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

664 Abstracts ThPeG8314-ThPeG8318

XIV International AIDS Conference

their human right and ethical issues, 6) safety-net for their children, 7) forming
self-help group etc.
Recommendations: A self-help group of PWHA needs to be formed; and should
have a holistic care and supports such as income generation program. Government service centers should come forward to provide services to PWHA at all
level without discrimination. Information flow should be accelerated for mass population so that the acceptance of PWHA in the society will be easier without stigmatizing the group.
Presenting author: at towfique ahmed, hiv/aids and std alliance bangladesh
(hasab), 4/1 iqbal road, mohammadpur, dhaka-1207, Bangladesh, Tel.: +880 2
8123021, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeG8314 Policy for rights of PWHA: Implementation is yet
far away
D.R. Selina Ferdous. HIV/AIDS and STD A/lliance Bangladesh (HASAB), Dhaka,
Bangladesh
Issue: Bangladesh has formally adopted a comprehensive 'National policy on
HIV/AIDS and STD related Issues', a legal framework that integrates human
rights, law and ethics into the over all response to HIV is still lacking. While the
Govt. has currently adopted vigorous HIV prevention program through GO and
NGO collaboration yet discrimination is allowed to go unchecked. The Nation has
observed human right abuses, discrimination and stigmatization to originate from
society and institutions.
Therefore, special policies and legal interventions have to be put into place to
prevent discrimination and protect the right of people infected and affected by
HIV/AIDS.
Description: Advocacy program of CCDB has taken initiative to do work on this
issue. So they are mobilizing country level initiative to integrate HIV/AIDS and law
ethics and human rights concerns that includse forming d group of lawyers, parliamentarians, media people and HIV activists. They have arranged workshops,
seminars and dialogue sessions with those groups.
Lessons learnt: Advocacy program has established and strengthened forums
with representation from lawyers parliamentarians, media people, HIV activists
and PWHAs for action approach to advanced responses to law, ethics and human rights in the country. They have developed a system for monitoring the human rights situations in context of HIV/AIDS.
They have made a network for exchange information at all levels to influence policy decisions, shared best practices and lesson learned and address issues with
a common agenda.
Recommendation: Strengthening effort for awareness raising in general people and civil society is needed. More involvement of media and policy makers is
needed to change attitude of general people towards HIV positive person and
strengthen and implement the policy on HIV/AIDS. Experience sharing with different country's HIV/AIDS policy would bring more pace to the effort.
Presenting author: Dr. Selina Ferdous, hiv/aids and std alliance bangladesh
(hasab), 4/1 iqbal road, mohammadpur, dhaka-1207, Bangladesh, Tel.: +880 2
8123021, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeG831 5 Peer support is a necessity in the life of people
living with HIV/AIDS
Issue: Many people were tested HIV positive at different places in Goa without
pre and post test counseling. There was no information on HIV/AIDS and life after infection. There was no source where people living with HIV/AIDS could meet
each other to share experiences and learn from each other.
Description: In 1996 when I was tested positive for HIV, I was with no counseling
and without information on HIV/AIDS. I was living to die initially with discrimination and isolation from my family. Need aroused for me to know more on HIV/AIDS
and to share with others. I visited the counseling centers, Labs, and NGOs.
I got many contacts of people living with HIV/AIDS. I made on-going visits to
houses of People living with HIV/AIDS to provide peer support. Some people living with HIV/AIDS who were not comfortable meeting me at their houses, came
to meet me in the NGO office and at public areas. Support group meeting were
held once monthly, where PWAS shared experiences, problems, find solutions
and learn from each others and this led in formation of a registered network in
1998 and named as Goan Community for Positive People"GCP+"
Lessons learned: Through peer support, people living with HIV/AIDS could learn
from experiences of each other, and find solutions to the problems by themselves.
Peer group is very encouraging and gives belongingness and hope to people
living with HIV/AIDS life.
Recommendations: People living with HIV/AIDS should form peer groups/self
help groups at every place
Presenting author: Celina D'Costa, PATH+, Yash Shri, 8, Panini Society,
Araneshyar, Pune-41 1009, Maharashtra, India, Tel.: [phone] /

