Global Fund Has New Board Members, With Implications for Chair Position
Author:
Bernard Rivers
Article Type:Article Number: 7
ABSTRACT Several new Global Fund board members have been chosen, some of them eligible to become Chair next year. One of these is Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, South Africa's Minister of Health.
One of the Global Fund’s new board members, representing and chosen by the governments of Eastern and Southern Africa, is Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, South Africa’s Minister of Health. Dr. Tshabalala-Msimang has been widely criticized within South Africa for some of her positions on HIV/AIDS.
At its March board meeting, the Fund has to choose a new Vice Chair, who must come from a developing country or from the NGO sector. And a year later, the Fund has to choose a new Chair from the same group of delegations, to succeed Tommy Thompson of the US, who came from the donor group. Dr. Tshabalala-Msimang will have served as a Board Member or Alternate longer than most other Board Members eligible for these positions.
The board consists of seven voting members representing developing countries, seven representing developed countries, one representing developing country NGOs, one representing developed country NGOs, one representing foundations, and one representing the private sector. In addition, there are five non-voting board members, including one representing communities living with the three diseases. Each of the fourteen governmental board members represents a group of countries. Each two years, that group of governments chooses which person from which country will represent that group on the board.
Board members chosen by the NGO and “communities” delegations are as follows:
“Developing Country NGOs” board member: Rita Arauz Molina, President of Nimehuatzin Foundation, a community-based NGO in Nicaragua dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention. Background includes grassroots frontline and international experience, with professional experience in psychology and public health. Email: nimehuatzin@cablenet.com.ni
“Developing Country NGOs” alternate (i.e. deputy) board member: Razia Essack-Kauaria, Secretary General of the Namibia Red Cross Society; professional background in business administration and non-profit management; activist experience regarding HIV treatment. Email: secgen@redcross.org.na
“Developed Country NGOs” board member: Helene Rossert (continuing a two-year period of office started one year ago), Director General, AIDES, France. Email: hrossert@aides.org
“Developed Country NGOs” alternate board member: Jairo Pedraza, Director of International Programs at Cicatelli Associates Inc. (CAI), New York, a non-profit educational organization established to improve healthcare delivery to the global communities. Email: BabaluAye@aol.com
“Communities Living with the Diseases” board member: Anandi Yuvaraj, Program Officer at India HIV/AIDS Alliance, responsible for implementing community and home-based care programs in Tamil Nadu State. Founded a network of people living with HIV/AIDS to deal with local policy makers and leaders. Email: ayuvaraj@allianceindia.org
“Communities Living with the Diseases” alternate board member: Rodrigo Pascal (continuing a two-year period of office started one year ago), Executive Coordinator, Vivo Positivo REDLA+, Chile. Email: rpascal@vivopositivo.org
