From: rastern@sol.racsa.co.cr Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 22:06:04 -0600 (CST) Subject: RE: UNAIDS THEME GROUP: CENTRAL AMERICA News From Triangulo Rosa/Asociación of Costa Rican People Living With AIDS: LETTER TO PAHO CRITICIZES UNAIDS THEME GROUP IN SAN JOSE San Jose, Costa Rica 14 June, 1998 In a letter sent to Officials of the Pan American Health Organization in Washington (PAHO), representatives of the Costa Rican Association of People Living with AIDS (ASOVIH) and the gay/lesbian association Triangulo Rosa, have criticized the apparent lack of any cohesive functioning on the part of the so-called UNAIDS "theme group," here in San Jose. Richard Stern of Triangulo Rosa and Guillermo Murillo of ASOVIH sent the letter to PAHO on May 29th. According to Stern "the issue is an important one. UNAIDS continues to refer to the "theme group" as the avenue by which proposals may be considered, programs supported, and dialogues initiated. Yet the reality is that the theme group exists virtually in name only." In their letter Stern and Murillo refer to their concerns that "the theme group is a kind of Catch 22...We have been told by UNAIDS in Geneva that the theme group is the place to present a proposal and dialogue about our concerns. Yet the person who is supposed to be the chairperson, Dr. Marcia Moreira, of PAHO in Costa Rica acknowledges that the theme group meets irregularly and doesn't have any clear cut guidelines from UNAIDS as to its functions. "We met with Dr. Moreira on April 21st and she promised us a response within two weeks and as of June 14th, we are still waiting for even an acknowledgment of the proposal we presented. These kinds of situations only occur in the developing world where People with AIDS have not generally formed organized groups to advocate for their needs and interests. In Europe or the US, this situation, which has existed in Central America for about two years, would have been challenged by activists long ago. We feel an obligation to at least mention the situation after listening to references to the "theme group" for over six months," they commented. "Apparently in other regions, the theme group has taken its role seriously and is playing an important part in participating with NGO's to improve the situation of People Living with AIDS. Here we are still waiting to get a return call from Dr. Moreira after leaving more than a dozen messages during the last month. We have no doubt that whether people live or die in our region is related to the efficiency of International Organizations such as UNAIDS and PAHO, that seem to be completely silent in our region about AIDS related issues. In our proposal we have asked UNAIDS for help in creating strong advocacy groups of People Living with AIDS throughout Central America. These groups would then work for access to treatment and to call attention to human rights abuses. (Actually, obviously, we are not waiting for UNAIDS and we have already begun this process, but we have no funding as such, just a few donations by concerned individuals.) "But apparently the theme group chairperson has yet to read the proposal. We actually sent this same proposal to UNAIDS representative Angel Fulladolsa in Guatemala in November of 1997, and then to Geneva in March. Luis Loures of UNAIDS in Geneva then referred us to the "theme group." directed by Dr. Merlin Fernandez of PAHO San Jose. But Dr. Fernandez told us that Dr. Moreira is the theme group chairperson, and Dr. Moreira gives the impression that she does not have time to deal with theme group related responsibilities. "We have sent the letter to PAHO as well as to Peter Piot, UNAIDS Director, because we feel that PAHO has the responsibility to carry out the theme group in an effective manner, or report to UNAIDS that it cannot do so." Stern and Murillo added that they hope that the upcoming Geneva meeting will offer an opportunity for people from developing countries to accurately present the situations they face and for UNAIDS officials to attempt to clarify and explain what programs such as the "theme groups" are supposed to be doing. A copy of the letter sent to PAHO, as well as other writings about AIDS in Central America, is available by writing to Stern and Murillo at rastern@sol.racsa.co.cr. 360 people living with AIDS in Costa Rica are receiving triple therapy medication paid for by the government's National Health Insurance program, but the triple therapy medication is not provided in any other Central American nation. An estimated 10,000 persons in Central America are in need of these medications. For more information: Richard Stern/Guillermo Murillo Triangulo Rosa, ASOVIH Apartado 366-2200 Coronado, Costa Rica Tel/Fax 506-234-2411 /Richard Stern 506-258-0214/Triangulo Rosa 506-433-8522/Guillermo Murillo e-mail: atrirosa@sol.racsa.co.cr memopvs@sol.racsa.co.cr rastern@sol.racsa.co.cr