Recent
funding cuts on health, gender equality and human rights
have given a sudden blow to a range of important services
for the most underserved communities. But solution is not as
simple as suggesting low- and middle-income countries to
increase ‘domestic investment on health and gender’ or
find ‘innovative ways to financing.’
Global North
nations have plundered wealth and resources from the Global
South. We need redistributive justice and a range of tax
reforms keeping people in the Global South central. We need
to reform global financial architecture using the foundation
of development justice – so to fully fund gender equality
and human right to health with equity and justice. Countries
in the Global South should not be servicing debt and paying
the rich nations but rather investing in delivering on all
health, gender and other goals enshrined in
SDGs.
The latest Oxfam report which was
released at 4th UN Financing for Development meet in
Seville, Spain, shows that since 2015 the top 1% people in
the world have amassed US$ 33.9 Trillion in new wealth which
is enough to end annual poverty 22 times
over.
We need health responses to be fully
funded, of course, but we also have to ensure that equity
and justice guides us on how we use those resources so that
we are able to first serve those farthest behind or most
likely to be left behind.
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It is not the
absence of science-based tools that has failed the global
south on responding to key health epidemics, be it
infectious diseases or non-communicable diseases, but
deep-rooted inequities and injustices that plague our
so-called world order.
If we are to
deliver on promises enshrined in SDG3 related to HIV and TB
and other health issues, we must strengthen competencies and
capacities in the Global South – and reduce dependencies
on the Global North.
Celebrating 25+ years of
struggle and leadership of NMP+
Network of
Maharashtra People Living with HIV (NMP+) was established
over 25 years ago. Since last two decades it champions a
social enterprise model to reduce dependency on donor-driven
funding for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support
services.
Famous German film and TV actress Annabelle
Mandeng has been a supporter of movements of people living
with HIV and human rights for over two decades now. She has
also hosted events like the artists against AIDS gala in
Berlin. Speaking at an Affiliated Independent Event
organised ahead of 13th International AIDS Society (IAS)
Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), Annabelle Mandeng
said: “When I read about NMP plus, the immortal words of
Margaret Mead come to my mind: “Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Over 50,000
people living with HIV from all gender diversities can live
a life of rights and human dignity – thanks to
NMP+.”
Annabelle Mandeng added that “NMP+ has helped
people with HIV to care for each other as well as rise
collectively to improve HIV responses in their state.
Congratulations to Manoj Pardeshi and NMP+ for developing
and leveraging social enterprise approaches for the last two
decades so that NMP+ can be less dependent on external
funding. TAAL+ or a “Treatment, Adherence, Advocacy,
Literacy” is a community-run pharmacy based on social
enterprise that has been up and running since 2006. TAAL is
a shining example today for other civil societies to inspire
them to use social enterprise and become self reliant. It is
the first ever community-led e pharmacy in India. Over the
years, it has transitioned into an integrated healthcare
centre as well as managing an online or e-commerce platform
since 2023. It offers in-person and online consultation,
counselling as well as quality assured and affordable
lifesaving medicines for HIV, STI and other co- infections
and co-morbidities. Screening for infectious and
non-communicable diseases is also provided along with a
linkage to care services. Over 3,200 people receive
life-saving anti-retroviral therapy along with other care
services. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and other HIV
prevention tools are also available via TAAL+.”
Dr
Bharat Bhushan Rewari who served at senior levels with
Indian government’s national AIDS control programme and led
the rollout of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy for several
years since its beginning on 7 April 2004, said that “World
has achieved major progress in its response to HIV/AIDS
epidemic with significant reduction in new infections,
AIDS-related death and improving lives of people living with
HIV. Community has played a big role in this journey
especially in empowering people living with HIV and reducing
stigma and discrimination. NMP+ is one such organisation
which started working for people living with HIV early on
(in 2000) when stigma was high and access to treatment was
an issue. NMP+ provided a platform for people living with
HIV to support each other, and foster self-esteem. Over the
years, it has worked tirelessly to uphold dignity and rights
of people living with HIV. Their work has helped transform
AIDS-related stigma into self-confidence, fear into hope and
shame into self-respect. It has worked closely with the
government to raise treatment literacy. Today NMP+ proudly
stands as a symbol of resilience and a voice for people
living with HIV and vulnerable
communities.”
David Bridger, UNAIDS
Country Director for India, said: “Today we celebrate 25
years of hard work and progress made possible by NMP+ but at
the same time reflect on what we still need to achieve to
truly end AIDS as a public health threat. I think today is
also really important for us to reflect and recognise that
efforts of NMP+ have not only supported people living with
HIV, but they have also transformed public health approaches
globally. Putting people at the centre is now an approach
widely accepted.”
One of the key brains
behind TAAL+ is Manoj Pardeshi – a founding member of NMP+
and also of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in
India (NCPI+): “In those initial years, there was no
funding. Later donors came but their funding was as per
their own respective mandates, while the needs of the
community could be different. So we thought of having a
separate funding mechanism that would cater to our unmet
needs. That is how TAAL became a social entrepreneur
model.”
Manoj shared that two decades ago, they could
barely have an action plan for 3 or 6 months and then at
most for a year. “We never thought that we would complete 25
years one day.”
Hope lies in the people, not
FfD4
The 4th International Conference on
Financing for Development was recently held in Seville,
Spain with the intent to reform financing at all levels,
including reform of the international financial architecture
and to address the financing challenges preventing the
investment push for the SDGs.
But this meet only
served the interest of the rich (and rich nations). It
failed to restructure the global economy and financial
system, so as to benefit all equitably, including women,
girls and all gender diverse peoples. This was said by
experts at a recently concluded SHE & Rights session on
World Population Day.
It looked into women and girls
as merely ‘economic potentials’ for ‘economic
benefits’ without really addressing the fundamental
barriers to gender justice, including labour rights,
safeguards for corporate abuses and preventing gender-based
violence in the workplace.
It failed to guarantee
long-term, flexible, inclusive, equitable financing for
development.
The hope lies in the people of the Global
South – to hold the North accountable and ensure sustainable
development with human rights and justice becomes a reality
for all.
Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen
News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the
award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive
Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist,
health and development justice advocate. She is a former
senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College
and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media
Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and
Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR
One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award
2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative
(Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on
Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
