Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

300 Abstracts WeOrG1293-WeOrG1296

XIV International AIDS Conference

tions (involvement). Positive effects for PLHA: all 4 types of involvement lead to
improved psychological health. Access to services that offer peer support ends
self-isolation & lessen stigma. Participation & involvement may also mean a dramatic increase in access to information on
HIV/AIDS, acceptance of HIV status & enhanced self-esteem. Negative effects
for PLHA: all types of involvement may cause stigma & discrimination depending
on the PLHA visibility level within & outside the NGO. Lack of training can lead to
depression for asymptomatic PLHA involved informally in the care of ill PLHA (inclusion). Positive effects for NGOs: inclusion, participation & involvement of PLHA
increase understanding of HIV/AIDS issues by service providers & improve their
attitudes. Negative effects for NGOs: when PLHA are the main providers of services (participation and involvement), frequent illness & premature death may
disrupt services; costs may rise because of increased payment of benefits and
training.
Conclusions: PLHA involvement in NGOs may be meaningful for PLHA depending on type of involvement & expectations. For NGOs, involvement has little impact on the relevance and quality of services if PLHA are not involved in the
delivery & planning.
Presenting author: Christopher Castle, Horizons/Population Council, 4301 Conn
Ave NW, Suite 280, Washington, DC 20008, United States, Tel.: [phone],
Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
WeOrG 1293 Tackling a crisis situation among rural HIV
positive women
A. Ramaiah. Positives Womens Network, #57, 4th Cross, Adugodi, Deve Gowda
Layout, Bangalore - 560030, Karnataka State,India
Issues: There is growing acknowledgment of the unique threat that HIV/AIDS is
posing women in India, very little attention has been focused on the challenges
women face living with the realities of the epidemic. Women in India have long
been a neglected community. Access to health services are poor, especially HIV
positive women. To tackle this problem a innovative program was envisaged and
established in the Indian state of Karnataka.
Descriptions: To reach out to the affected communities especially in the rural
areas, a HIV positive womens network was established, which undertook a series of relation building exercises with the district health authorities and followed
that up with evidence based interventions. After setting up of a formal relationship
with the use of official machinery, local community based organizations (CBOs)
were involved to provide support and education interventions. The CBOs field
staffs were trained to provide counselling services at the doors of those affected
and also coordinate efforts for utilization of care and support services. The intervention has reached 8 districts and has about 47 registered members, who have
either sought help or seeking from the network.
Lessons learned: Awareness among the family members has been instrumental
in creating an enabling environment. Group sessions have empowered positive
women seeking care provisions and seek medical treatment. District health hospitals have started providing counselling services and have referred those identified
to the network. There has been a request by the doctors to be trained to provide
symptomatic treatment.
Recommendations: To support and strengthen national capacity to create and
improve gender-sensitive policies. Community specific solutions have further and
effective reach. Facilitate the development of community strategies that will protect women of all ages from HIV and other STDs. To ensure the involvement of
women in decision-making.
Presenting author: AshaDevi Ramaiah, #57, 4th Cross, Adugodi, Deve Gowda
Layout, Bangalore - 560030, Karnataka State, India, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: asharamiah @ hotmail.com
WeOrG1294 Greater involvement of people living with HIVAIDS
in Namibia
R.D. Shipiki. Aids Law Unit, P 0 Box 604, Windhoek, Namibia, Namibia
Issues: Namibia which has a population of 1.6 million have approximately
200,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Because of the stigma and discrimination
faced by people living with HIV/AIDS(PLWHA's) most Namibians are not open
about their status. Over the last 10 years most of the campaigns have focused
solely on the protection of the uninfected and have ignored the vital role the
PLWHA's have to play in management and prevention of HIV. Only recently have
Namibians PLWHA's became more open about their status recognising the role
they can play. Women have played a major role in this struggle.
Description: PLWHA's in Namibia have organized themselves as a group to
lobby and influence decision makers. In 1999, the Minister of Health announced
that HIV/AIDS would become a notifiable disease without consultation. PLWHA's
organized themselves around this issue. PLWHA's have strengthen their capacity
to play an effective role in HIV/AIDS management and prevention strategies.The
paper describes the evolvement of National Organization for people living with

