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

738 Abstracts 34268-34272

12th World AIDS Conference

Vulnerable children are assessed by counsellors according to their needs and
resources available. Every end of term counsellors, children and caretakers hold
meetings to discuss problems faced by the scheme and children. Monitoring and
sustainability of the project is also observed through counselling and home visits
by counsellors.
Results: Presently TASO has managed to support 258 vulnerable children
in its different centres. Some of these children have managed to progress to
higher institutions of learning and some are currently being employed by TASO
centres and other organisations. Through this scheme, TASO has also been able
to increase thier knowledge about HIV/AIDS and methods of prevention.
All in all, it can be said, that the scheme has greatly helped to ease the burden
upon already overstretched extended family system and it has provided an opportunity for the vulnerable children to get education and could be recommended
for further donations.
34268 Vacation camps for children affected and infected by
AIDS
Claire Bougaran. Dessine, Moiunmouton, 35 Rue De Lalune 75002, Paris,
France
Issues: In France, traditionnal vacation camps are not well-adapted to the needs
of children affected by HIV/AIDS, their siblings and their families which are often
in distress and have problems dealings with health and treatments issues.
Project: Dessine moi un mouton has organized for the past 3 years, a trip of
ten days to the mountains for 60 children (including about 10 HIV+), ages 6-15,
each one HIV+or sick or also their brothers, sisters and sometimes their friends.
For the 2nd year, this vacation is financed by the swiss foundation "Children
action". A token participation of 100 FF per child is requested from the families.
Our idea was that these children, who did not go on vacation can go with
assurances for the parents: treatments will be given with precision and confidentiality, the sick children will receive special attention, the activities will be adapted
to the health status of each child. For this, we have put in place the following:
the paediatric nurse of the association, who will be the only one having the
medical records of the child, volunteer physiotherapist accompanying the group
(especially for the children who need breathing therapy). Prior to the departure,
we take the time: to meet the parents and the children in order to fill out the
health records of the children. It helps us to know their habits in their everyday
life in order to make it easy for them in the group; To answer any questions of the
counsellors regarding AIDS, notions of confidentiality and also theirs fears and
fantasies; To setting up the program of activities; To contact on site the hospital
and medical infrastructures.
Results: - benefits for the children: changes in their normal lifestyle, relaxation
and the discovery of new activities but also learning the rules of community life,
the rules of hygiene and nutrition; benefits for our work of accompaniment of the
families: During the stay, it is not difficult to give treatments as it can be in the
familiy environment. The child receiving the treatment can feel the distress and
the guilt of his or her mother, and their puts pressure oil the parents by refusing
the aid. This is still to be tackled will the parents. The observation of the children
is very enriching and permits us to commence a discussion with the parents on
the education that they give to their children, their value and reference system
and taking into account these elements, begin to tackle the needs of the children.
Therefore, psychological and psychiatric follow ups have been put into place.
Conclusion: Such a vacation, adapted to children affected and infected by
AIDS and opened to their siblings and best friends is the opportunity for them to
momentarily leave their tormented family and social environment but it is also a
place for health education and socialization. For our organisation, it is a promising
setting for the observation of the behaviour and the development of the children.
These children show a special solidarity between themselves. Especially the
oldest towards the youngest.
34269 Meals on wheels in Paris: Three years experience
Carla Vasconcellos1, Nillard2, Lecacheleux2. 141 Rue Volta 75003 Paris; 2VLS
AD Paris, France
Vaincre Le Sida, a French charity created in November 1994 a "meals on wheels
service" to cope with the situation of HIV positive patients on very low income,
with reduced autonomy and weight loss. The meals are prepared in a centralised
kitchen and delivered by refrigerated vans. A dietician assesses special needs
Results: In 1995, 14227 meals were delivered. In 1996, 38168, in 1997, 43000
In 1996, 17 new users could beneficiate of this service and 80 were waiting for
this benefit.
In 1997, we could improve the service by permitting the entry to 46 news users
and only 30 persons were on a waiting file.
For 50% of the users the reason of this help is economic. For the other 50%
the reasons are various (weight loss 12.5%, loss of physical autonomy 6.25%,
fatigue 12.5%, weariness for food 14.5%, nutritional re-education 4.25%)
After one year using this service, 27% of patients found a new autonomy.
That means they were able to live alone, to cook alone an to have an economic

independance. The dietician cares for this issue by valuing their special needs.
Current trends: Today meals on wheels are not only used by patients who
need to improve the efficiency of their treatment but also by patients who just need
to eat. If, in the last 15 years, we had to deal with patients with specific health
problems, we are now in front of some users expressing other sorts of difficulties.
They need to engage ways of finding works, to start professional training. Often
they have to make choices.

