‘Aidsfonds is a true partner to communities’, says Jenny Cozins, Head of Positive Action at ViiV Healthcare. In this interview, we spoke with her about the role of communities to end paediatric AIDS, the achievements of the Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership and Aidsfonds’ contributions to strengthening community systems and putting communities in the lead.
‘We also know that children, only 57% of children actually have access to life saving treatment, compared to 77% of adults’’, says Jenny Cozins, Head of Positive Action at ViiV Healthcare.
‘’I think that communities know exactly what’s needed, how to deliver it. So it’s absolutely essential and vital that communities design the projects. They lead them, they implement them, and, importantly, monitor the progress of the particular project’’, Cozins emphasizes.
What is the added value of Aidsfonds within Breakthrough?
“I think the value add and the really special and unique role that Aidsfonds plays is its role with community partners. Aidsfonds is a true partner to community, works alongside to really understand what the needs are of the community specifically, really flexible and adapt to specific changes required. Aidsfonds also works hand in hand in terms of capacity building, thinking about sustainability, and also sets the partner up for success. I think there are programmatic alignment as well between the kids to care program that Aidsfonds has and also the Positive Action paediatric strategy and deliverables and goals. So there’s real synergy between the two organisations.”
I think the way that the partners work together, everyone has a really clear role and responsibility within the partnership. And what I’ve seen, especially over the last 18 months, is the partners really leveraging each other’s skills, strengths and expertise.
Really focus on the importance of prevention programs to ensure that we really have an AIDS free generation.
Initiated and funded by ViiV Healthcare Positive Action in 2020, the Paediatric Breakthrough Partnership seeks to create sustainable change in regions most affected by paediatric HIV. The initiative strengthens collaboration between communities, health facilities, governments, healthcare providers, and civil society. With communities at the centre, it aims to prevent mother-to-child transmission and ensure comprehensive HIV treatment and care for children and their mothers. Partners in this effort include EGPAF, PATA, and UNICEF.
Aidsfonds is delighted to announce that Happy Betty has joined its Paediatric HIV Advisory Panel, bringing with her a wealth of expertise and passion for advancing HIV care and support for children. We spoke with her about her personal motivation, the role of the advisory panel and the importance of community leadership in the HIV response.
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Last September the Global Fund announced the new members of its Youth Council. Among the new members is Bella Aubree, National Coordinator of Inti Muda Indonesia - the Indonesian young key populations network. Bella Aubree is a young Indonesian trans woman who has dedicated nearly six years to working on sexual and reproductive health, HIV, TB and human rights, focusing on young key populations and people living with HIV.
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