Day 3: Saturday, 18th of December The post conference tour was made between Saturday 17th December to Sunday 18th December 2005 to the Yankari National Park, Bauchi State Nigeria about 280km from Jos in order to allow participants socialize and relax after brain storming plenary sessions and workshop periods. Day 4: Sunday, 19th of December Participants then converged at the conference hall of the Yankari National Park for the African Regional Meeting. Matters discussed include the greater participation of African students in IPPNW and how to involve African doctors in the Advocacy and awareness about IPPNW and its activities.
The elections of the new African Regional Student Representative were held. Students from Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon agreed that Mr. Mansur Ramalan should be the regional representative since he has more knowledge and experience about the organization. Finally, presentations were made by the representative of the president of the Federations of African Medical students Associations (FAMSA) on how IPPNW and FAMSA can work together in the area of war and health in Africa emanating from the participation of FAMSA at the African regional meeting of IPPNW in March 2003, and the presentation of Mr. Mansur Ramalan on “The African Refugee Crisis”
at the FAMSA regional conference on “War and the African child” at Ibadan, October, 2004. Thereafter, a communiqué was drafted and signed by participants from Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon. Conclusion The organizing committee chairman and NSR IPPNW-Nigeria then informed the participants about the problems encountered during the preparations for the conference and the need to correct them for the future: Visa problems, funding and late registration by Participants. Finally the participants were then informed about the efforts of Mr. Alex Rosen, ISR towards ensuring the success of the conference and the contribution by IPPNW Norway, IPPNW Germany and the student groups of Magdeburg and Düsseldorf. To them, the participants extend their warm appreciations for their concerned efforts. Mansur A. Ramalan African Regional Student Representative IPPNW
Forcing patients to pay for AIDS care endangers treatment success New MSF data presented at ICASA Abuja, December 6, 2005 Having to pay for HIV/AIDS care increases the risk of treatment failure, according to new research from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) presented this week at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually transmitted infections in Africa (ICASA), in Abuja, Nigeria. The research revealed that in Lagos, Nigeria, among patients who had to pay for their own AIDS care, 44% had multiple treatment interruptions or took insufficient dosages due to lack of funds. The medical effects of this are extremely worrying. Once enrolled in MSF´s programme, where care is free, these “treatment interrupters” had only half the immune
IFMSA-Africa Newsletter
system recovery (measured by rise in CD4 count) compared to those receiving treatment for the first time. "These patients are more vulnerable to AIDS-related infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis", said Dr Jens Wenkel of MSF. "So forcing people to pay, and thereby risking treatment interruptions, can make this lifeprolonging treatment less effective. If we want people to survive on treatment, we have to ensure access to free care." The Nigerian government is insisting that public hospital patients pay for at least part of their own AIDS care including drugs and The Nigerian government is insisting that public hospital patients pay for at least part of their own AIDS care including drugs and monitoring. "This is
December 2005
ludicrous. According to our survey, nearly 50% of these patients live on less than US$36 per month, yet they are paying between US$8 and US$67 per month for a recommended package of care," said Dr Wenkel. To pay for their care, 39% of respondents reported borrowing or begging, while 18% said they had been forced to sell property. Many patients reported erratic consumption of medicines, including skipping or sharing doses, which can lead to insufficient drug levels in the blood. The research was conducted between August and November 2005 among 122 patients who previously had to pay for their AIDS drugs and diagnostics and were later enrolled in the MSF program in General Hospital Lagos , Lagos Island . A similar trend was found in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, where a user fee proved to be a significant barrier to accessing care. When MSF abolished the clinic fee, the regularity of attendance in the ARV clinic improved considerably. MSF currently provides antiretroviral treatment to over 57,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in 29 countries. In Nigeria , MSF is treating more than 950 patients with ARVs in a comprehensive care clinic in Lagos . Source: http://www.icasa2005.org.ng/english/index.htm
Page 9