Current African Issues No. 31 Models for Life Advancing antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa

Models for Life: Advancing antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa is based on two conferences that were held in Copenhagen and Uppsala, in September 2004. The events brought together more than 70 key actors from Denmark, Sweden, and Uganda in the field of HIV/AIDS and its treatment—antiretroviral therapy. The conferences were unique in that each panel and the subsequent discussion brought together researchers, donors, and representatives from non-governmental organizations in order to link theory, operations research, and practice.

The working paper covers a wide range of the issues that were brought up at the conferences, but focuses on the following three main topics:

o access to antiretroviral therapy;
o H\holistic approaches to providing antiretroviral therapy, prevention, and support; and
o antiretroviral therapy and public health services.

Each section begins by introducing the core issues to be addressed. The different presentations are then put into perspective by summarizing the main questions from the participants and the other panelists. In addition, the editors further developed some of the key points made by drawing on current literature in the field. The final section concludes with a list of take-home messages for non-governmental organizations.

Jeffrey V. Lazarus is the advocacy and community relations officer in the Sexually Transmitted Infections/HIV/AIDS Programme at WHO/Europe. He is also a public health Ph.D. student at Lund University, Sweden.

Lise Rosendal Ostergaard is the coordinator of the Danish NGO Network on AIDS and Development (Aidsnet), a network of 19 NGOs and two research institutions.

Lisa Ann Richey , Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the Department of Geography and International Development Studies, Roskilde University.

Catrine Christiansen is a researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute and an anthropologist from Copenhagen University, where she is also a lecturer.