Women and girls are more vulnerable to HIV.
We have to eliminate gender inequalities and gender-based abuse and violence and increase the capacity of women and girls to protect themselves from HIV by 2015
jeudi 20 septembre 2012
Éliminer les inégalités entre les sexes
Women and girls are more vulnerable to HIV.
We have to eliminate gender inequalities and gender-based abuse and violence and increase the capacity of women and girls to protect themselves from HIV by 2015
For a generation free from HIV
Together, we can contribute to a new generation free from HIV.
By 2015, chlidren everywhere can be born non infected with HIV.
Beleive it, do it. Renewing the promise to chlidren!
dimanche 9 septembre 2012
Migration, health care and HIV
Migrants, Hiv and lack of access to health services
has been known to be a difficult topic to discuss mainly due to the complexity
that surrounds different reporting methods used by different countries eg HIV
prevalence, incidence etc, nonetheless it’s a subject worthy of discussion.
This article will try to establish the relationship
that exists between lack of access to health services due to being a migrant
and the rising number of new HIV cases, it shall also briefly elaborate some of
the reasons why it’s important for receiving nations to provide better access
and friendly health services to migrants.
Migration
is a characteristic of mankind. People have migrated throughout history, but
the migratory flows of the
last
30 years are distinct to those of the past in terms of magnitude and velocity.
Approximately 192 million people (3% of the world’s population) were
international migrants in 2006, of which 95 million were women [6]. The
International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that the annual
migratory increase is 2.9%. The United Nations (UN) defines as international
migrant any person who changes his or her country of usual residence. Migrants
could be classified according to the main reason of their migration (economic migrants,
students, political refugees, environmental migrants, etc), the intended
duration of the migration (temporary, permanent, intermittent), the boundaries
of the process (internal migration vs. international ones) and the legal and
administrative processes (regularized or ‘legal’ migrants vs. undocumented or
‘illegal’ ones).
Migrant populations are at a
higher risk than the overall population for poor health in general and HIV
infection in particular. There are several reasons for these phenomena, some of
which are related directly to the effects of the socio-cultural patterns of the
migrant situation. Others are related to economic transitions and changes in
the availability and accessibility of health services, and the difficulty of
the host country health systems to cope with the traditions and practices of
migrants. In terms of these factors, HIV/AIDS is not different than other
problems, but it is further complicated by the stigma attached to those
infected with the virus.
It
cannot be contended that refusing a certain group of society in this case
migrants, access to health services is a clear violation of human rights and creates
breeding ground for all sorts of diseases and HIV infection in particular. Admittedly this lack of access to health
services might not be as result of government’s refusal to treat migrants, it’s
rather the unfriendly if not hostile health laws surrounding the health care
system to migrants in different host countries. For example a migrant who is
found to be HIV positive risks deportation or even worse detention pending
deportation. In addition, as with other people
living with HIV/AIDS, migrants who are HIV-positive are subject of stigmatization
and discrimination, and therefore, they hide their HIV status as long as
possible, thus making support services unavailable for them and the number of
new HIV cases to reach astronomical levels.
In
view of this it is important for host nations to provide health care systems
that are migrant friendly in order to reverse the prejudice that has been
created around health care for migrants. This will consequently reduce the
number of new HIV cases and above all health and access to health is a right.
Health
being a right and therefore an international issue, there is an urgent need for
concerted political action by various groups such as
academics, health professionals and institutions against this type of
institutionalized discrimination and gross violation of human rights.
Finally
it is also important to make known that access to health is a right and
therefore an obligation on the part of governments and that is possible to
provide fight HIV without violating human rights.
By
Eric. Y-PEER Algeria
References
-migrant
populations and HIV @unaids
-migrant:
epidemiology of HIV and AIDS
-oxford
monitor of forced migration,2011
-migrants
and AIDS: risk management versus social control
10DoA. Day 06
Today, Y-PEER
Algeria presented a great story written by our peer Yacine.
The story is
entitled: “Red ribbon and treats” and it is about the life of
a women living with HIV. The story is really touching and also concerns topics
as: gender based violence, stigma, discrimination, prevention of transmission
from mother to child. This story shows the perseverance of a woman in its fight
against AIDS. A true example of a person who is full of hopes and who doesn’t
let any obstacle to be stronger than her.
Said Sansal,
representative of the organizing committee of the campaign talked to a national
radio station about the 10DoA campaign.
Zahra, FPC ,
was invited to an online debate with TV channel to talk about accessibility of
PLHIV to treatment and care.
10 DoA. Day 07
The
7th day of the campaign was interesting in Algeria. Y-PEER presented
a song to peers in different departments in our country dedicated to the 10 DoA and Zero target of UNAIDS. The song was created by young peer educators: Badis who wrote the lyrics and
was a main singer and Omar who was responsible for music composition, recording
and arrangement. Main objective was to promote youth leadership in what concerns them and also to strengthen youth engagement to reach the Zero target in the fight against AIDS. Enjoy the
song and spread the 10 DoA messages around the world http://youtu.be/-vOPw6MjOJE.
10DoA. Day 05
On 5th of
September, Yacine, peer educator of Y-PEER Algeria presented two wonderful pieces of poetry.
In the first one, he talked
about stigma and discrimination that young people living with HIV suffer from. He
advocated for a mobilization of the community to treat PLHIV just like anyone
else because we are all same and HIV can no longer be a reason to put innocent
people apart.
In the second one, he spoke about
youth voices and meaningful participation, empowerment and leadership of young
people.
You can find both poetries
on these links:
Also, 10DoA Campaign in Algeria got good media coverage! Horizons Newspaper published
an article talking about the campaign and its targets.
10DoA. Day 04
Today, Y-PEER Algeria presented an amazing
painting made by Elissa, Peer from AIDS Algérie NGO.
The main topic of this artistic creation is
an illustration of transmission of HIV from men to women and from mothers to
children. It shows how simple can the transmission be eradicated.
During the morning also, Y-PEER FPC met
UNFPA focal point on HIV and discussed the future of Y-PEER, upcoming
activities for peers, the importance of strengthening partnership and
empowering youth as well as trainings, outreach programs and leadership.
Y-PEER
Also participated to a radio program on cultural radio of Algiers. The program
was fully dedicated to the campaign, its activities and outputs. Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=523704637644095&set=a.522550137759545.134199.308801609134400&type=3&theater
