Advocay Kit Presentation

Building Community Leaders responses to HIV/AIDS: 

Building Community Leaders responses to HIV/AIDS A Presentation by The Humsafar Trust

Basics about HIV / AIDS: 

Basics about HIV / AIDS What is HIV/AIDS How HIV/AIDS can be transmitted How HIV/AIDS cannot be transmitted People that are especially vulnerable to HIV/AIDS

What is HIV?: 

What is HIV? HIV is short for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. Once infected with HIV, a person is referred to as HIV positive. However, this does not necessarily mean that (s)he has symptoms or feels sick. An HIV positive person can feel and look healthy for a long time after first becoming infected.

What is AIDS?: 

What is AIDS? AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, can take many years to develop. Eventually, the virus kills or impairs more and more cells in the immune system and the body loses the ability to fight off common infections, such as diarrhea or colds. People with AIDS can die from diseases that are usually not dangerous for people with healthy immune systems.

How HIV can be transmitted: 

How HIV can be transmitted Unprotected sexual contact – be it vaginal, oral, or anal - with an infected partner Sharing unsterilized needles or syringes with an HIV positive person, for example, when using drugs or in a healthcare setting. During pregnancy or birth and through breastfeeding from an HIV positive mother to her baby. Blood transfusions with infected blood

Signs and Symptoms of HIV/AIDS: 

Signs and Symptoms of HIV/AIDS Fever of unknown origin Enlarged lymph glands Skin rash and cough Persistent diarrhea for more than a month Severe weight loss for no apparent reasons Skin lesions Loss of appetite and fatigue

How HIV can NOT be transmitted: 

How HIV can NOT be transmitted Through air or by coughing and sneezing Through food or water Through sweat and tears By sharing cups, plates, and utensils with an infected person By touching, hugging and kissing an infected person By sharing clothes or shaking hands with an infected person By sharing toilets and bathrooms with an infected person By living with an infected person By mosquitoes, fleas, or other insects

Populations particularly at risk: 

Populations particularly at risk A person who: Uses shared/contaminated needles and syringes Has a sexually transmitted infections(STIs) Has anal sex with her/his partner(s) Exchanges sex for money or drugs Has many sex partners Leads life separated from spouse due to professional obligations (e.g., truck drivers, laborers, migrants)

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Social Risk Factors Illiteracy Lack of awareness of preventive measures Biological risk factors Twice as easy for women to contract HIV from men Physiology of women (e.g., menstruation, intercourse) Pregnancy-associated conditions (e.g., anemia, menorrhagia and hemorrhage) increase the need for blood transfusion Women and HIV

Taboo and Stigma : 

Taboo and Stigma Stigma derives from the association of HIV/AIDS with sex, disease and death, and with behaviours that may be illegal, forbidden or taboo, such as pre- and extramarital sex, sex work, sex between men, and injecting drug use. Stigma builds upon, and reinforces, existing prejudices.

But HIV/AIDS does not discriminate: 

But HIV/AIDS does not discriminate Everybody is vulnerable. The virus is not restricted to any age group, race, social class, gender, or religion. In many countries of Asia and the Pacific HIV/AIDS has spread to the general population.

No country is immune to the epidemic: 

No country is immune to the epidemic The HIV/AIDS epidemic can spread very quickly Low HIV prevalence rates in the general population of a country can conceal serious epidemics in smaller, high-risk groups or in certain areas The epidemic can quickly cross over from high-risk groups to the general population

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Could that happen to your region or your country as well?

Projections for the future: 

Projections for the future By 2010, the world will see 45.4 million new infections with 18.5 million accounted for by Asia Infections that could be averted with an expanded response in Asia: 12.8 million or 69% of projected infections

Impact of HIV/AIDS: 

Impact of HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS has an impact on all bodies responsible for planning and allocation of resources and education services such as... Schools and school districts Ministries Departments Agencies Policy makers Religious and Faith based organizations

What the Community Leaders can and should do: 

What the Community Leaders can and should do The consequences of inaction There is hope Why education is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS Approaches to take Next steps

How to fight HIV/AIDS: 

How to fight HIV/AIDS Develop appropriate policies Ensure adequate planning and management Make HIV/AIDS an inherent part of the national curriculum Focus on preventive education Reduce vulnerability Introduce or upgrade life skills education Promote a culture of compassion and care

Education is the only way: 

Education is the only way There are no cures or vaccines for HIV/AIDS. Currently education is the only way to prevent infection. Preventive education also means preventing stigma, denial, and discrimination. HIV/ADS is associated with sex, disease, and death, and with behaviours that may be illegal, forbidden or taboo, such as pre- and extramarital sex, sex work, sex between men, and injecting drug use. Education can help to break these barriers.

Preventive education is crucial: 

Preventive education is crucial Research in several countries has shown that well-informed young people Delay starting sexual activity and Are more likely to protect themselves once they start having sex.

Next steps YOU can take : 

Next steps YOU can take Gather and review additional information Look for and collaborate with partners within the Ministry/Department Identify and collaborate with partners outside the Ministry/Department Act before the epidemic takes hold Ensure common understanding about the nature of the epidemic and its impact

Next steps YOU can take : 

Provide committed and informed leadership Ensure consistent political commitment Establish guidelines which clarify responsibilities Review and evaluate ongoing efforts Not allow efforts to stagnate Develope community responses to tackle issues Next steps YOU can take