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AMAG

AMAG logo 2

 

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group, AMAG, looks forward to a society where equity and justice prevail; where the African woman is empowered to protect herself against HIV and AIDS; and where there is an Africa-driven agenda for more prevention options and access to information and products.



THE OMOLOLU FALOBI AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIV PREVENTION RESEARCH
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY

 

 

Call for Nominations: Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy 2010

 

THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS IS NOW CLOSED

We are happy to announce note that the M2010 Co-chairs (International Microbicides Conference 2010) have confirmed their commitment towards supporting this award with a full scholarship to the Conference for the Award Recipient.
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“The Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy” was established to honour the life and work of Omololu Falobi and highlight the essential role of community advocacy in HIV prevention research. This award is an important and ongoing legacy to Omololu and is recognition to his commitment and contribution to HIV prevention research advocacy.

 

About Omololu Falobi

 Despite his untimely and tragic death in 2006, Omololu Falobi was a visionary leader that continues to inspire many people and projects. He was a leading HIV/AIDS activist, an advocate for prevention research, and an exceptional journalist. Omololu made enormous impact in Nigeria and beyond – he nurtured and/or led campaigns related to prevention, treatment and research; won multiple awards nationally and internationally; and earned a tremendous reputation from all who had the privilege to work with him. He established the Journalists Against AIDS in Nigeria (JAAIDS), co-created the Nigeria-AIDS eForum, co-founded the Nigerian HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Group (NHVMAG), was an instrumental pioneer member of the Treatment Access Movement (TAM) Nigeria and a key leader of the African Civil Society Coalition on HIV and AIDS.

 

For more about Omololu, please visit www.omololuinourhearts.org

 


About the Award

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG) is proud to collaborate with the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM), JAAIDS, NHVMAS and TAM - to coordinate this award process.  Financial support for the Award comes from AMAG, AVAC,GCM, Family Health International (FHI) and NHVMAS, Open Society Institute in South Africa (OSISA) and UNAIDS,

 

THIS AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT is intended to honour individuals who have shown leadership and commitment to HIV prevention research advocacy and to recognize the work of advocates who have inspired others in their commitment to HIV prevention. The award will be presented at the M2010 closing ceremony.

 

Award Planning Committee

  • Manju Chatani-Gada, African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG) & AVAC
  • Mitchell Warren, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)
  • Katie West Slevin, Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM)
  • Olayide Akanni, Journalists Against AIDS in Nigeria (JAAIDS)
  • Morenike Ukpong, New HIV Vaccine & Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS)
  • Mayowa Joel, Treatment Access Movement (TAM), Nigeria
     

For more information, please write to: omololufalobiaward@yahoo.com  

   

 

Please visit Omololu's memorial site at www.omololuinourhearts.org



 

 

Meet the AMAG Steering Committee for 2007

 

 

 



 

Who is AMAG?

 

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG) is a coalition of microbicides advocates from organisations and institutions based and/ or working in various African countries. AMAG was launched at the 2004 International Microbicides Conference.

 

The AMAG network has over 400 members from 30 countries across Africa and beyond. Members are community advocates, researchers, scientists, policy makers, media and service providers - working in HIV care, treatment, advocacy, research, information-management; gender equality, sexual and reproductive health / rights; poverty and economic development, and human rights.

 

We are from diverse communities, groups and cultures within the Africa Region, but share a commitment to supporting the process of developing a microbicide that is ethically developed, effective, safe and accessible. We believe in a human rights-based approach that promotes the rights of all people to equitable access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support.  

AMAG Meeting - London, Mar2004

AMAG Meeting - London March 2004

 

“With over 30 clinical trials in Africa, 100s of African researchers and advocates, and 1000s of African trial participants – it is time to amplify realities and needs on the ground.”

AMAG Aims:

-     To ensure that a coordinated African voice is engaged in setting and moving forward the microbicides advocacy agenda in Africa and internationally.

-     To support participating organizations to prepare for more effective, better coordinated Microbicide advocacy in their own contexts and between African countries. 

“How do we empower communities – future users, African researchers and NGOs, all women - to be active in this research – to own it, to critique it, to use it?”

Advocacy Objectives:

  -    African-driven agenda for microbicides R&D, advocacy and sustainable access

  -    Community partnership in the research process

  -    South-South, South-North collaboration

  -    Sharing lessons and information

  -    Capacity building for community empowerment

  -    Equitable access to future products

  -    More research to respond to needs of women with HIV

  -    Community readiness for microbicides 

AMAG Activities:

We share lessons and resources so we can learn from each other about more effective ways to advocate for ethically developed, effective and safe microbicides. We seek to do this in ways that address the special challenges and the realities in Africa and to African women, and ensure meaningful community participation and respect for human rights. We work closely with and through partner groups and link relevant groups to upcoming to projects and events. 

 “Nothing about us, without us."

 

 

We continue to…

AMAG Meeting - Bangkok July 2004

AMAG Meeting-Bangkok Jul04

    

-   Highlight the role and need for relevant African voices and leadership in setting the microbicides agenda

-   Support and conduct capacity-building opportunities

-   Map and link Africa-wide advocacy initiatives, and support budding initiatives

-   Consolidate our work and ideas - share lessons and information, facilitate dialogue

-   Facilitate and contribute to partnership-building between researcher and community  groups; 

-     Raise and place emerging issues on the microbicides advocacy agenda;

-     Build relationships with partners in the South and North

-     Work with and through partners to prepare communities for clinical trials

-     Emphasize community partnership beyond and vs. community involvement in trial recruitment and management

-     Advocate the need for more research relevant to HIV+ women

-     Promote an advocacy campaign that incorporates microbicides, vaccines and other new-prevention technologies with treatment activism.

2006 events/meetings participated/presented at include:

-    Abuja+5 Civil Society Meeting 

-    Abuja+5 Review & UNGASS Review

-    Microbicides 2006 Conference

-    XVI World AIDS Conference

AMAG eForum:

 This is a closed email discussion forum for those actively working on microbicides advocacy, research and policy in Africa. To join our growing group of over 400 people, send an introduction of yourself and all your contact details to

amag-join@dgroups.org

 

Contact us!

 

  For more information about AMAG, to find out about upcoming AMAG events, to send us reports, articles or your suggestions about this website –

write to the AMAG Steering Committee and AMAG Coordinator at:

amag_info@yahoo.com

Collective Action on Microbicides Now!!!