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The 6^th Dr Abraham Horwitz Lecture

ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The ACC/SCN Secretariat announces the 6^th Dr Abraham Horwitz Lecture, which will take place in Berlin, Germany on March 12, 2002.

Proposals are invited from young professionals studying or working in the field of international nutrition.

Dr Abraham Horwitz served as the Chair of the ACC/SCN between 1986 and 1995. He died on July 10, 2000, at the age of 89 years. In an interview published in SCN News in late 1995, just after his retirement, Dr Horwitz sent a message to those working in nutrition:

“Keep the faith that you are committed to a most noble cause, the well-being of people whom you do not know but whose needs you feel intensely. Redouble your efforts in whatever you do in nutrition while being bold and imaginative.”

The aim of this Lecture series, established by Sir Richard Jolly in 1996, is to continue Dr Horwitz’ heartfelt, highly-valued and extremely generous tradition of mentoring young talent and their ideas for nutrition programmes. Each year a young guest lecturer who possesses the knowledge and commitment to prepare an exceptional paper is invited to make a presentation to the ACC/SCN Session. The 6^th Lecture will take place during the Symposium on Nutrition in the Context of Crisis and Conflict. The symposium will be opened by the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, followed by a distinguished keynote speaker.

Young nutrition professionals are invited to submit a three-page (double-spaced) concept paper to the ACC/SCN Secretariat in Geneva by Monday, December 3, 2001. Proposals are welcome by email, regular mail or by fax. The content of the proposed Lecture should relate directly to the theme of the symposium. All proposals meeting the basic criteria (set out below) will be considered, however, preference will be given to those describing new programmatic or policy approaches.

The proposal should contain:

· A cover letter containing the applicant’s full name and contact details.

· A one-page summary CV.

· A three-page concept paper explaining the scope of the Lecture and the key issues to be presented.

· A letter from a professor or other senior professional colleague who is willing to provide guidance during the writing and preparation of the Lecture.

The Lecture will be published as part of the Symposium proceedings in the ACC/SCN’s Nutrition Policy Paper series. Travel to and from Berlin next March along with hotel/living expenses while attending the meeting will be covered by the ACC/SCN. The Lecturer will also receive a honorarium of $500.

Further information is available from the ACC/SCN Secretariat in Geneva: phone: 41-22-791 04 56, fax: 41-22-798 88 91, email: accscn@who.int Our mailing address is c/o World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland

http://acc.unsystem.org/scn/

Statement by the ACC/SCN at its 28^th Session

6 April 2001, Nairobi, Kenya

NUTRITION AND HIV/AIDS

We, the ACC/SCN, recognize the devastating impact the HIV/AIDS epidemic is having on development, particularly in Africa. We further recognize that the epidemic is increasingly driven by factors that also create malnutrition - in particular, poverty, conflict and inequality.

HIV/AIDS and malnutrition often operate in tandem. Poor nutrition increases the risk and progression of disease. In turn, disease exacerbates malnutrition.

HIV/AIDS can be both a cause and a consequence of food insecurity. HIV/AIDS leads to reduced agricultural production, reduced income, increased medical expenses, thus causing reduced capacity to respond to the crisis. Food insecurity may lead to increased high-risk behaviors, for example, labour migration or engaging in transactional sex that increases the likelihood of infection.

Food and nutrition play an important role in prevention, care and mitigation activities in HIV/AIDS-impacted communities.

We, the ACC/SCN, recognize that:

1) the HIV/AIDS epidemic is not just a health issue but is reversing hard won development gains

2) a community-driven multi sectoral approach must be supported to address food and nutritional needs of all vulnerable populations

3) access to food is one of the main problems of HIV-impacted communities

4) nutrition and food security is a logical entry point for assisting affected communities

5) over time AIDS prolongs and deepens poverty, strips all assets and depletes human and social capital

6) HIV/AIDS attacks the most productive segments of the population, leaving behind children and the elderly

7) stigma undermines social capital and limits health-seeking behavior, including prevention of mother-to-child-transmission

8) women who are key actors in household food security and caregiving are particularly vulnerable to the effects of disease and its impacts

9) HIV/AIDS impacts agriculture through labor shortage, knowledge loss and a loss of formal and informal institutional support and capacity

10) breastfeeding remains of fundamental importance to child survival and development, whilst there is evidence of limited transmission of HIV through breastfeeding

11) nutrition is a core component of the essential HIV/AIDS care package promoted by UNAIDS.

1) integrating food security and nutrition considerations into HIV/AIDS programming

2) concurrently addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis in our food and nutrition work, using existing nutrition networks and programs

3) identifying and implementing optimal approaches to food-assisted activities as part of larger care and mitigation programs, as well as food production and processing activities

4) taking steps to reduce stigma and protect humans rights of people affected by HIV/AIDS, including the right to food

5) elaborating and fully implementing nutrition care and counseling as part of the essential HIV/AIDS care package

6) operationalizing pragmatically the UNAIDS/UNICEF/WHO policy statement on HIV and Infant Feeding while protecting, promoting and supporting optimal infant feeding for child survival among all women.