Bridging the Gap: Conference Record [Abstract book, International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1998: Geneva, Switzerland)]

714 Abstracts 34137-34142

12th World AIDS Conference

in 1995. It acts as a referral center for persons living with HIV/AIDS from hospitals
and other care centers
Results: In the first months the community counsellors trained: 300 teachers, 216 nurses, 100 Sisters, 50 Priests who work as pair-educators. After
their first national symposium on "AIDS and religion, the response of christan religions", SIDA-SERVICE has become the only catholic national association against
HIV/AIDS in Senegal with one sub-branch in each of the 7 dioceses. 300 persons
living With AIDS and their families have been receiving care. SIDA-SERVICE has
also trained 50 Volunteers who provide psychological support to persons living
with HIV/AIDS. One laboratory is under construction and will provide anonymous
and free HIV screening services.
Conclusion: This an on going program. The community now feels empowered
when trying to solve their own problems. When the communities are mobilised
and supervised regularly, they are the key actors in HIV/AIDS prevention.
|34137 Bank of Condoms: Guarantee of prevention for low
income population
Marcelo Vargens, S. Clerfayt. Visconde De Inhauma 134 Sala 504 CEP
20091-000, Medicins Sans Frontiers, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Problem: There is no guaranteed resource for condoms supply for low income
population, since they do not make common use of the public health services
and the lack of a popular prevention policy in Brazil. This gap in the access to
preservatives transformed prevention into an irrational and meaningless issue for
the common population.
Project: We organized a Local Prevention Programme (Bank of Condoms
and prevention workshops). The population got enrolled, defines its prevention
necessities and take part in the workshops (STD/AIDS, safer sex, sexuality and
prejudice). The Project is organized both in the land and in the community itself
counting with the direct participation of the local leaderships.
Results: The personal commitment regarding prevention got a real meaning
since the access to preservatives and to the educational programmes were
incorporated as an activity linked to the local community daily life.
Lessons learned: The organization of local programmes identify in the local
movement leaderships the ideal agents to lead the discussion of issues regarding
prevention and solidarity, as their interaction within the local order and logic
carries the symbolism of identity, culture and social relations. This experience has
the objective to contribute in the formulation of a popular prevention policy, still
very incipient in Brazil.
34138 Community AIDS program carried out by transgenders
targeting transgenders: Improving HIV prevention,
community support and self-esteem
Camille Cabral, E. Lansun, M. Tuahiva, J. Rebocho. Pastt, Paris, France
Issue: involving transgenders in strategies and programs against HIV transmission makes it possible to fight also against discrimination, low self-esteem,
stigmatisation and lack of social integration.
Project: PASTT (Prevention, Action, Health for Transgenders) launched in 1993
in Paris, France as a research action carried out by transgenders in partnership
with the European Centre for Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS. In 1996-1997,
prevention campaigns against HIV, hepatitis, STD based in safe-sex information
and drug use harm reduction, counselling about gender identity, support and
help for transgenders in jail were set up. Civil rights advocacy, fighting against
rape, violence towards transgenders sex-workers are also others priorities of the
project.
(1) Outreach for sex workers: 1085 transgenders were contacted in the field of
prostitution. A camping-car was used for this outreach work where informations
based safe-sex and harm reduction for sex workers drug users was done.
(2) Vaccination campaign of hepatitis B was set up. 144 sex workers were
involved.
(3) Housing support: 4 flats were managed for transgenders living with AIDS in
tritherapy treatment, 8 transgenders used this program.
(4) Self-esteem and social integration: 13 transgenders were employed in this
program.
Results: The efficiency of AIDS prevention programs can be optimised through
the active implication of members of the target community: the knowledge and
experiences shared by transgenders concerning the specificity of their situation
makes it possible to develop innovative and creative strategies during of implementation and operation of the program which contributes to the promotion of self
esteem and community health.
373*/ 34140 Community based care for people living with
HIV/AIDS
Pimjai Intamoon. 116 Mu 2 Tambon Donkaew, Maerim District, Chiangmai,
Thailand

