It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of privilege that the ICMDA HIV Initiative Interviewing/Selection panel announce the winner of the 2008 Dignity and Rights to Health Award.
Dr Geoff Foster, a Paediatrician in Zimbabwe, was selected from a number of other highly regarded and most worthy nominations. The award is made annually to persons for excellence, outstanding leadership and compassion in responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
We share with you the profile of Dr Foster:
1.Significant Impact locally, regionally and internationally.
Geoff recognized in 1987 that HIV was a devastating exploding epidemic when he saw, within a few weeks, many infants dying of AIDS at the Mutare government hospital . He began a crusade which continues through today to alert the world through publications, speaking, and demonstrating personal concern as a pediatrician in Zimbabwe. In my opinion none else has been more effective in bringing to the world’s attention the plight of children affected by HIV/AIDS and break the silence and hopelessness of Pediatric AIDS.
Below are a sample of his contributions:
A review of current literature on the impact of HIV/AIDS on children in sub-Saharan Africa (2000)
by Geoff Foster and John Williamson
Where the heart is: Meeting the psychosocial needs of young children in the context of HIV/AIDS (2006)
by Linda Richter, Geoff Foster and Lorraine Sherr
Also see: Bernard van Leer Foundation
Under the radar: Community safety nets for children affected by HIV/AIDS in poor households in sub-Saharan Africa (2005)
by Geoff Foster
Where the heart is: Meeting the psychosocial needs of young children in the context of HIV/AIDS (2006)
by Linda Richter, Geoff Foster and Lorraine Sherr
Also see: Bernard van Leer Foundation
2.Empowers others
Geoff created an NGO called FACT-now completely led by Nationals-he remains on the board-to be a channel for resources and to advocate within Zimbabwe for HIV in children and in their mothers. He has also worked extensively with community based groups particularly those within the faith communities to bring care and prevention to the village level.
In particular he has worked with the CBO/NGO ‘Farming God's Way’ to bring agricultural enterprises appropriate for orphans and the poor/vulnerable to enable survival in the critical condition that Zimbabwe finds itself today.
The church is the avenue that Dr. Foster sees as the primary strategy of delivering prevention and care to children in Africa-he has shown it can be done in the midst of complete government failure and actual policies that promote HIV spread and human degradation.
As noted above, Geoff with FACT, work primarily at the community level to bring programs for HIV prevention--and population survival in the absence of government/international programs.
We thank the ICMDA HIV Initiative standing committee for its dedication to the cause of holding so prominently before us all the in the ICMDA the reality of HIV/AIDS and its effects in our world.
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