Posts archive for November, 2017

This year’s commemorations come while the world is still reeling from ongoing revelations of sexual harassment and abuse of women at all levels of society and in all organisations, including in our parliaments and by our legislators. Thus, SAfAIDS joins this year’s commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) with a heavy heart.

SAfAIDS will be at ICASA 2017. For all those attending ICASA, we have some exciting news for you. We have set aside a SAfAIDS Day to share our programme experiences as we contribute to the HIV response in meeting the 90x90x90 targets.

What to expect?

This is a day filled with candid panel dialogues on issues ranging from Gender Transformative approaches, with a special focus on merging Eurocentric and Afrocentric views, HIV Prevention (in and out of school) Models, Leadership in Prevention and Key Populations.

“I know my HIV Status’’ Campaign Held In Gweru

SAfAIDS, in partnership with VOTO Mobile and CHAI, collaborated with FHI 360, PSI and NAC to conduct four “I know my HIV Status” campaigns in Mkoba 14, Mkoba 16, Senga and Mutapa from 26^–27 November 2017. The campaigns are part of a three-year mobile social marketing project that seeks to create personalised engagement to encourage at risk HIV populations to get tested and seek care,  while promoting increased HIV prevention knowledge levels among adolescents through mobile delivered audio magazines. The project will also collect relevant data to inform future work with young people. The project’s primary target is adolescent girls and boys who suffer a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic but are also early adopters of new and innovative health information dissemination technologies.

By Elizabeth Ndhlovu-Dumbreni

Richman Rangwani

My name is Richman Rangwani and I am proudly living with HIV. I am representing the traditional leadership community at this forum and I am also a councillor in Mhondoro Ngezi District. Although I have been victimised in person and in the media for speaking up for key populations, this hasn’t stopped me from doing what I know is the right thing to do.

By Elizabeth Ndhlovu-Dumbreni

 

Pastor Caroline Maposhere

Health professional, counsellor and pastor, Caroline Maposhere, who was part of the dialogue with parliamentarians on addressing health/ HIV services for key populations, used the binaries and boxes tool to demonstrate and address the stereotypes and homophobia perpetrated against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) members of our society.

By Elizabeth Ndhlovu-Dumbreni

Key populations (KP) in Malawi are a group facing significant stigma and discrimination both in society at large and at health facilities, because some of their behaviours are stigmatised and even criminalised. As a result, they also have less access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services.

It is against this backdrop that Malawian MP for Mchinji West; Honourable Deus Gumba (pictured above), has made strides in giving a voice to members of key populations in his constituency and beyond.

By Elizabeth Ndhlovu-Dumbreni

 

Honourable Susan Matsunga (standing) shares her views at meeting

 

Member of Parliament for Harare Metropolitan, Honourable Susan Matsunga, highlighted at the KP dialogue with parliamentarians, the importance of working with key populations on the ground and involving them in all planned activities.

By Elizabeth Ndhlovu-Dumbreni

SAfAIDS Executive Director Mrs Lois Chingandu

SAfAIDS last week held a dialogue with parliamentarians on addressing barriers to access to health/ HIV services for key populations (KPs). The dialogue, which was attended by lawmakers, KP members, the media, and traditional and religious representatives, focused on sensitising the audience on the needs of key populations as well as doing away with stigma.