Resources

Cover page and table of contents may be viewed at Emory University's page on Religion and Public Health Collaboration here. Book may be purchased at Oxford University Press' website here Description from Oxford University Press: Frequently in partnership, but sometimes…

More than 100 representatives of diverse Christian faith traditions, UNAIDS, WHO Stop-TB and HIV/AIDS Departments, UNITAID, the Global Fund, Vatican offices, governments, the medical and scientific community, and the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See gathered in Rome, on 25-26 February 2014. Their aim was to identify opportunities and challenges in expanding access to HIV treatment globally and strengthening the role of faith-based organisations (FBOs) in the provision of such services.

The overall purpose of this study was to provide a description of the contribution of faith based organisations (FBOs), institutions, and networks to the health of vulnerable populations in resource-poor areas of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); and to identify key areas for investment that would accelerate, scale up and sustain access to effective services, and/or encourage policy and resource advocacy among and in African countries.

The World Health Report 2004 – Changing History, published by the World Health Organization, calls for a comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy that links prevention, treatment, care and long-term support. Until now, treatment has been the most neglected element in most developing countries: almost 6 million people in these countries will die in the near future if they do not receive treatment – but only about 400 000 of them were receiving it in 2003.

This “Best Practice” Report attempts to tell the story of the leadership exercised by the Catholic bishops of India, particularly through their national episcopal conference, and of the heroic and dedicated HIV-related service and teaching provided by Catholic Church-based organisations throughout the country.

The article attempts to demonstrate the key contribution by people of faith to the global HIV pandemic response. Special attention is paid to the work of the Catholic Church in this field in view of its vast infrastructure of education, health care, development and social service activities and of its exemplary efforts to coordinate an effective HIV response from global to grass roots levels. Independent evaluations and statistical data regarding the level and quality of faith-based engagement in this field are presented in order to demonstrate the basic premise of the article – i.e., that faith-based organisations
are lending exceptional energy, expertise, and experience in order to achieve the commitment of the international commitment to advance universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

This report reviews the work of faith-inspired leaders, communities, and organizations in worldwide efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Maternal mortality rates represent one of the most extreme cases of inequality in public health worldwide, but decades of global action have failed to remedy the gap between wealthy and poorer countries when it comes to maternal health. However, recent evidence that global maternal mortality is decreasing significantly, if gradually, has helped strengthen momentum and refocus attention on the issue.

This report reviews the work of faith-inspired leaders, communities, and organizations in worldwide efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Maternal mortality rates represent one of the most extreme cases of inequality in public health worldwide, but decades of global action have failed to remedy the gap between wealthy and poorer countries when it comes to maternal health. However, recent evidence that global maternal mortality is decreasing significantly, if gradually, has helped strengthen momentum and refocus attention on the issue.

Religious communities are critical players in the world of global development, but we know relatively little about their activities. The Luce/SFS Project on Religion and Global Development is devoted to closing that knowledge gap. It explores the role of religious groups and ideas in donor and developing countries and points to areas for greater religious-secular cooperation in the development field. The project supports faculty and student research and publications, development related courses, and an on-line databases that captures the activities of religious actors engaged in development activities worldwide.

Channels of Hope training approach described in French by Malian Imam.

Channels of Hope equip faith leaders to reduce HIV-related stigma in their communities and promote compassionate care for people and families affected by HIV. This video presents the experience of two Christian leaders from vastly different context – an Ugandan pastor and an Armenian Orthodox priest.

World Vision’s HIV and AIDS response strategy focuses on building the capacity of communities to prevent the spread of HIV and on providing care and advocacy for people living with HIV and for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The Channels of Hope (CoH) methodology, one of World Vision’s three core HIV and AIDS response models, is used to mobilise the infrastructure, organisational capacity, pool of current and potential volunteers, and unmatched moral authority of local churches and faith communities towards positive action on HIV and AIDS. Once they have been mobilised, World Vision works with churches and faith-based organisations to co-ordinate and equip sustainable, community-based HIV and AIDS programmes with an emphasis on reaching OVCs in need of care and support.

There is an urgent need to improve access for HIV-positive pregnant women to services that can dramatically reduce the transmission of HIV to their babies. Globally, approximately 45 per cent of women in resource-poor settings have access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services.1 There is growing recognition of the need to create greater awareness amongst HIV-positive women and others about the value of PMTCT in order to create demand for services at the community level and to support adherence and follow-up after delivery. In recent years, community-based mother support groups have played a key role in creating this awareness and building confidence among HIV-positive women to have access to these services. Mother support groups provide safe environments in which women can learn how to help themselves in making difficult decisions.

Many have observed that children are neglected in the HIV response. Within this there are sub groups of the most neglected who are very difficult to reach and may be overlooked, resulting in even greater levels of suffering. In a scenario of great need, and donor focus on results based payments, there may be a tendency to reach for the “low hanging fruit”. This research explores the challenges of reaching those most marginalised and hardest to reach children.

Every year, millions of people around the world are affected by humanitarian crises, both natural and man-made. A significant proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are also affected by conflict, disasters or displacement. HIV can spread quickly in conditions of poverty, powerlessness and social instability, conditions that are often at their most extreme during emergencies.

World Vision HIV & AIDS Fact Sheet

In the communities where WV works, many serious issues often limit improved child well-being (CWB). These might include violence against children, poor birth spacing, gender inequality, early marriage, wife inheritance, malnutrition, early marriage, gender-based violence, HIV infections, TB and malaria, trafficking, and more.

This report summarizes the USAID | Health Policy Initiative, Task Order 1 project titled The Role of Religious Communities in Addressing Gender-based Violence and HIV, which was designed and implemented by Futures Group International and Religions for Peace. Recognizing the importance of collaborating to prevent and reduce gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV among women and girls, the Initiative partners formulated the project to improve the capacity of religious leaders and faith-based organizations (FBOs) to respond to GBV and its links to HIV.

