Partners
FrontlineSMS
“FrontlineSMS is free open source software that turns a laptop and a mobile phone into a central communications hub. Once installed, the program enables users to send and receive text messages with large groups of people through mobile phones. What you communicate is up to you, making FrontlineSMS useful in many different ways.”
FrontlineSMS was used during the “pill check week” campaign where SMS text messages were sent when data collectors discovered stock-outs of essential medicines. The messages were received by phones in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia where computers running FrontlineSMS processed and validated the data before sending it to an Ushahidi interface to be visualized on the web.
Webpage: www.frontlinesms.com
UGANDA
Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA)
The Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA) Uganda is a non-governmental organization founded in July 2003 to mobilize health professionals and health consumers to address issues of human rights as they relate to health, with a specific focus on HIV/AIDS. AGHA brings together doctors, nurses and other professionals with NGOs interested in promoting human rights in the health sector to create local and national networks dedicated to health advocacy.
AGHA currently operates in four districts: Rakai, Tororo, Mbarara, and Kampala where the secretariat is based. The organization’s mission is to raise the awareness of all health care providers and the communities they serve in Uganda about the human rights aspects in health with emphasis on HIV/AIDS.
Contact details:
Plot 69 Kanjokya Street, Kamwokya
P.O.BOX 24667
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: + 256 413 484 91
Email: info@aghauganda.org
Webpage: www.aghauganda.org
HEPS-Uganda (Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development
HEPS-Uganda (Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development) is a health rights organization that advocates for more access to affordable essential medicines for the poor and vulnerable people in Uganda. This is done through increased public and community participation at different levels of decision making in medicine policy formulation, implementation (procurement and supply chain) and rational use. HEPS-Uganda’s distinctive contribution to the improvement of medicine access situation in Uganda consists of three approaches:
Community Outreach; empowering health consumers, especially the poor and vulnerable, with information that will enable them to know and demand for their health rights to access essential medicines and exercise their health responsibilities of rational use of medicines.
Health Policy Advocacy; advocating for consumer-friendly health laws and policies at all levels through policy analysis & research, policy formulation and monitoring its implementation. Special focus to district health policy, participation/influencing district health plans, by-laws and monitoring implementation.
Health Counselling & Complaints Desk; Instituting a redress mechanism and provision of counselling services for health consumers whose health rights have been violated and monitoring of consumer access to essential medicines at different Health facility levels and at national level.
Contact Details
Kisingiri Road, Mengo, Kampala, Uganda
PO Box 2426
Tel.:256-414-270 970
Email: heps@utlonline.co.ug
Website: www.heps.org
Action For Development (ACFODE)
Action For Development (ACFODE) is an indigenous, voluntary, non-governmental women’s interest and development organisation. ACFODE is one of the leading women’s organisations in Uganda.
ACFODE was formed in November 1985. The formation of ACFODE was stimulated by the United Nations Third World Conference on Women held in Nairobi in July 1985. The issues raised in this conference, necessitated a need for an organised forum that would formally provide a platform for effective debate and action on issues related to the advancement of women in Uganda; the enhancement of their status, and to increase their involvement in the national development process.
ACFODE’s Vision: A just society where there is gender equality of opportunities in all spheres including decision-making and equal access to resources in a secure and enabling environment.
ACFODE’s Mission: To promote women’s empowerment, gender equality and equity in Uganda through spearheading advocacy and networking efforts to create an enabling environment as well as increasing the capacities of women in local communities to manage their own activities in addition to standing up for their rights.
ACFODE’s work revolves around four major focal areas:
1.Education and Capacity Building for women and girls
2.Effective participation of women in Leadership, Politics and Decision-Making
3.Consultancy services on gender & advocacy. ACFODE has over the years built expertise in training and providing advisory services in gender analysis, gender election monitoring, gender advocacy and gender mainstreaming. ACFODE offers this expertise for a fee so as to move towards greater self-sufficiency and sustainability
4.Institutional building & Maintenance. Programs and activities under this area are geared towards building and strengthening ACFODE as a gender advocacy organisation.
Contact details
P.O. Box 16729, Kampala, Uganda
ACFODE House, Plot 623/624
Tel 256-41-531812
Email: acfode@starcom.co.ug
National Forum of PHA Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU)
The National Forum of PHA Networks in Uganda (NAFOPHANU) was established in May 2003 after identification, acknowledgement and recognition of gaps among PHA initiatives in the National Response.
