AEGiS-15IAC: Empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS in Gitega Province, Burundi.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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Empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS in Gitega Province, Burundi.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. MoOrD1062)

Kavamahanga D
CNLS Burundi, Gitega, Burundi

Subject: The implication of rural, People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) leaders in the improvement of the psycho-social care of their peers in Gitega Province, Burundi. ISSUES: The rural poulations don't yet understand that stigmatism and discrimination of PLWHA contribute to the deterioration of their quality of life and psycho-social health. In response to this, the Provincial Committee for the fight against AIDS (in French, Comite Provincial de la Lutte contre le SIDA, CPLS) has chosen the following activities as their annual priorities: 1. To train and support 40 rural counsellors for PLWHA; 2. To support the establishment of a network of PLWHA in the Province.

DESCRIPTION: The Gitega Province CPLS, supported by the national council for the fight against AIDS, and in collaboration with partners, has organised training of counsellors for 40 rural PLWHA leaders. In addition to the competencies acquired, these leaders have learned that they must conquer the fear linked to infection, break the silence and participate in awareness raising in relation to the demystification of the disease, and in the fight against discrimination and the stigmatism associated with HIV/AIDS.

LESSONS LEARNED: 1. The PWLHA leaders are collaborating with teams of care providers and the member associations of the CPLS; 2. Acceptance of and the creation of confidence in the leaders by both PLWHA and non-affected members of the community; 3. Training of 9 community groups of PLWHA through the support network of other PLWHA; 4. The members speaking out to denounce stigmatism and discrimination of PWLHA in 11 communes, something that previously had not happened.

RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Support the establishment of these groups in the collines; 2. Accompany the network system with support to projects of their choosing; 3. Diffuse laws dealing with anti-discrimination throughout the communities. Note: Burundi is administratively divided by provinces, communes and collines (hills) as the smallest unit.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Social Support, HIV Long-Term Survivors, Burundi, Rural Population

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MoOrD1062

Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.