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

752 Abstracts 34345-34350

12th World AIDS Conference

34345 Why is it important to associate organisation of people
infected by HIV/AIDS to fighting campaigns against
"MST" and AIDS?
N'goran Noelle Kouassi, G.C. Gonhi, K.J. Kouame, M.D. Diaby, B.A. Bambara.
Lumiere Action 14 BP 2101 Abidjan 14, Cote D'lvoire
Objectives: - Suggest new methods of sensitization, give to the population more
informations about MST and AIDS, encourage positively the population to do their
test for AIDS. Showing in the view of all that it is possible to win the prejudices
condemning anyone carrying the HIV, and, have a calm behaviour if the test
shows positive...
Methods: A campaign of sensitization is led by our association; Lumiere action"
through out the countries, towns, cities, and villages with witnessees, debates
carried by people infected by HIV through media-mass (radio, tv, newspapers;).
During campaigns, our association hands out didactic materials; to give more
informations about the association, posters are also shared to give more details
to the readers about the sickness, condoms, tee-shirts...
Results: They show a positive impact for the sensitive populations request any
time that we go back to them. We receive at any time letters of congratulation from
farthest land cities. About 8.000 people, each year, make contact with us (Lumiere
Action) whether by mailing or other means to have clear information about AIDS,
about our actions and activities or most often, members of our association are
invited to deliver speech in villages...
Give a new strategy of fight to prevent the MST and AIDS is nomadays the
chief purpose of any association fighting against these plagues.
34346 The main goals of Russian Civil-Military Alliance to
combat HIV and AIDS (RCMA)
Eugeny Zmushko. AIDS Department Medico-Military Academy, MMA,
Civil-Military Alliance Lebedeva Str. 6 Saint-Petersburg 194044, Russia
Issue: In accordance with notification of the Chairman of International Civil-Military Allaince to Combat HIV and AIDS, adressed to the Head of the Russian
Medical Military Academy (MMA) about possible cooperation, on the general
meeting of Health services military and civilian specialists on the problems of
HIV-infection was discussed and approved this idea and on 30.11.95 the RCMA
has been formed as community not governmental organization. The Board was
elected, the main goals and policy development were settled, regulations were
adopted and the Headquarters location was chosen (St.Petersburg, MMA, AIDS
Department of Military Forces of Russian Federation).
Project: The main goals of RCMA are: to increase the quality of HIV-prevention,
diagnostic methods, medical care, treatment; to collaborate scientific-research
work of military and civilian specialists; to share our scills, knowledge and experiences; to "bridge the gap" between HIV-infected and other people; to develop
more effective policy for the continning struggle against HIV.
Results: For today RCMA has opened 15 departments in different regions of
Russia including the leading centers of AIDS and public organizations. The total
number of members is more than 300. They are not only medical specialists but
also scientists of other professions, famous actors and HIV-infected people. The
Honorary Chairmen of RCMA are the President of Medical Science of Russia and
the Head of Medical Military Academy. Such a staff made definite posibilities to
solve problems, which we have in Russian Health Service now.
Lessons Learned: Russian Civil-Military Allaince to Combat HIV and AIDS, organized in 1995, in spite of a lot of problems has accumulated its own experience
of HIV-prevention that is useful not only for Russia, but also for other countries
especially of Easten Europe.
156*/ 34347 Mother-Daughter communication: A two-way
process
Fiona Nzegwu. 1612 Adeo Lahopew Ell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Issue: Currently in Nigeria 43.3% of the estimated 4.5% of the population
sero-positive for HIV are women (1995/96 National Sentinel Surveillance). An increasing number are amongst single young women (22.7%). Culture and tradition
render discussion about sex and reproductive health taboo in Nigeria particularly
in the predominantly Muslim north. Further, the current socio-economic climate
renders girls as young as 13 vulnerable to sexual encounters for financial gain
and thus at higher risk for HIV/AIDS/STIs.
Project: Through 3 FHI/AIDSCAP, Nigeria "Women's Initiative" projects
(1995-1996), women were encouraged to dialogue during "interpersonal communication" meetings with their daughters/wards to determine areas of confusion,
remove existing barriers and ascertain means for relationship development to
facilitate empowerment of the young girls vis a vis health and sexual decisions.
Women/girls were further given skills training in literacy, basic health and hygiene
awareness, small business development and micromanagement, to increase confidence, assertiveness and subsequently personal and/or community influence.
Results: Collectively the programs trained 188 peer educators and conducted
30 health rallies. The programs also sought to strengthen the organizational

structures of the women's/girl's groups to facilitate continued discussion and
dissemination of information e.g. through formation of peer leader groups
For any women's initiative program men should be carried along/co-targeted
to facilitate increased awareness and behavior change. An increase in such
interventions is essential if continued sensitization and thus empowerment is to
be achieved. Girls should be encouraged and enabled to advocate for "flexibility"
to eradicate harmful traditional practices effecting their reproductive health.