Issue: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) will have a normal life in their
community only when there is an acceptance and understanding by community.
Project: Under the current situation of continually increasing number of fullblown PLWH/A, most PLWH/A will return home to be cared for by their families.
Under this situation PLWH/A and their families need understanding by community
so that they can return and live peacefully in their home. It is therefore important
to raise awareness and create understanding of PLWH/A by community and so
ciety. One major activity the Community Health Project conducts is home visiting.
Home visits are conducted by PLWH/A volunteers to sicken PLWH/A as well as
other disadvantaged people like the elderly and children. In addition to health
and counseling services, AIDS education and awareness raising are informally
provided to the family visited and their relatives. The discussion emphasizes
mainly "living with HIV/AIDS".
Results: The community has been increasingly participating in helping
PLWH/A. PLWH/A can now live normally in the community: they participate
in community activities; some can sell their products particularly food in the
community; their children can go to school with other children and participate in
youth's activities.
Lessons Learned: It is important for PLWH/A to adjust their behavior and life
style and to perceive themselves as having personal worth, and to be seen as
having worth by their families and society. PLWH/A should not only request help
from community but they should work for and with the community so that their
value will be seen and therefore creating acceptance by community.
199* / 34141 1Investigation of access to HIV-related treatments in
Asia through NGO collaborations
Tuti P. Merati1, M. Muller2, G. Nielsen3. 1J.L. Belimbing 66 Y No. 4, Denpasar
80231, Bali; 2YCUI - Coordinator of Access to Treatment Project, Denpasar,
Bali; 3AUSAID, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Issue: There is stark inequality in access to HIV-related treatments for PLHAs.
HIV-related treatments for PLHAs throughout Asia are accessible to a small
(usually wealthy) minority, leaving the majority of PLHA without the most basic
healthcare and support.
Project: The project is reviewing and analysing existing strategies and activities
by which NGOs from 7 Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) are facilitating and improving access to HIVrelated treatments. Organisations in each country are completing a comprehensive questionnaire which was designed with extensive deliberation. It is currently
being administered by 3 contact people in each of the countries through individual
and focus group discussions.
Results: Preliminary results indicate that NGOs play a vital role in improving
access to treatments through advocacy, activism, networking and participatory
approaches. The project report will be published in April, 1998. By mobilising
community networks we aim to develop creative recommendations to provide
an advocacy tool for action within national, regional and international negotiation
platforms. This review aims to further facilitate UNAIDS efforts and support in this
forum.
Lessons Learned: We have learnt that the strengthening of both individual and
community networks on national and regional levels is of great value, resulting in
broader and deeper contributions in all present and future collaborative efforts.
We are also learning that the challenge of treatments access is much wider than
just availability of antiretroviral drugs.
34142 Community response to HIV/AIDS/STDS through
economic and social empowerment
Zaituni Bulwadda Nsubuga1, Yusuf Nsubuga2, Esther Mayambala3
Regina Mutyaba4, Solomy Bbosa5, Lucy Nsubuga6, Ndimwibo sande7. 1PO.
Box 12197, Kampala; 2Uganda AIDS Commission, Kampala; 3Faculty of Law
Makerere University, Kampala; 4Uganda Human Rights Educ. & Doc. Centre,
Kampala; 5Uganda Network on Law Ethics & HIV/AIDS, Kampala; 6Philly Lutaya
Iniatives, Kampala; 7Uganda Anti-AIDS Youth Association, Kampala, Uganda
Issues: In Uganda HIV/AIDS/STDS awareness is very high. But over time we
have learnt that knowledge alone is not enough for the necessary behavior
change. In a situation of poverty, social and legal imbalances and impediments
particularly of the women, messages for behavior change will be ineffective. The
concept of positive living for people living with HIV/AIDS requires economic and
social support.
Project: Mawanga Rural Women Development Association was formed to
among other things mobilize the women in our community to protect themselves
and their families against HIV/AIDS/STDS. It also builds the capacity of the women
to be able to respond to the adverse health, social and economic consequences
of HIV/AIDS.
Results: Through seminars our members have been educated on legal, economic, cultural, nutritional and other reproductive health matters. The National
Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS of which we are members has also
sensitized us on a number of issues particularly on living posively with HIV/AIDS.
Consequently, our community is now more aware of not only HIV/AIDS but also
other developmental related issues. The Association received sewing machines
and other forms of support and engaged in a number of IGA's like handicrafts and
animal husbandry. Most of our people can now leave longer on improved nutrition
and at a low cost using locally produced foods.
Lessons Learnt: Behavioral change needs social and economic support if it is
to be sustainable. Community sensitization and education programs on HIV/AIDS

should take into account the social and economic conditions of the people and
the locally available resources.
Social and economic empowerment of the women is very central and critical if
all other interventions to succeed.