The 2009 edition of the Cordaid HIV and AIDS Award on home based care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) is organised in cooperation with partners of the Caregivers Action Alliance’s (CAA) Organising Committee1. This award will high light leadership around strengthening home based care in responding to HIV and AIDS in the Global South.

AIDS has changed the fabric of communities around the world and placed a burden on the lives of many people, especially women, older and young women and girls. With health systems failing and people living longer with HIV due to access to Antiretrovirals (ARVs), mainly poor women, are increasingly forced to devote their time, energy, skills and the little resources to care for their family members at home and provide services to the wider community, often at their own expense. This invisible task-shifting is insufficiently recognised, valued and validated as work.

The majority of care work due to illness takes place in the home and is mostly done by women of all ages. This work is done for a number of reasons, including the preference of patients and their families, the lack of a coordinated public policy addressing care needs, as well as inadequate health infrastructure and human resources. The vast majority of care costs and burdens are borne by households and individuals, often those most in need.

The Cordaid HIV and AIDS Award wishes to focus on the essential work done by home based caregivers. The Award consists of financial support amounting to €15.000 for an organization and €5,000 for an individual. The deadline for nominating organizations or individuals is September 15, 2009. The Nomination Form and the Rules and Procedures can be downloaded from: http://www.cordaidpartners.com/rooms/hiv-and-aids-award-2009

The Cordaid HIV and AIDS Award will be facilitated by a Review Panel consisting of representatives from the Caregivers Action Alliance (CAA), (Cordaid, HelpAge International, Huairou Commission, VSO International), and World YWCA who will be selecting the award recipients. The selection criteria require from organisations and individuals among others to display vision and leadership, to demonstrate outstanding commitment and impact evidence and to show how caregivers and PLHIV are involved. The financial support must be spent on activities around strengthening home based care activities in responding to HIV and AIDS.

Note for editors:
More information on the Cordaid HIV and Aids Award may be obtained from Wim Brouwer, Cordaid press officer, +31(0)6-11 306 424. See also and www.cordaid.nl.

1(Cordaid, HelpAge International Huairou Commission, VSO International) as well as the World YWCA.