34348 HIV and the rights of children to participate: Rhetoric or
reality?
Naomi Honigsbaum1, D. Melvin2, E. Anscombe3. 1111-117 Lancaster Road,
European Forum on HIV/AIDS Children and Families; 2St. Mary's Hospital;
3Mildmay Hospital, London, England
Issue: Enabling children affected by HIV/AIDS to participate and express their
views and feelings can be crucial to their future well-being and is a fundamental
right promoted by Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Strategies and techniques for involving children and developing participatory
models are essential for agencies who work with children, particularly as there is
an increased number of adolescents carrying additional responsibilities as carets
in affected families, whose own views may not be heard.
Project Aims: To explore the issue of child participation and develop a suggested framework for considering a range of practice models that will empower
children to make decisions about their own lives.
Method: To explore these issues and concerns, HIV affected children who
were connected with local NGOs in different European centres were involved
in preliminary discussions and participatory exercises with guidance from key
child-care workers. A range of methods and techniques for involving children
were explored. The children worked in small groups or individually, gathering and
recording material in preparation for a week's residential workshop, where the
ideas and views of children were shared and discussed and the earlier resource
material was developed further.
In parallel with this work with children, a questionnaire was circulated to the 10
collaborating centres of the European Forum on HIV/AIDS Children and Families
to ascertain whether any participatory models of involving children were being
developed and to share any examples of good practice.
Selection Criteria: Children were selected from European centres. They were
within the age range of 12-16 years, where disclosure about HIV diagnosis within
the family had occurred and where parental consent to attend the workshop had
been obtained.
The results of the children's participation workshop will be presented and written up by children and adults. The lessons learnt from this project will be used
to develop a framework on children's participation which can be presented as a
model for developing other initiatives and strategies.
Lessons Learnt: The value of children's participation in developing child centred services has been documented in other areas of child care and has proved
beneficial in developing children's self-esteem and in changing the policy and
practice of child care agencies. This project has shown it is possible to extrapolate some of these ideas to the field of HIV, particularly for disseminating and
promoting children's rights.
34349 Strengthening network of sexworkers from regional to
international
Surang Janyam. 57/60 Tivanond Road, Tambon Taladkwan, Nonthaburi 11000,
Thailand
Project: In 1995, at the 3rd International Conference on STD/AIDS in Asia and
the Pacific in Chiangmai, Thailand, EMPOWER, an organization offers supports
for sexworkers in Thailand held a workshop for sexwokers and support groups
to discuss their needs and concerns. The symposium attended by 60 representatives from sexworkers' and support organizations from Asian and the Pacific
nations found an infarmal network among themselves.
In 1997, at the 4th International Conference on STD/AIDS in Asia and the
Pacific in Manila, Philippines, EMPOWER was called by the network member
to strenghten their needs and collaborate a constructive issue for the network.
Topics of Safe and Unsafe condition at work was raised as a common area.
One of agreements from the network was to encourage each of us to document
condition of safety and unsafety where we wish to live with. And what they wish
to see is what is the Standard Of Safety at the Work Place in sex industry.
Conclusion: To meet with gruops from International network at the Conference
in Geneva is a step forward in collaborating the regional network with International
links. EMPOWER applies for booth and exhibition which to be used for meeting
place, sharing inforamtion and friendshipment.
S34350 Work your body, work that network - Learning the in's
and out's of networking
Jackyie Coleman1, Richard Burzynski2. 11931 13th Street, NW Washington, DC,
USA; 2ICASO, Ottawa, Canada
Workshop Purpose: To introduce and explore in detail the concept of networking
in order to increase participants' familiarity and general understanding of ways
that groups of people organize and support mutual/common goals and missions.
Module Goals: This workshop will enable participants to:
(a) Learn the definition and tenets of networking.
(b) Become aware of the nature of networking.
(c) Become familiar with The Networking Manual and accompanying kit.

(d) Cite examples and familiarize participants with local and regional networks.
Workshop Methodology: The workshop will be a combination of lecturette,
discussion, and small group work. A sizable amount of the session will be conducted in small groups so that participants may actively participate and learn from
each other the essence of networking.
Materials: Each participant will be given a networking guide to use during the
workshop. An accompanying action plan will also be given, and if time permits