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Source: corresponsalesclave.org

A group of colleagues has launched the “Network Salud” (Health Network) initiative to collaborate on the mobilization of technical and financial resources for the sustainability of the response

Network Salud will have a Strategic Advisory Committee composed of founding partners who will provide strategic and technical guidance

The future of the response to HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and other health issues is going to be in the hands of our governments. They are called upon to respond both financially and technically, hand in hand with civil society, so that the response is sustainable and multi-sectoral. We should “make room” for other key actors in our countries and in our region because without them we will not be able to achieve the goals set for 2020 and 2030.

Network Salud has begun its work by implementing the actions of the Global Fund’s political advocacy network –the Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN) for Latin America. A priority of this initiative, which was originally focused on the sustainability of HIV and tuberculosis programs in the region, will be to include other related health issues, such as the response to STIs, hepatitis and sexual and reproductive health. Network Salud proposes a different management model where its members collaborate on the response to the diseases without necessarily creating an institution or organization with high operational costs.

The focus of Network Salud will be on political advocacy, communication and technical support, with a civil society-centered approach. Furthermore, this new organization will manage the Key Correspondent team, after nine years of continuous support from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.

Normally, Javier Hourcade Bellocq (Director) and Lícide López Tocón (Head of Communications) will be in charge of the initiative. Network Salud will have a Strategic Advisory Committee composed of founding partners who will provide strategic and technical guidance. We will soon share with you the work we are conducting with GFAN, and we will launch some communications tools.

We expect to able to talk to more colleagues from various entities in the coming months so that they join this initiative from different places and spaces.

“Network Salud will be neither a network nor a regional NGO the way we normally think of them, but rather a cooperative of talents whose aim is to achieve a fair combination of politics and knowledge. There will be no offices or administrative teams consuming overheads, but rather a small team responding to the needs countries have. We are looking forward to partnering with other organizations which can collaborate with us on the management and accountability work.”

To contact the team, please send an e-mail to Jhourcade@networksalud.org and llopezt@networksalud.org