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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.

Accordia Observes World AIDS Day

December 1, 2009, Washington, DC: On World AIDS Day, Accordia Global Health Foundation would like to acknowledge the incredible commitment and dedication of the thousands of healthcare workers, community advocates, and patient volunteers that are on the front lines – fighting a pandemic that has resulted in more than 25 million deaths and infected 60 million people worldwide.

Every day, we hear about the severe shortage of qualified healthcare workers in Africa, where an estimated 23 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS. Less often do we celebrate those who have dedicated their lives to this cause – many of whom have been personally impacted by the disease.

We would like to take this opportunity to share a few of their stories. These stories originate from Accordia’s flagship program, the Infectious Diseases Institute in Kampala, Uganda, where over 5,000 healthcare workers from 27 different African countries have been trained, where patient volunteers are empowered to spread messages of prevention and hope, and where advances in research, training methods, and clinical care are developed and tested for broad impact across the region.

Mark Dybul and Nick Hellmann Join Accordia's Leadership

November 3, 2009, Washington, DC: Accordia Global Health Foundation has expanded its leadership with the addition of Ambassador Mark Dybul to the Board of Directors and Dr. Nicholas Hellmann to Accordia’s International Council.

Infectious Diseases Institute Celebrates 5th Anniversary

IDI Celebrates Accomplishments, Continues Fight Against Infectious Disease in Africa

October 20, 2009, Washington, DC: On October 20, 2004, the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) officially opened its doors. Over the past five years, it has become a true center of excellence in sub-Saharan Africa, continuously expanding its services and outreach. Today, IDI continues to grow and innovate, serving the healthcare needs of the people of Kampala, Uganda, and Africa.

Uganda: Adolescents Living With HIV/Aids Find Solace

October 1, 2009: The Transition Clinic, also called Young Adults Clinic, provides specialised HIV/Aids or psychosocial support to young adults living with HIV. Eunice Rukundo visited the clinic to find out about their activities and also spoke to two adolescents on how they are coping.

President commends US for helping Uganda on AIDS fight

October 1, 2009: President Yoweri Museveni has expressed gratitude to the Government of the United States of America for the support it has been giving to Uganda, especially in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The President was today receiving visiting Ambassador Eric Goosby and his US delegation, who called on him at State House, Entebbe. Mr. Goosby is the new Global AIDS Co-ordinator for the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – PEPFAR.

Mr. Museveni, who warmly welcomed the delegation to Uganda, urged Ambassador Goosby to pay special attention to the alarming increase in the spread of AIDS in Uganda today and noted that the situation requires new strategies and a lot of sensitization. He pledged to reactivate the sensitization campaign against the pandemic in an effort to curb the recent increase in the spread of the AIDS as people seem to have forgotten what happened in the early 1980s.

Accordia Calls on G8 Leaders to Invest in Strengthening Healthcare Systems

July 8, 2009:  Today, world leaders have gathered in Italy for the G8 Summit. They will discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the world today, such as the economic and financial crisis, climate change, global security, and African development. For many years, the G8 leaders have shown a commitment to improving health outcomes in Africa—a commitment that Accordia Global Health Foundation hopes will expand even further as a result of this year’s summit.

Accordia Calls for Greater Investment to Build African Healthcare Leadership

June 18, 2009:  To improve health outcomes in Africa over the long term, the continent’s healthcare leadership must be strengthened and expanded at the individual, institutional, and network levels, Accordia Global Health Foundation’s new report concludes.

New Report Highlights Accordia and IDI

May 22, 2009: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released a major new report on the United States’ role in global health. It includes a number of recommendations that encourage the U.S. to reaffirm and increase its commitment to improving the health of developing nations to fulfill humanitarian obligations and to support U.S. health, economic, and national security interests. The report reflects findings of the Committee on the U.S. Commitment to Global Health, an expert group convened by the IOM that includes Accordia Board of Directors member and Principal of Makerere University’s College of Health Sciences, Dr. Nelson Sewankambo. Dr. Warner Greene, President of the Accordia Global Health Foundation, also was invited to present at one of the committee’s hearings.

Accordia Expands Board and International Council

May 13, 2009: At the April 2009 Board of Directors meeting in Kampala, Uganda, Dr. Julie Gerberding and Hiromitsu Ogawa were elected to the Accordia Global Health Foundation Board. At the same meeting, Gary Bridge, Robert Norton, and Steven Phillips were ratified as new members of Accordia’s International Council. These new members will bring great expertise and leadership to Accordia as it moves forward in its mission to fight infectious diseases in Africa.

Upcoming Events

2010 Infectious Diseases Summit

April 15, 2010
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
event details

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For more information or media inquiries please contact Alissa Oram (Phone: 202-534-1200, Email: [email protected]).