Youth can help change the face of People Living With HIV charles wasike- efl

Youth! Help change the Youth! Help change the faces of People Living With faces of People Living With

HIV/AIDS (PLWA)HIV/AIDS (PLWA)

22ndnd National Conference on Peer Education, National Conference on Peer Education, HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

Author: Charles WasikeAuthor: Charles Wasike

Co Authors: Molla, Alphonce; Olweny, Fred; Mkado, Chrispinus; Co Authors: Molla, Alphonce; Olweny, Fred; Mkado, Chrispinus; Njoki, Saraphina; Matola, FNjoki, Saraphina; Matola, F

IntroductionIntroductionWhen we view life solely against the When we view life solely against the background of death, we become demoralized background of death, we become demoralized and wait for death. and wait for death.

Sadly, many People Living With HIV/AIDS Sadly, many People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are viewed as having already (PLWHA) are viewed as having already “signed their death certificates”, by their “signed their death certificates”, by their families and society. families and society.

We, the young people, need to change We, the young people, need to change this perception and help PLWHA’s reduce this perception and help PLWHA’s reduce self-stigma and join the fight against self-stigma and join the fight against stigma and the spread of HIV.stigma and the spread of HIV.

Did you know, last year alone:Did you know, last year alone:

Again:Again:

Comparison of two Developing Comparison of two Developing ContinentsContinents

Continent All infected in Continent

New infections as % of those infected

Deaths as % of those infected in

continent

Deaths as a % of all infected in continent

Latin America

PLWHA 1.8million New infections

200,000 = 11%Deaths

Death 2005:

66,000 = 3% of PLWHAs die

Sub-Saharan Africa

PLWHA 25.8million New infections:

3,200, 000 = 12.4%

Deaths 2005:

2,400,000= 9% of PLWHAs die

Here are some more important Here are some more important facts:facts:

100% of those who die of HIV related 100% of those who die of HIV related illnesses are PLWHA. illnesses are PLWHA. It is PLWHA’s who spread the virus, It is PLWHA’s who spread the virus, intentionally or unintentionally.intentionally or unintentionally.

What does that mean?What does that mean?

To reduce the deaths and stop the spread of To reduce the deaths and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, we need to focus on PLWHA’s.HIV/AIDS, we need to focus on PLWHA’s.

Education for Life Kenya’s (EFL) Education for Life Kenya’s (EFL) experience with PLWHA shows:experience with PLWHA shows:They don’t like the names they are They don’t like the names they are branded with.branded with.Behaviour Change Process (BCP) is Behaviour Change Process (BCP) is crucial since it changes their perception of crucial since it changes their perception of life. life. In the fight against AIDS, PLWHA are key In the fight against AIDS, PLWHA are key players and have a high impact .players and have a high impact .Many PLWHA get new hope when we Many PLWHA get new hope when we say that AIDS is not a sin. This shows say that AIDS is not a sin. This shows how deeply they are stigmatisedhow deeply they are stigmatised

What then can young people do in What then can young people do in relation to EFL Kenya’s relation to EFL Kenya’s

experience?experience?Stress PLWHA’s personal responsibility for their Stress PLWHA’s personal responsibility for their own wellness and the wellness of all in Kenya.own wellness and the wellness of all in Kenya.

Take them through an interactive behaviour Take them through an interactive behaviour change process enabling them to choose to change process enabling them to choose to accept their situation, live positively and not accept their situation, live positively and not spread HIV. spread HIV.

Encourage disclosing their status to their partner Encourage disclosing their status to their partner and their family.and their family.

Provide a safe place to share their status, be Provide a safe place to share their status, be supported and seek advice.supported and seek advice.

Case studies of dilemmas PLWHAs face:Case studies of dilemmas PLWHAs face:1.1. An HIV +ve woman shared that she is worried An HIV +ve woman shared that she is worried

about disclosing to her child that both she and about disclosing to her child that both she and the child are HIV +ve. As a test she asked the the child are HIV +ve. As a test she asked the child what she would do if someone in the family child what she would do if someone in the family had AIDS. The child said, “I would run away”.had AIDS. The child said, “I would run away”.

2.2. Another woman revealed to the child that the Another woman revealed to the child that the medicine she was taking was ARVs but didn’t medicine she was taking was ARVs but didn’t explain what they were for. The little child explain what they were for. The little child mentioned it at school and her friends told her mentioned it at school and her friends told her she had AIDS. She came home crying to her she had AIDS. She came home crying to her mother.mother.

Use PLWHA as guest speakers.Use PLWHA as guest speakers.

Offer practical advice about medicine, diets, Offer practical advice about medicine, diets, positive living, etc.positive living, etc.

Offer opportunities for PLWHA to be publicised in Offer opportunities for PLWHA to be publicised in the media, to tell their story.the media, to tell their story.

RecommendationsRecommendations

Ask PLWHAs what they wish to be called.Ask PLWHAs what they wish to be called.

PLWHAs need follow-ups after a BCP to PLWHAs need follow-ups after a BCP to ensure they don’t give up.ensure they don’t give up.

Facilitators, counsellors and church Facilitators, counsellors and church leaders need to be educated so that their leaders need to be educated so that their outreach is doing good not harm.outreach is doing good not harm.

Use PLWHAs in as many ways as Use PLWHAs in as many ways as possible.possible.

ConclusionConclusionLet us all CARE enough to change PLWHAs faces and Let us all CARE enough to change PLWHAs faces and

make them …….make them …….