This was reached through a process that involved a minimum of five joint consultative meetings of PHA from PHA initiatives in Uganda, with support from UNAIDS and the HIV/AIDS Partnership (Uganda AIDS Commission)
Vision: NAFOPHANU envisions a community of people living with HIV realizing their full potential through mutual support, respect of human rights and positively influencing the HIV/AIDS response at all levels.
Mission: To unite, support building of capacities and coordinate all networks and groups of PHA in Uganda for a concerted effort to the HIV and AIDS national response
Goal: To enhance the capacity of the networks and member organizations of PHAs through training, coordination, information sharing, advocacy and resource mobilization by 2012
Strategic objectives
- To strengthen advocacy capacities of the National Forum of People Living with HIV Networks and groups to ensure their wellbeing
- Manage PHA specific information through research, documentation and dissemination at all levels
- To enhance resource mobilization through strengthening financial systems of PHA networks
- To build and strengthen partnerships with PHA networks and other stakeholders in the national response
- To strengthen the performing capacity of NAFOFHANU to respond to its evolving needs and those of its member
Contact details:
P. O. Box 70233, K’la Ug.
Plot 213 Sentema Road, Mengo
Tel: 256 414 270 976
Fax: 256 414 270015
E-Mail: nafophanu@infocom.co.ug or info@nafophanu.org
Website: www.nafophanu.org
ZAMBIA
Network of Zambian People living with HIV/AIDS (NZP+)
Network of Zambian People living with HIV/AIDS (NZP+) is national organization for the people living with HIV and AIDS established in 1996.It aims to improve the quality of the people living with HIV and IADS by pursuing three issues namely Support, communication and Representation of people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Role of NZP+ is to
- Promote and facilitate the creation of support groups, which provide a safe and conducive social space to PLHIV, enabling positive living.
- To optimize the quality and access to information and vital services.
- To enhance active participation and involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS in decision making process at local level and national level.
- Promote Livelihood development among PLHIV and encourage PLHIV respond to developmental opportunities
Contact Details
Independence Avenue,
4th floor Civic Center
P.O. Box 32717, Lusaka, Zambia
Telefax: +260 211 256766
Email: ldcnzp@yahoo.co.uk or napnzp@zamnet.zm
Website: www.nzp.org.zm/
Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign TALC
Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign (TALC) is membership based Zambian NGO. TALC is a network of more than 100 organizations who come together to advocate for better access to HIV treatment, care and support through empowering HIV positive people with Treatment information and advocacy skills. The Organization has presence in seven provinces, i.e. Lusaka , Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Southern, North Western and Western Provinces . TALC secretariat has 9 paid employees and more than 100 volunteers grouped in 6 sub-committees namely: Advocacy, Research, I.E.C, Women’s, Youth and Grannies.
TALC’s vision is to have a Zambia that will have free access to HIV/AIDS treatment, treatment of opportunistic infections, nutrition and literacy, side by side with the holistic support and care for all.
We advocate and campaign for the equitable, effective and sustainable delivery of anti-retroviral drugs, treatment literacy, as well as other information, support and services for all.
Contact details
Plot 21, Mwalule road off Makishi road Northmead area, Lusaka
P.O.Box 31048, Zambia.
Tel/Fax+260 211 236 278
Email: talcadvocat@yahoo.com
Web: www.talczambia.org
MALAWI
Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN)
Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) is an independent alliance or organisations and individuals promoting equity and quality in health for all people in Malawi. Amongst its initial aims, MHEN was created to influence policy and practise through advocacy, research and monitoring and civil education.
With over 65 member organisations, Associations, Coalitions, Training Institutions and Health professionals, MHEN compliments government, donors and civil society efforts in ensuring that all Malawians access to quality care services.
MHEN was formed in 2000 following discussions between the Health Advocacy Network and the Malawi EQUINET. When the two groups came together, it was apparent that both had similar goals and objectives. A capacity building exercise among health sector non-government organisations in 2000 saw the actual birth of the Health Advocacy Network. The management agent of MHEN was NDI who coordinated the finances from DFID, USAID and DANIDA.
The target population of MHEN includes health care services users, the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP); private not for health care delivery systems, private for profit health organisations; individual health facilities; medical; nursing and allied health professionals, regulatory bodies such as Medical Council of Malawi, the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi, the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board of Malawi; non governmental organisations (NGOs); and donor community. Later individuals interested in promoting health equity values were welcome to join the network.
Since its inception, MHEN has been implementing four main activities as follows:-
1.research into unavailability and misallocation of drugs;
2.advocacy for increased budget allocation a and overall health equity issues;
3.monitoring of budget implementation; and
4.networking through meetings and information sharing.