The following case study takes in a small sampling of activities conducted by the Adventist Church
under the Papua New Guinea Church Partnership Program between 2010 and 2012. This study focuses on family life, education, and HIV/AIDS.

There are many lessons that can be drawn from the movements of people with HIV, where they became key advocates in shaping the global response. The aim of this report therefore is to assess the depth and breadth of survivors needs in order to determine the legitimacy and potential
benefits of a survivor movement.

This report is a compiled from two pieces of research commissioned by
Tearfund’s HIV & Sexual Violence Unit. The full reports and researchers are:
– Sexual violence in South Africa and the role of the church by Elisabet
le Roux at the Unit for Religion and Development Research at
Stellenbosch University
– Breaking the Silence (full report) by Robyn Curran, Bongi Zengele and
Solange Mukamana.

Global disparities in maternal and newborn health represent one of the starkest health inequities
of our times. Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have historically played an important role in providing
maternal/newborn health services in African countries. However, the contribution of FBOs in service delivery
is insufficiently recognized and mapped.

This third volume in the series focuses on ways to ‘map’ (in the different uses of that terminology) faith-inspired providers, and on assessment of their cost for patients and the extent to which they succeed in reaching the poor.

Description of the Featured Member, World Vision, and their program, Channels of Hope.

A review of the results of a consultation regarding how faith leaders and groups can and are contributing to the development of Latin America.

This document examines whether and how FBOs’ approaches to development work are unique to NGOs engaged in similar activities in the same contexts.

A report summarizing the discussion of a meeting focusing on FBOs’ capacity, and partnerships. Coalition of German Institute for Medical Mission, World Council of Churches, Caritas Internationalis, Ecumenical Adovcacy Alliance and Norwegian Church Aid.

An evaluation report of the partnership between the United Kingdom Department of International Development and the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.

This UNAIDS document describes the principle and rationale behind the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV (GIPA) in national policies and programmes. It also discusses the challenges to implementing GIPA initiatives and describes a variety of effective ways to address these challenges.

This background paper presents regional strategies to strengthen the role of faith-based organizations in responding to HIV & AIDS. It brings attention to four key areas: access to essential services, building a supportive environment, strengthening the capacities of families and mobilizing and supporting community-based responses in addressing the needs of children affected by HIV and other vulnerable children in the EastAsia and Pacific region.

This background paper incorporates initial research carried out on the issue of faith, HIV and the
criminalisation of homosexuality.

This paper reflects on CAFOD’s thematic review and recommendation for HIV-related care and on the indications of how they will contribute to our HIV-related care and response work in the future.

This document presents a thematic review of CAFOD’s HIV-related care and mitigation work.

The Faithful House PMTCT Supplement builds upon the information presented in The Faithful House program. Information for facilitators and counselors supporting pregnant women who are HIV positive is included in this supplement.

The goal of this document is to provide faith leaders who frequently work with HIV/AIDS patients tips for pastoral care.

A summary of the HIV AIDS and Maternal Health JLI F&LC report.

The Final Report from the Joint Learning Initiative on Children and AIDS, founded by Dr Geoff Foster, which serves as a model for JLIF&LC Learning Hub approach to evidence gathering and communication.

This Report, a product of the JLI F&Lc Learning Hub on HIV AIDS and Maternal Health reviews the available data on the nexus between faith, maternal health and HIV AIDS development work, against the framework of specific questions. The report summarizes the evidence, discusses opportunities and challenges, makes recommendations for practice and for further research.

A review of DREAM, Drug Resources Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition, created by the Community of Sant’Egidio to fight AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. This project uses Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART), alongside treating malnutrition, TB, malaria, and STIs, as well as health education, to promote a holistic approach to healthy living.

A summary of a mapping project done to understand the impact of the Catholic Church in combatting HIV/AIDS.

This review documents Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, and inter-faith initiatives in Cambodia and their varying response to HIV. This review highlights their contributions to HIV/AIDS and the important role they play in development of families, women, and children.

A review of HIV and AIDS care-givers from sub-Saharan Africa. This report highlights their importance, and states htat 90% of HIV care is done at home by family or community members.

This literature review by ARHAP focuses on the intersection of religion and health in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly focusing on HIV/AIDS spanning a 10 year period. This review provides insight into how these systems interact and poses questions for further research.

A review of Tearfund partners in Chad and Malawi exploring how local, faith-based responses to HIV strengthen health systems. Research focuses on Christian organizations and national and local-level stakeholders.

A review of research from Malawi, DRC, and South Africa regarding practices and opinions of sexual health and couple decision making.

An overview of Catholic responses to HIV including challenges and successes

This report is part of an expanded partnership between the WHO and FBOs in facing health challenges, specifically HIV/AIDS.

The plan focuses on policy and programmatic actions countries will take to make sure HIV+ pregnant and breastfeeding women have access to preventative services by 2015.

“The primary goals of the research were to strengthen collaboration, increase mutual respect and understanding between religious entities, governments and donors in three countries, and to ensure significant long-term contributions will be made to national AIDS plans through effective multisectoral collaboration. Research and consultation was carried out from 2007 to 2009.”

A review of efforts of faith based providers working to improve maternal health.

This study examines the ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), in partnership with the WHO, conducted a multi-country analysis on faith-based drug supply organizations and their contribution to medicine supply in 11 sub-Saharan African countries.

Lessons learned from the DRC, South Sudan and Kenya from faith-based communities in crisis situations. Non-faith humanitarian organizations need FBOs to develop emergency capacity for HIV. “Collaboration between faith-based communities and humanitarian actors when responding to HIV in emergencies”