[June – October 2008]
Since the beginning of 2007, WiSH has been raising money for a unique new project in South Africa that is bringing women together to fight HIV in their communities. Violation of women’s rights in South Africa and other developing countries puts them at risk of HIV infection and stops them from getting the medical treatment they need, so ActionAid are working to protect the rights of women to ensure they are guaranteed a healthy, happy and dignified life in the face of HIV AIDS.
ActionAid started working with women from the Thulamela area of the Limpopo province in 2007 to find out what their experience of living with HIV and AIDS was like. We spoke to several women’s groups and health care workers, as well as other organisations working on HIV and women’s rights in the area. We asked them about their experience of accessing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. They told us that:
- It was difficult to get information about HIV and AIDS. There were not enough posters and leaflets in health centres and other public placed.
- Although male condoms are easily available, there are no female condoms.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis is available in most hospitals, but getting there is a major problem for many women.
- The health system is not able to provide long term care for many people affected by AIDS, and in most cases women are providing home based care.
- Local services from voluntary organisations are uncoordinated, disjointed and overlapping, weakening the impact they have.
We put together a project plan to tackle these issues with the following priorities:
- To bring existing women’s groups and local organisations together to form a network with shared targets and objectives. By working together we can exchange expertise and ideas, creating a stronger and more effective action group on HIV and violence against women.
- To campaign for improved access to female condoms and better health services in the area.
It has taken several months of research, interviews and meetings to reach this stage. Local women have been instrumental in identifying the issues they face around HIV and discussing how best to find solutions. There are many local women’s groups working hard to secure better access to prevention, treatment and care for HIV AIDS, but they would be more effective sharing their experience and working together.
Female condoms have been identified as a priority because women are often not able to insist their partners wear a condom. By using female condoms they are able to take control and protect their own health by preventing HIV infection. It also enables them to practice birth control.
As well as the research, networking and planning sessions, ActionAid have organised advocacy meetings for local women to learn about the services already available for them, and make them aware of the new network that will be developed. Female condoms were also distributed.
The funds already raised by WiSH will be used to build the network of women and local organisations, and to build a campaign for more female condoms and better health services in the area. Additional funding is also being secured by ActionAid to ensure the project’s sustainability.
Please note that only a small amount of the funds raised have been spent so far, as this research and development stage is not costly. It is, however, essential to ensuring the project will be relevant and of real benefit to the community which is why it has taken a while for activities to start happening. Thank you for enabling this project to get started, it is an exciting prospect for many of the women’s groups to be part of a bigger, stronger network that will be able to achieve real change. There is lots of enthusiasm and energy from the women already.
In the following months, we hope to bring you news of more activities and progress, along with photos from Thulamela of the women involved.
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