Fast-tracking HIV prevention: scientific advances and implementation challenges

In 2014 the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) reaffirmed its 2011 commitment to end the scourge of AIDS by 2030 (see Table 1). Recent articulations of this commitment are outlined in the UNAIDS Fast-Track Strategy and the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Strategy (UNAIDS, 2014a). If, indeed, targets are to be met, a long overdue rethink is needed about what works in HIV prevention.

Epidemics are social and relational phenomena spread and sustained by patterns of human settlement, movement, exchange and — in the case of HIV and AIDS — in large measure by risky sexual behaviours. The “human element” is in turn conditioned by environmental, cultural, political and socio-economic drivers. So as AIDS quickly developed into a pandemic, it soon became apparent that prevention initiatives would need to be tailored to the conditions of at-risk populations, in all their diversity; that general, top-down appeals to self-interest…

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Burundi: Questions on the Financial Sustainability of Performance-Based Financing and Free Health Care

This article focuses on the financial sustainability of the strategy linking performance-based financing (PBF) and free health care (FHC), which has been implemented nationwide in Burundi since 2010. It concentrates on the financial re- sources invested by the government and its technical and financial partners. It seeks to establish whether government resources alone can guarantee the financial sustainability of PBF-FHC or whether other inputs are required.
This article first defines the concept of financial sustainability used in the context of PBF-FHC. It subsequently analyzes financial sustainability based on three indicators: (i) the reliability and stability of financing; (ii) the availability and ade- quacy of both current and long-term financing; and, (iii) the appropriate and timely allocation of resources by the gov- ernment.
Through the establishment of a budget line dedicated to PBF-FHC, the government contributes to the reliability and stability of financing. This is further compounded by its formal commitment to provide PBF-FHC with an annual alloca- tion representing 1.4 percent of its general budget. Analyzes show that this government contribution remained sta- bled; it even exceeded the annual rate of 1.4 percent between 2010 and 2013.
Despite encouraging results, PBF-FHC is faced with an important financial gap which cannot currently be bridged by the government or TFPs. In addition, health facilities are faced with cash shortages – placing them at risk of stock outs of both drugs and other inputs – caused by important reimbursement delays.
Finally, this article examines the approaches recommended to address financial sustainability in the context of PBF- FHC, namely: (i) the reduction of PBF-FHC implementation costs; (ii) the mobilization of government and TFPs re- sources; (iii) guaranteed regular payment of health facilities’ invoices; and (iv) the integration of PBF-FHC in the nation- al health financing strategy, which seeks to increase efficiency by integrating different health financing mechanisms.

The main conclusion of this analysis is that although government involvement and financing are requisite, they are not sufficient to guarantee the financial sustainability of PBF-FHC in Burundi.

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BRIEFING CARDS: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (srhr) and the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) encompass the right of all individuals to make decisions concerning their sexual activity and reproduction free from discrimination, coercion, and violence.1 Specifically, access to SRHR ensures individuals are able to choose whether, when, and with whom to engage in sexual activity; to choose whether and when to have children; and to access the information and means to do so.

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