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The signing of the Framework Agreement with the Global Fund for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria was trapped by bureaucracy, the government disarticulation and the indifference to a collapsed health system. The country is against time and civil society is pushing for Congress approval in the coming days.
By: Carlos Romero Prieto
The citation of the Minister of Health and Social Assistance to the Congress of the Republic, the press conferences, the dissemination of a statement issued by civil society organizations through one of the leading newspapers of the country and the constant pressure to the international cooperation section at the Ministry, were not enough to expedite the signing of the Framework Agreement with the Global Fund, which would allow the reception of more than 12 million dollars (97 million Quetzals) for the response to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Since April, some representatives of civil society linked to the epidemic response, stated the need to expedite the signing of the agreement that would take in the guidelines of future Fund grants, to maintain the national response to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
The lack of knowledge among those in charge at the government, entailed the transit of the document between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finances, the Attorney of the nation, the general secretariat of the presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in several occasions, not being clear who should assume the signing of the document. At the end, the Executive accredited the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance as the signer with full powers. After a long journey through several entities, the document was finally sent to Geneva on May 4 for review and signature. It is expected that on May 12, Guatemala will get the document back for the ratification of the agreement by the Congress of the Republic.
This would not imply a significant challenge if not for the fact that the ordinary meetings of the Congress of the Republic close this Friday, May 13, and the agenda has already been closed.
The advocacy actions for the respect to LGBT populations, the provision of condoms and some medications for HIV, the access to medications for tuberculosis and multiple actions to stop malaria, would be at risk if the agreement is not ratified in the shortest possible time.
The beginning of the tuberculosis grant is anticipated for July 1st., it is the priority for now, although civil society organizations involved in the Global Fund processes, consider that it would be ideal to expedite the three rulings that also would smooth the way for the malaria and HIV proposals.
Aldo Dávila, representative of the Network on Human Rights and HIV of Guatemala and its observatory, said “the process has been extremely exhausting and complex for civil society that has assumed a good portion of the advocacy actions. The inefficiency of the Guatemalan State is incomprehensible, considering the current crisis of the health system, which is collapsed and paralyzed due to the lack of funding and the general strike convened by the unions.”
Now, civil society organizations and activists on the respect to people living with HIV and LGBT communities, have in their hands the scanned versions of the signed agreement. With this document they will go to the Congress of the Republic to ask for meetings with its president, to schedule an extraordinary session for the agreement ratification.
The scenario looks rather complex. The Congress is involved in investigations and procedures regarding the removal of a judge from the Supreme Court of Justice, which may distract the attention for a few more days.
Although the political dialogue with the “sensitive” and allied caucuses started several weeks ago, the short time forces to invigorate the advocacy actions of social organizations for the immediate ratification of the agreement.
hashtag #GuatemalaApruebaYa in Facebook and Twitter will be used to follow-up this situation and to have direct communication with congress members. Everyone is welcome to join.