4221638, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

ThPeG831 6 Networking, strength for PLWHAs in Kenya
C.O. Kaduwa, E.G. Auka, M.A. Awuor, J.O. Oganga. TAPWAK, Po. box 30583,
00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Issue: Most of the PLWHAs die early due to lack of knowledge and support from
their communities/households etc. as people have negative attitudes towards the
sick thus discriminated in the society.
Description: To enhance and promote the living conditions of the PLWHAs by
providing social support in terms of self-training and training of care givers in
positive living.
Kenya network of PLWHAs (NEPHAK) has developed a programme, which integrates prevention, support and mitigation of HIV/AIDS to address all the problems faced by their fellow PLWHAs. The Network so far has trained 42 members
on various aspects /issues like nutrition, education, danger of re-infections, medical care, rest and future planning (will making). The Network also does voluntary
counseling, home visit to PLWHAs, this has enabled acceptance, open secret
campaigns with the HIV + living.
Lessons learnt: 50% of PLWHAs have adopted coping mechanisms of living
positively. 35% of PLWHAs have openly come up to accepted positive status and
engage in open secret campaigns. Improved living conditions among the positive
individuals.
Recommendations: PLWHAs who are free in mind and are sensitized on positive
health management and not discriminated against by society live longer. Efforts
are still needed to promote management and care for PLWHAs.
Presenting author: Charles Owino Kaduwa, P.o. box 30583, 00100, Nairobi,
Kenya, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: tapwak@kenyaonline.
com
ThPeG831 7 Capacity development of people living with
HIV/AIDS suppor groups in fighting the epidemics:
Mozambican case
G.J. Debarros1, J. Mujojo, mr2, I. Cossa3. 1Southern African AIDS Training
Programme, Maputo, Mozambique; 2 Rensida - Mozambican PLWHA Network,
Maputo, Mozambique; 3 Kindlimuka - Mozambican Association of PLWHA,
Maputo, Mozambique
Issues: In Mozambique, there are more than enough NGOs dealing with AIDS
but very few support groups of PLWHAs. This contributes to PLWHAs in many
places in not having place to turn to preferring to go underground and assist in
spreading the disease.
With more than 500 AIDS NGOs there is only 7 PLWHAs organisations for a
country with a population of 17 millions of which 69% live in absolute poverty with
a HIV prevalence rate of 12,2% and 700 daily HIV-infections.
Description: One should ask why. Most of AIDS NGOs were started just because
they concerned in doing something for AIDS without involving infected/affected
people. In addition, donors were supporting AIDS work but not giving attention
to PLWHAs themselves. When SAT Programme started funding KINDLIMUKA
(largest and the only registered PLWHAs group) in 1996 not a single donnor
agency were supporting them and they were forced to become organised after
NGOs dealing with AIDS fall short to meet their needs. However, the PLWHAs are
unable to form strong organisations because of very low education, poor health
and stigmatisation of those who come out to face the epidemic.
Lessons learned: Knowing that 1.5 million people are HIV+ and prevalence and
mortality continue to rise due to lack of effective prevention, care services and the
very high stigmatisation of PLWHAs, the priorities should be to support PLWHAs
groups. This, will help dispel negative attitudes which views that nothing can be
done about impact reduction and promote human rights based on PLWHAs full
participation providing a secure framework for social and public health response
to the epidemic.
Recommendations: The research recommend a deliberate move to make sure
PLWHAs support groups are organised and not wait for them to do it by their
own while surrounded by this hostile environment. This can only be effective if
the National AIDS Council and NGOs see the importance of these groups spread
countywide helping in developing their capacity.
Presenting author: gabriel debarros, av. agostinho neto, 1112, r/c direito,
maputo, mozambique, Mozambique, Tel.: [phone] or [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: debarros @satregional.org
ThPeG8318 Visiting PLHAS at home, hospital and in
companies
J. Aguibahi. Action Sante Plus, BP 1021, Cidex 1, Abidjan 06, Cote dIvoire
Issue Action Sante Plus is an association for PLHAs. We visit PLHAs at home,
hospital and in theri work place, to encourage them to live positively despite the
discrimination towards them in their communities.

Description: We meeet with individuals and collectively We encourage them to
be in good spirits and not to feel inferiour to other people that they live with.We
also sensitize their family members, parents and neighbourhood so that they will
change their behavior towards them. In the work place we encourage HIV testing.
Lessons learned: All those we met with are in good spirits now. They are no
longer fearful and live positively. In the work place, many people have gone for
testing and some companies are paying for treatments of those infected.