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HIV/AIDS

Better Health Service is crucial in the fight against AIDS

© Klaus Holsting

WHO estimates that the world lacks four million health care workers. The problem is most severe in Sub-Saharan Africa where HIV also has the widest spread.

Health workers and health institutions are imperative in the fight against HIV and AIDS. In relation to the Danish campaign, Humour Against AIDS , DanChurchAid launched a report describing the health sector’s role in the fight against AIDS and the problems that hinder a necessary expansion of the sector.

The report focuses on the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the key position this organisation has regarding donor-aid and control of the developing countries’ budgets.

The decisive role of the IMF

Lack of financial resources is caused by the countries’ general bad economy, and few resources are the main cause for malfunctioning health systems. But the report shows, however, that the IMF through its counselling, and budget related preconditions play a decisive role in these matters. The IMF assessments and counselling are focusing on creating macro-economic stability and do not prioritise the social sectors and the possibilities of meeting the Millennium Development Goals. In spite of political will and sometimes even latitude in the national budget concerns for low levels of inflation makes it almost impossible to increase the health sectors budgets.

Aid from donors

The report also focuses on the problems related to receiving and absorbing aid from donors. One of the most sustainable ways to increase the national budgets is through more aid from donors, but this is depending on increased capacity to spend the funds. On this matter the donors also have a decisive role to play as lack of coordination, harmonisation and long-term cooperation are obstructing proper administration and budget management.

Solutions

To stop the spread of HIV and AIDS and meet the health oriented parts of the Millennium Development Goals, a dramatic increase in many developing countries health budgets is needed. To achieve this, actions from both the IMF, receiver-countries and international donors are needed.

You can read more about the above outlined problems and which actions are needed from the involved parties in the English summary of the report.

Download summary:

By Kirsten Marie Kristensen, kmk@dca.dk