HIV/AIDS, Lironga Eparu.
Lessons learned: PLWHA's have a crucial role to play in prevention, counseling,positive living and the reduction of stigma facing infected. Through the transfer
of lobbying and advocacy skills PLWHA's have gained confidence in articulating
their needs and priorities. The priorities identified by PLWHA are: access to treatment, MTCT, counselling, and fundraising skills. Increased capacity to effectively
participate on the part of PLWHA's has made decision makers realized that the

top bottom approach in managing the epidemic no longer works. All stakeholders
need to be consulted.
Recommendations: PLWHA's needs to be equipped with skills that will assist
them to effectively contribute in advocating for a Human Rights approach to respond to HIV/AIDS. PLWHA's need to be recognized as partners by government
in the development of the best practices in Namibia and the care of those already
infected.
Presenting author: Ruusa Shipiki, P O Box 604, Windhoek, Namibia, Namibia,
Tel.: +264+61+223356, Fax: +264+61+234953, E-mail: RShipiki @ Lac.org.na
WeOrG1295 Improved skills development for persons living
with HIV/AIDS and service providers in Mexico and
Canada
D. Ibarra Brito1, A.I. Luna-Cadena1, W. O'Briain 2, J.G. Cabrera-Resendiz1.
1-Red-Mexicana de Personas que Viven con VIH/SIDA, Cd. de Mexico, Mexico;
2AIDS Vancouver, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Issues: The development of innovative HIV education materials is needed in
Mexico. There is a growing need for culturally-specific HIV education services
for Spanish-speaking migrants in Canada.
Description: This project developed skills building activities for persons infected/affected by HIV/AIDS on specific themes (education, sensitization, capacity building), and promoted mutually beneficial networking activities between
Canada and Mexico. In Vancouver community groups had developed methodologies, tools and materials. In Mexico City, groups had adopted popular education
techniques to deliver education messages. Educational materials and techniques
were shared during exchange visits to Vancouver and Mexico City; material selected from both countries was translated and adapted. New materials were produced in Spanish and English after being piloted and fine-tuned. In Mexico City,
a National Skills Building workshop was conducted for PLHAs from 19 Mexican
states. In Vancouver a workshop was held for Spanish-speaking PLHAs. A document on lessons learned was distributed.
Lessons learned: Collaborative work done by participating agencies has allowed
groups in both countries to improve services. A substantial achievement is the
exchange of methodologies and approaches to work. In Mexico, groups must
strengthen organizational infrastructure in order to better promote heath and human rights, build social support networks and prevent new infections. In Canada,
increased attention to popular education approaches would improve programs for
migrants. In Mexico and Canada, involving business and government partners
greatly increases project impact at little cost.
Recommendations: This model can be replicated, providing partners in both the
developing and developed country respect each other's strengths, and develop
mutually beneficial relationships. Creating a written partnership document can
assist in sustaining and guiding the relationship for mutual benefit.
Presenting author: Dionicio Ibarra Brito, Astronomos # 38-1, Col. Escand6n,
C.P. 11800, Cd. de M6xico, Mexico, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
WeOrG 1296 Greater involvement of people living with HIV and
AIDS: Key to successful AIDS program
N.L. Ortega1, G. Gonzales2, M. Liwanag3. 1Names Project Philippines, 1066
Remedios Street Malate 1004, Manila, Philippines; 2GNP Representative,
Manila, Philippines; 3Pinoy Plus Association, Manila, Philippines
Issue: Since the 1994 Paris Declaration, GIPA has been integrated into this document. Since then nothing has been implemented in most of the program areas
in terms of greater involvement of PLWHAs and the affected others.
Methodology: Multisectoral involvement in program planning, designing and implementing is very crucial. With this type of approach, positive people need to be
there and be part of the team. Their voices need to be heard because being in
that situation make them the perfect person to consult and be part of the decision
making body. The need to train positive people, build their capacity, strengthen
their skills is important as well. This in turn make them as experts deviating from
the wrong perception that being positive is enough to make them experts. The
need for stakeholders to look at HIV not just as a health issue but as a development issue that affects the component of the community which is the family.
Constraints: There are certain constraints to promoting GIPA. One of them is the
disclosure of the HIV status of the person and second the possible stigma and
discrimination which may be extended even to the family. Third is the readiness
of the community to accept positive people. These are just some of the many
concerns relateed to promotion of GIPA.
Lessons learned: Linking prevention, care and support through synergistic programmes should be part of local and national responses. Making care and support services available, accessible and affordable at all levels via linked medical
and psycho social support help lessen stigma and discrimination thus, improving
care services, may increase number of people availing of the voluntary counsel
ing and testing. This provides room for an opportunity to immediately treat infections and early management of other HIV related diseases, eventually addressing
quality of life of the positive people and their care givers as well.
Presenting author: Nenita Ortega, 1066 Remedios Street Malate 1004, Manila,
Philippines, Tel.: +[phone], Fax: +[phone], E-mail: [email protected]