Conclusion: the datas of this service are changing. With the efficiency of the
treatments, the dietician can lengthen her work to a social and physicak autonomy
S34270 Access to treatments and psychosocial support for
people infected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa
Delphine Floury, S. Delcroix. CIDEF Carrefour De. Longchamp 75016 Paris,
France
Psychosocial support is a key factor for better access to health care and the
observance of treatments by people infected with HIV.
The International Centre for Childhood and the Family (ICCAF) implemented,
with the financial support of the French Co-operation and Development Ministry,
a pilot program for giving psychosocial support to children and families affected
by HIV and for strengthening the different actors in the field: "SAS Centres", for
Social Action and Solidarity in C6te d'lvoire (Bouake), Centrafrique (Bangui) and
Bukina Faso (Bobo Dioulasso).
From the experience gained since 1995, it appears that psychosocial support
and actions for the mobilisation of the actors (institutions, NGOs, communities)
permited:
- facilitation and development of access to health care. By raising awareness
of the people infected by HIV of the necessity and the interest of health care and
follow up; by facilitating the mobilisation of the family and the community and thus
preventing isolation and stigma, which appear to be key elements in suspension
of recourse to health services.
- health care follow-up adapted to each person infected by the virus, especially
through the identification of the determinants of non-recourse to health services
or of the reasons of suspension of this recourse.
- facilitating the observance of treatments, through better understanding of
these treatments and of their side-effects.
The actions that improve acceptance of the people with HIV/AIDS and their
relatives within their communities, leading to the improvement of the social visibility of the AIDS illness, in parallel with an anticipated access to voluntary HIV
testing and health care services, are actions which facilitate prevention of the
virus transmission. Prevention, health care, psychosocial support and community
mobilisation are key and linked elements for a relevant policy in the fight against
AIDS in Africa and worldwide.
34271 How do HIV infected women face the social and
economic consequences of HIV/AIDS in Cameroon?
Pauline Angeline Mounton Loumgam1, Lazare Kaptue23, Marie
Joseph Atangana1, Edimo Makamte3, Jean-Marie Talom3. 1AFSU (Association
des Freres et Soeurs Unis) BP 836; 2FMSB-3SidAlerte, Yaounde, Cameroon
Specific Objectives: Mobilize HIV infected women for the promotion income
generating activities to achieve their financial autonomy.
Methods:
- To recruit women in collaboration with local NGOs and associations.
- To identify projects and conduct feasibility studies
- To look for funding from local donors.
- To implement identified projects.
- To monitor and evaluate the implementation of projects.
Results:
- 100 HIV infected women mobiliezed.
- 03 projects selected amongst those identified, namely the opening of a
fishmongery, the opening of a cafetariat and the sale of fresh foodstuff.
Conclusion: It is worth noticing that the implementation of these projects has
enabled the HIV infected women to cope with the social and economic problems
they were facing before. These results, although partial, show that if an emphasis
is laid on income generating activities, such activities will enable HIV infected
women to overcome some of their daily problems.
S34272 Empowerment to the people living with HIV-AIDS about
their human rights
Jose G. Sierra1. Bandera 521, oficina 77, Santiago Centro - Santiago, Chile
Issue: Give conscience and empowerment to people living with HIV-AIDS of their
human condition, individuals with human rights, and make better their life quality.
Project: Exist in Chile the social judgment that the persons living with HIV-AIDS
are guilty of their condition. Some times they think the same way. That permits
abuses, stigmatisation and discrimination. Cuase is not an specifical low against
the discrimination, the people living with AIDS don't demand their rights. ACT UP
CHILE was created by help to the persons living with HIV-AIDS to know their
rights and empower themself to have the sames life quality indication of the rest of
population. We work in united with the net of the community acction in HIV-AIDS
in our country and other organitations.
Results: We have given to more than 200 persons living with AIDS, counselly
in items legals, educational, over their rights like medical patients, like workers,

like citizens and as humans beings.
After years of discrimination is needly to teacher to the persons living with the
HIV or AIDS that we are humans beings with rights. The same for the people who
lives with us.