AEGiS-14IAC: The process utilized by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to define how it could work effectively in the developing world on HIV.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

The process utilized by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to define how it could work effectively in the developing world on HIV.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no.. E11478)

Durazzo RJ, Christen PL, Henderson LA, Dillon F, Haikalis S, Byrnes B, Taylor D, Suarez G, Grossman N, Avante R, Vasconcellos J
Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, San Francisco, United States

ISSUE: As the global HIV crisis has gained more international attention, United States-based community AIDS organizations have explored how they could lend effective support to HIV efforts in heavily infected countries. Over the past year, The San Francisco AIDS Foundation engaged in a process to assess the most effective role(s) it could serve in supporting HIV efforts in developing countries. Based on this process, the foundation created the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation.

DESCRIPTION: The San Francisco AIDS Foundation engaged in a multi-step process to expand its understanding of the global HIV crisis, identify significant areas of need, strategies to address needs and areas for effective engagement. As part of the exploratory process, the foundation pursued a wide range of deliberative activities, including primary and secondary data collection; key opinion leader interviews; site visits; a series of internal planning meetings and development of decision-making criteria.

ISSUES: The foundation determined that the area in which it could have the most effective impact was broadening access to HIV antiretroviral treatments within developing nations. This effort is focused on working with existing health infrastructures in developing countries to create sustainable clinical capacity to provide HIV antiretroviral treatments. The foundation also identified HIV vaccine development as an area of strategic focus. The foundation established the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation to focus on the above priorities.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation is working in Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. In Rwanda and South Africa, Pangaea is working with hospital-based clinical programs to support development and/or expansion of HIV treatment capacity. In Uganda, Pangaea is part of a partnership effort with Pfizer Inc., Makerere University and the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa to build an HIV clinic and training facility.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, AIDS Vaccines, Developing Countries, Africa, Research, United States, San Francisco, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa

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