Vision
All people in Malawi have access to equitable, quality, affordable and responsive essential health care services.
Mission
To advocate and lobby for health systems that promote the delivery of equitable and quality health care services by influencing policy formulation, review and practice through research, monitoring and evaluation.
Principles and values
MHEN lives by the following principles and values:
Social responsibility for health: We believe that public health principles should prevail over corporate pursuit for profit in determining health policies and programs
Health as Human Right: We believe that government and international organizations policies and practice should respect people’s right to health as a fundamental human right.
People Centred Health Sector: We believe in universal access to comprehensive essential health care services on the premise of equity, social justice and rights; and that our bias will be towards the poor and the marginalized
Solidarity within the network: We believe in building a network that strives to balance the common and diverse needs of each of the members; to respect their individual values, uniqueness and roles; and to continually ensure that the focus of all our collective activities to benefit the health of all Malawians regardless of status.
Commitment among our membership: We believe in establishing a level of commitment from individual members that reflects their individual needs and capacities in balance with the organizational strategies needed to sustain MHEN as a vibrant, evolving and responsive network in health and closely related issues.
Strategic Objectives
To advocate for strategically pro-poor policies
To monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of the health policies with special emphasis on marginalized and vulnerable groups
Conducting appropriate research for advocacy and sensitization / awareness
To promote health rights for patients and service providers
ZIMBABWE
Community Working Group on Health (CWGH)
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) was formed in early 1998 to take up health issues of common concern. The approximately twenty-five organisations in the CWGH include national membership organisations that have branches across the country, whilst others have area-specific membership (such as the residents associations).
The CWGH began in 1998 a programme of work to disseminate information to, and organise civic group members on health. It has carried out various community meetings on health, discussed and prepared policy inputs on health issues and carried out advocacy on those issues. The programme helped to achieve increased community awareness and participation on health issues. The CWGH has now grown more focused and informed in their health activities, and has become deeply rooted in the community where the people are, and is now a major voice of the voiceless on health issues, and a resource partner of the State on National Health issues. The CWGH seeks to ensure that the health sector is rebuilt from the bottom up, not the top down, and that the lowest income communities are the first to see improvements, and not the last.
Objectives
Share civic group experiences, issues and views on health in Zimbabwe.
Obtain and share information on current developments within health and health care
Develop collective positions on policy and other issues on health
Raise community concerns, issues and positions with health care providers
Dialogue with health worker organisations to resolve issues of common concern
Identify areas for and ensure provision of information and education to community/civic organisations and their members
Stimulate the formation of local structures for civic participation in health and support informed community participation in local health structures
Make input of community perspectives, position and experiences to statutory health structures at national level, including commissions of inquiry and health boards.
Create and promote co-operation with other civic organisations on health internationally.
Mission Statement: To collectively enhance community participation in health in Zimbabwe.
Sectors: Advocacy; Education/Training; Health; HIV/AIDS; Research/Documentation/Information Dissemination
Contact details:
114 McChlery Avenue, Eastlea, Harare, Zimbabwe
P.O. Box BE 1376, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel. +263-(0)4-788100, 788099, 776989
Fax +263-(0)4-788134
Email cwgh@mweb.co.zw
Web www.cwgh.co.zw
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
Health Action International Africa – HAI Africa
Health Action International (HAI) Africa is a growing regional network of civil society organizations, consumers, non-governmental organizations, healthcare providers, academia and individuals in sub-Saharan Africa. Health is a human right and this includes the right to access essential medicines. HAI Africa believes that the empowerment of the poor and vulnerable to benefit from their morally and legally enshrined rights is the only lasting way to ensure social justice and equity.
HAI Africa seeks to increase public participation in all aspects of policy and decision making regarding access to medicines. By working with civil society, HAI Africa strives to ensure that health and medicines issues are defined by communities in response to their own needs.
HAI Africa uses various methods of work to achieve its goals; these include: information sharing, action-oriented research, workshops and training, development of tools and new evidence, advocacy, campaigns and collaboration.
HAI Africa’s vision is one of a world where all people, especially the poor and disadvantaged, are able to exercise their human right to health by having equitable access to affordable quality healthcare and essential medicines. This would be achieved through established policies and practices which increase people’s access to quality essential medicines that are correctly prescribed and appropriately used.
Contact details
Bush House, Kabarnet Road opposite Poland Embassy, off Ngong Road
P.O. Box 66054 – 00800 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel +254 20 3860434
Fax +254 20 3860437
Email: info@haiafrica.org
Website: www.haiafrica.org
