Review of national AIDS councils in Africa: Findings from five countries

National AIDS councils (NACs) were established in many African countries to co-ordinate the multi-sectoral response to HIV/AIDS. Their main mandate is to provide strategic leadership and co-ordinate activities geared to fight against HIV/AIDS. This study sought to understand the extent to which NACs have achieved their goals and the challenges they face. Best practices were identified and shared among countries involved; so as to enhance their efforts. This review is crucial given that the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from being won. Data for this study were collected from five countries: Ghana; Tanzania; Kenya; Zimbabwe and Lesotho. A qualita- tive study approach was employed by conducting individual in-depth interviews with senior staff members of NACs. We also collected important NAC documents that are used in achieving their mandates. The NAC documentation seemed to be in order in all countries visited; and there was a good understanding of the NACs' mandate and their functioning. There were numerous constraints and challenges that need to be addressed in order to make NACs perform their activities better. NACs need to operate independently of the usual government bureaucracy. Additional work is still needed by governments in making NACs responsible

Cost analysis for rehabilitation services in Zimbabwe:a report prepared for the World Health Organisation

Like in most developing countries; there is paucity of cost data on the provision of rehabilitation services especially programme specific cost data in Zimbabwe. This study therefore endeavoured to test the WHO protocol on cost of heath services to cost rehabilitation services. The aim was to generate field information that would enable design of a protocol that can be effectively employed in other countries for costing rehabilitation services. The study is an economic study analysis of rehabilitation services which does not only look at financial costs but also social costs. An analysis of economics is a necessary pre requisite to the effective efficient expansion of rehabilitation services in Zimbabwe. Information on costs and possible simulations of changes in scale or organisational arrangements of community based rehablitation provides crucial baseline information for informed decision making