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Mobilizing Communities in the Fight against HIV
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In our series on “Shared Innovation”, AFD is highlighting innovative programs devised and developed in our partner countries.
While the world is struggling to cope with the coronavirus epidemic, the initiatives led by NGOs in their daily fight to stop the spread of HIV hold lessons about the most effective methods of prevention and screening. One example is the program launched by Coalition PLUS to get the communities the most affected by AIDS more involved in the fight against the epidemic.
Read other reports in our series: “Shared Innovation”
“Do it with the people concerned, rather than for them.” This is the objective set in 2008 by Coalition PLUS, an international group of NGOs that work closely together to fight HIV. Since then, the hundred or so partner associations have been stepping up advocacy activities all over the world on AIDS prevention, the quality of care and the rights of people who live with a higher risk of HIV.
Five “key” population groups to mobilize
According to the UNAIDS classification, five “key” population groups are particularly vulnerable to HIV: sex workers, transgender people, gay men, people who inject drugs and incarcerated men and women. To improve these people’s access to prevention counselling and treatment, Coalition PLUS is now offering a new community advocacy and research program with €3 million of financing from Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
It is implemented via five of its regional platforms and eight partner associations. The objective is to reinforce the professionalization of those working in the sector, raise awareness and increase the engagement of communities at higher risk of HIV in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Mauritius and Morocco.
In practical terms, prevention, information and screening activities will be carried out by trained volunteers from high-risk populations. This is a good way to offer appropriate and effective activities, as close as possible to the beneficiaries. It also gives a voice to people who are often marginalized – or even criminalized – so that they can contribute to the development of public policies that affect them.
Activities carried out as close as possible to the beneficiaries
The association ARCAD-SIDA, a member of Coalition PLUS, is supporting sex workers who are mobilized to improve access to healthcare and stand up for their rights. This is a real health emergency in a country where 24% of them are living with HIV. After following training workshops supervised by the association, some of them can in turn carry out awareness-raising and prevention operations among their community, or handle the distribution of antiretroviral treatment.
“I love the work I do with ARCAD-SIDA, as I prevent others from being infected”, says Bintou, 26, an HIV-positive sex worker interviewed by Coalition PLUS about her voluntary work in the association. “Above all, I help make sure that my fellow sisters do not to die in ‘shame’ and instead, live in dignity.”