AEGiS-14IAC: Building a social web for AIDS prevention among voluntary organisations for women in Tamilandu - A coordination experience.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

DonateNow
Print this article

Building a social web for AIDS prevention among voluntary organisations for women in Tamilandu - A coordination experience.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. C10746)

Stephen C, Enoch JS, Darren FS
Network-SMI Foundation, Virudhunagar, India

BACKGROUND: AIDS interventions focussing women as a prime core is poor in Taminadu. Women constitue the vulnerable group of getting infected due to the existing economic, poverty & gender status. Improving women's status in general has failed due to lack of coordination between women groups & organisations including NGO/CBOs.

METHODS: Network -SMI understood the situation from a need based study in Tamilnadu. With the financial help of CORAID, Netherlands, Network-SMI was able to take out a need based assessment among 100 rural NGOS in Tamilnadu of whom 45 were women NGOs consisting of gender activists, advocates & social therapists. Women NGOs were motivated to build coordination between each other. A sense of togetherness was created & this built their participation. 45 Women NGOs became a forum under a concern for mutual support for each other.

RESULTS: The Government norms has being a inhibiting factor among women to take up AIDS intervention. The issue of HIV/AIDS can be lobied to be included in the disability action Act in India.

CONCLUSIONS: Combining HIV/AIDS interventions with local health initiatives would be the best manner to gain the participation of rural women & the poor & needy

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Organizations, HIV Infections, Women's Rights, Health Education, Health, Interpersonal Relations, Social Support, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Planning, India, Netherlands, Adult, Human, Female, prevention & control, Economics, psychology

020707
C10746

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.