Voice of America - December 8, 2006
Angel Tabe
Washington DC

It's an unusual kind of organization -- physicians coming together to advocate as well as treat. Ugandan doctors have formed the Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA), which they can use to pressure their government and others concerned to ensure that certain health care services get to those who need them most.

At a time when donors and beneficiaries disagree on transparency and accountability issues, the group has actually built mutual trust with its donors. Asked why the doctors got involved, AGHA member Dr. Julian Atim says for people who fight the problems on a daily basis, getting more involved is the right thing to do. "We felt that we had the voice and the knowledge, and [that] working hand in hand with our government will balance the two."

Moving beyond advocacy

AGHA has gone beyond working with the government. The group works with a U.S.-based organization, Physicians for Human rights (PHR), which sponsors projects to deliver health care services, especially to HIV patients. AGHA also pioneered the creation of a student healthcare advocacy group called Students for Equity in Health Care, which now has chapters in all Ugandan medical schools. Atim says in its first year alone, its membership has grown to 25 percent of all medical students in the country. She says this indicates "a realization that as tomorrow's health care workers, our attitude will determine what kind of healthcare workers [we will have] tomorrow."

Building mutual trust.

Atim lauds AGHA's rapport with donor PHR and credits all the success to the principles of transparency and accountability: "making sure we do the actual work we have promised to do, writing the reports, giving the feedback, and then the rate at which we are growing." She pleads with other donors not to fail in their promises to millions of Africa's vulnerable. She urges the donors to discuss what they actually want out of sponsoring because, she says, mistakes can be corrected for the benefit of the sick and needy, whose voices can be heard only through their NGOs. "Let them not fail us, let them work with us. We need them for the benefit of those on the ground."

061208
VA061211

Copyright © 2006 - Voice of America. You are welcome to use any material that is published by voanews.com, or you may link to any of the web pages that Voice of America has published on the internet. There is no need to request further permission. Should you wish to establish a link to any VOA web pages, please send your request to pubaff@ibb.gov. We would appreciate that credit for any use of VOA material be given to voanews.com, Voice of America, or VOA, and we ask that you not abridge or edit any VOA material which you may use.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .