings, and indirectly by using legal norms to complement other forms of advocacy.

Background papers on each issue will be distributed in advance to participants and presented in plenary. Most of the day will be spent in workshops where each issue can be explored in detail. Registration is limited to 100 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. To register or obtain more information, visit the website of the Canadian
HIV/AIDS Legal Network or contact Glen Bugg.

International Society for Equity in Health (ISEqH) would like to remind everyone that the due date for abstract submission for the ISEqH international meeting is JANUARY 28, 2002 Instructions and other information about the meeting, including applications for financial assistance, and about the Society are on the website. The Conference theme is Equity: Research in the Service of Policy and Advocacy for Health and Health Services. June 14-16, 2002 - Toronto, Canada.

Are you committed to equity? Would you like to work with skilled and committed individuals in developing countries around the world? Are you willing to travel? The Global Equity Gauge Alliance (GEGA) is dedicated to the promotion of equity in health and health care through effective advocacy and community action, based upon reliable monitoring information. There are currently 11 Equity Gauges in countries in Africa, Asia and South America and GEGA is committed to providing support and technical assistance to these Gauges as well as becoming an international force for promoting equity in health. GEGA is temporarily housed in the Health Systems Trust, a South African NGO based in Durban. GEGA wishes to appoint a co-ordinator for a period of two years. The main tasks of the co-ordinator will include supporting individual Gauges, and helping to develop the further institutional establishment of GEGA. This is an exciting and challenging job for any person with an interest in international health and the promotion of equity. It will include the opportunity to travel and work closely with projects on the ground as well as with major international agencies in the field of health and development. The two-year consultancy post will be based in South Africa, preferably in Durban. The consultancy fee will reflect local practice and be commensurate with the skills and experience of the person appointed. More information about GEGA and the co-ordinator’s post can be found on the website. Please send your C.V., together with a letter of motivation highlighting why you feel you would be suitable for this post, and the names of three referees to:
Dawn McDonald: Fax 031 304 0775
email: dawn@hst.org.za by December 14th.
Interviews will be held during the third week of January 2002.