Dear forum participants,

The e-Forum 2008 has been closed, and I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all of you that have taken the time to participate in the discussions over the past months. We have received a large number of ideas and recommendations, and each of your contributions has enriched these discussions.

We have begun reviewing the recommendations made in each of the language forums that will be included in the e-Forum report. The report will be published at the end of November and presented to the Global Fund Board at the Partnership Forum 2008 in Dakar.

We will also be publishing the results of the e-Forum 2008 survey on MyGlobalFund.org, so if you haven’t already taken it, please take a few minutes to leave your comments. The survey will be available until 10 October 2008, and can be accessed by clicking here.

Thank you once again for your commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria through the e-Forum 2008. I encourage you to continue using MyGlobalFund.org as a communications tool and a meeting place with the forums and blogs it offers.

Best regards,

Alastair
e-Forum Facilitator

I hear what you are saying re: limited internet facilities. We have the same problem here in PNG: Internet is a very elite option, available to very few who are involved with the grassroots activities in the HIV response. all the best, Dr. Heather E. Young-Leslie HIV Capacity Advisor Madang Provincial AIDS Committee Papua New Guinea

I agree with the couple of other participants who suggest methods for expanding the dissemination of information about Global Fund initiatives, priorities, goals and activities. This needs to be done more widely however, and not by esxtablishing glitzy offices in country capitals. The biggest and strongest suggestions I can make are to a] avoid the temptation to establish just another bigger bureaucracy with offices all over the place. Country representatives are already in place in many locales and they can probably continue to piggyback on existing offices, whether that be WHO or other UN agencies, or local departments of health. b] Expand coverage and knowledge and options for participation by going *lo-tech* and by informing more people of the option to participate in the e-forum with newspaper and radio. This particular forum was difficult for me to participate in, simply because getting on the web, and staying on long enough to read the posts, then write responses, is very difficult from rural PNG. (we depend on dial up, are hampered by blackouts, poor wiring, expensive web-connection fees and a corrup government which blocks wide spread e-connection opportunities unless there are personal profits to be made.) So Global Fund can improve their impact and the quality of participation in the next e-forum by offering a option for a listserv, which uses much less bandwidth and does not require as durable a signal to recieve and send electronic messages. Another, slightly off topic suggestion, would be for Gobal Fund to offer grants for internet infrastructure so that rural people *can* have access to internet -- there is a wealth of valuable information about HIV on the web (UNAIDS, global fund, FHI, etc). Finally, I would suggest a variation on the idea to hook up CBOS & NGOs (which here are already interconnected in the country, and the International NGOS are already connecting across borders): I think Global Fund should set up a network of *district* volunteer Representatives. volunteers who are already involved in some central coordinating body in each state / province / district / region. If there are Provincial or District AIDS Committees set up, they could be a good spot for the GF volunteer reps. These volunteer reps could be community-based resources, responsible for disseminating information about Global Fund initiatives to the rural constituencies, local CBOs & FBOs & Health officers. They could also act as liaisons between the Global Fund officers in the capitals (who. let's face it, are usally living a pretty elite life) and the online community, and the people working for CBOs, NGOs, FBOs and health departments. These GF volunteer reps could be assisted to participate in the next E-forum. This system would help democratise the access to information about what Global Fund will fund, will do (and won't) by making the web-based protal of information available to those without good web access, and enlarge the base of information about where need is greatest in each country / district. These GF volunteer reps could be assisted to participate in future E-forums.

l feel that through PR/CCM the forum should be introduced to all GF staffs inorder to get more inputs and high level of participation.

At the end of every week, there should be a synthesis of the opinions raised. It would also be helpful if someone from the Global Fund Secretariat could respond to the items that relate to the postings that discuss operations of the Secretariat.

I would first like to congratulate the facilitation team for the excellent work done by and I thank all participants for their contributions to the enrichment The idea of a forum we like e-commerce is an excellent way to the world and interact with the problems of disease and reporting solution with all interested and the process of monitoring and evaluation very important and should focus on the users and beneficiaries of the funds. Note the work of general and electronic commerce are encouraged to members of the Forum and send short messages to exchange information between members of the forum, so that everyone can read and understand nada barakat Sudan

 

In the next e-forum, GF may consider the following areas

            Implementation through CBOs by a proper structure with detailed quid lines. Financial out lay for each and evaluation methods. Information, education and communication methods. Training workshops/ seminars related to global fund programs GF implementing agencies status and structures these topic may discussed in the next e-forum but mean time GF should pay more concentration to implementation of the program to fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Be hope to eliminate HIV/AIDS/TB & malaria out of global    

Thank you

C.Ravichandran

INDIA

Actually, from what i have read from others' contributions, the e-forum has been educative, loaded with experiences to learn from, Practices to replicate, etc.

I have already given my views for the next Forum. However, there is one more topic that I suggest we discuss thoroughly. The topic is record keeping and reporting system that includes vital statistics. Anyone who tries to look for statistics on various diseases on the net must have noticed not only a lack of data but also inadequacy of what is reported. For example if you want to know latest statistics on Malaria, TB or HIVAIDS etc. for a country or region, on the WHO site, you are likely to be frustrated, particularly if you are looking for trends. Inadequate and missing disease statistics is just another symptom of poverty and a perennial problem in developing countries. Donors have given up on improving vital statistics a long time ago; they rely on periodic surveys instead. There are perhaps one million and one reasons for not addressing this issue. It would be interesting if Forum friends shed some light on this issue. I believe, a good and reliable record keeping and reporting system of vital statistics, can lessen the burden on monitoring and evaluation costs, keep management informed of the progress being made and what corrective action should be taken and where. A consistent practice of reporting and analysis of data can identify trends and accomplishments in definite terms. Better performing programs can fetch more support and appreciation from the population. For controlling epidemics and pandemics, a reliable data base can be extremely critical. On the other hand, not having a trustworthy source of data can keep everyone in the dark. This darkness is most likely to benefit a few but harm many. In fact I am amazed why any caring donor does not get to the bottom of the problem and take the challenge, even on a small scale. Beyond the data on WHO site, I am not aware of the latest efforts in this field and hence will love to be informed by members. A healthy and robust debate can benefit many.