MSM-HIV Prevalence Study and Advocacy Meeting

The Sexual Health and Rights Project, in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa and the Johns Hopkin's Center for Health and Human Rights, held a meeting with partners on research and related advocacy on HIV prevalence in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Botswana, Namibia, Malawi and South Africa. The meeting and a related HIV prevalence study was initiated in response to the dearth of funding and programs addressing access to HIV prevention and AIDS treatment services despite anecdotal evidence that MSM could be at high risk. The meeting provided an opportunity for researchers, advocates, donors, and international partners to network and strategize on advocacy priorities and opportunities.

Presentations featured at the meeting include:

• Shannon Kowalski-Morton, OSI Public Health Program, Program Officer, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, outlined the structure of the Global Fund and the challenges and opportunities for civil society organizations to access the Global Fund for advocacy and resource mobilization.
• Cary Alan Johnson, Africa Team Leader of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, presented steps to develop and implement effective advocacy strategies based on credible research findings.
• Stefan Baral, MD MPH MBA MSc, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, gave an overview of the current evidence available to on HIV prevalence among MSM populations in low and middle income countries.

A UNAIDS published article describes the obstacles and opportunities to better address HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Africa and the need for tailored HIV resources and programs. The article describes how the SHARP/Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) research project and related meeting in Southern Africa have contributed to these efforts.