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Accordia Global Health Foundation Urges Improved Impact Evaluation of Capacity-Building Programs in Africa

July 22, 2010, Washington, D.C. – At the International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria, this week, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and former President Bill Clinton both stressed the need to better measure the effectiveness and efficiency of programs designed to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. Gates noted, "We can't keep spending AIDS resources in exactly the same way we do today… As we continue to advocate for more funding, we also need to make sure we're getting the most benefit from each dollar of AIDS funding and every ounce of effort."

Accordia Global Health Foundation’s new report, Return on Investment: The Long-Term Impact of Building Healthcare Capacity in Africa, presents some of the opportunities and the early work being done to measure key areas of long-term capacity-building initiatives in African health systems that are designed to fight infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Bomb Attacks in Kampala

Yesterday’s twin bomb attacks in Kampala, Uganda, killed at least 64 people and wounded scores of others. They happened within minutes of each other, targeting an Ethiopian garden restaurant and a rugby field where large numbers of individuals and families had gathered to watch the World Cup final. Al-Shabaab, an Islamist militia based in Somalia with links to al Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

As of this time, we believe that none of the employees of Accordia’s flagship partner, the Infectious Diseases Institute, were killed or injured in the attacks. However, many of them know people who were affected by the bombings, and all are shocked and saddened by these tragic events. Accordia’s thoughts and sympathies are with them, and our condolences go out to all of the wonderful, friendly, and welcoming people of Uganda who now are dealing with the traumatic aftermath of the attacks.

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IDI Lab Recognized in International Competition

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Accordia Recognizes World Malaria Day 2010

April 23, 2010, Washington, DC: This Sunday, we recognize World Malaria Day, which commemorates the millions of people who battle the disease each year, celebrates the healthcare workers who provide treatment, and reinforces the drive to end the disease altogether.

Malaria takes the lives of over a million people each year, many of whom are children under the age of five. Ninety-percent of all cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. The crisis has grown with the HIV/AIDS epidemic: malaria accelerates the course of AIDS and HIV increases the frequency and severity of malarial attacks.

Despite these grim statistics, there is hope for defeating malaria, which is both preventable and treatable. With improved access to prevention techniques like bed nets, effective medication, and training for healthcare workers to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment, the devastation caused by malaria can be dramatically decreased.

2010 Infectious Diseases Summit Concludes in Dar es Salaam

April 16, 2010, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Friday marked the end of Accordia's Infectious Diseases Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The event was a success, with attendees spending two days addressing challenges to long-term healthcare capacity-building in Africa. This is the final installment in the three-part series of reports from Accordia's 2010 Summit.

The final sessions of the Accordia Global Health Foundation’s third annual Infectious Diseases Summit were sober but hopeful. Opinion was strong that effectively evaluating and measuring the impact of programs to improve healthcare worker capacity was critical to long-term efforts to achieve success, but everyone was quick to admit the somewhat daunting challenges that accompany that goal. 

Attendees Dive into Evaluation Challenges on Day Two of the Accordia Infectious Diseases Summit

April 16, 2010, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Today marked the second day of the 2010 Accordia Infectious Diseases Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We are continuing to report from the Summit today as key leaders and experts from the private sector, government, NGOs, foundations, and academia address related to long-term healthcare capacity building in Africa.

Accordia's Infectious Diseases Summit Kicks Off in Dar es Salaam

Accordia is reporting from the

First Merle A. Sande Health Leadership Award Winner Announced

March 23, 2010, Washington DC: Accordia Global Health Foundation is pleased to announce the first recipient of the Merle A. Sande Health Leadership Award: Professor Willem Daniel Francois Venter, a South African infectious disease clinician and researcher.

The award is given annually to an emerging African health leader who has contributed to the field of infectious disease and who embodies the passion, intellectual drive, and spirit of Dr. Merle A. Sande, one of Accordia’s founders. Dr. Sande, pictured above, was a renowned infectious disease specialist and a leading force in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Like Dr. Sande, Professor Venter has a passion for helping the people of Africa affected by HIV/AIDS.

Accordia Commemorates World TB Day

March 24, 2010, Washington DC: Today, Accordia Global Health Foundation joins the global health community in recognizing World Tuberculosis Day.

Each year, nearly 2 million people die of TB-related causes, and the disease is the leading killer of people with HIV. Despite the prevalence of the disease, healthcare workers are limited by dated and often ineffective diagnostic and treatment options. The only licensed vaccine against TB is more than 100 years old and does not prevent adult pulmonary (lung) TB, the most common and infectious form of the disease. 

Accordia’s 2009 Global Health Leadership awardee and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, recently discussed the importance of investing in tuberculosis research, stating:

Dr. Julie Gerberding Joins Merck Vaccines

January 25, 2010, Washington, DC: Today, Dr. Julie Gerberding takes the helm as president of Merck Vaccines. In her new role, Dr. Gerberding, who joined Accordia Global Health Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2009, will lead Merck’s vaccine operations, including introducing new vaccines and expanding access to vaccines in the developing world.

Dr. Gerberding is a long-time advocate for public health initiatives. Most recently, as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2002 to 2009, she expanded the agency’s portfolio to encompass preparedness and response to bioterrorism, pandemics, and other emerging global health threats.

Reacting to the news of Dr. Gerberding’s appointment, Accordia Global Health Foundation’s president, Dr. Warner Greene, said:

Accordia Global Health Foundation Condemns Uganda's Draft Anti-Homosexuality Bill

December 23, 2009, Washington, DC: For over two decades, Uganda has led sub-Saharan African nations in the fight against HIV/AIDS and has been recognized by the international community as a model of success and progress. This success has been attributed to many factors, not the least of which has been strong political leadership and commitment. However, draft legislation introduced in October in Uganda's parliament will reduce Uganda's ability to successfully fight HIV/AIDS and may jeopardize the gains that have been made. The legislation should be withdrawn immediately.

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For more information or media inquiries please contact Alissa Oram (Phone: 202-534-1200, Email: aoram@accordiafoundation.org).