This article was written by AIDS Calgary’s Support Services Team Lead
There have been many developments in HIV/AIDS over the last 30 years. The changes have made us reframe and rethink the way we see and understand HIV. In a very short time, receiving an HIV diagnosis has been altered from a death sentence to a chronic condition. At the International AIDS Conference in Washington DC in July 2012, there was an interesting session on what it means to see HIV through the lens of a chronic condition. A clear message was delivered that both HIV and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) that are chronic conditions can learn a lot from each other and can they can influence the way care and treatment is provided.
First, there are similarities between HIV and NCD that need to be understood. NCD such as diabetes and heart disease are massive issues in society both by the number of people impacted and the impact they have on financial, social and medical systems. Both, as well, have a long term impact on people’s lives. HIV & NCD are episodic which means people affected can experience periods of illness and periods of wellness throughout their lifetimes. Both, however, involve a high loss of life at a younger age. They also have a similar impact on persons’ lives involving multiple layers of medical care, appointments, medical regime and influence major life areas such as employment, social and mental health. Lower & middle income populations are over represented in both HIV and NCD.
HIV, of course, is also unique. There are differences between HIV and NCD that influence the care and treatment of HIV. In good news, HIV has a falling mortality rate unlike some NCD. On the other side, HIV carries a stigma like no other illness. There are also different key populations that are at an increased rate of HIV such as people who use drugs, men who have sex with men and sex workers who unique needs need to be addressed when looking at care and treatment.
Keeping the similarities and differences in mind, HIV can and has taught us a lot about care and treatment of chronic conditions. HIV/AIDS has been a pathfinder in navigating chronic health care. When looking at the rapid changes in HIV treatment, UNAIDS reports that HIV has become the first illness to provide support for chronic care in multiple and diverse settings. HIV care has also been multifaceted in its approach-medical assistance, social support, education, awareness and advocacy have all played a big role in care and treatment. As well, one of the most unique aspects of HIV is that the voices of those affected have been prominent as people living with HIV (PHA) have driven the development of prevention, support and care of HIV.
What does this all mean? When addressing chronic illnesses, we know that we need to have simplified, affordable and accessible treatment and care for all those living with the condition. Those living with chronic conditions also need support across the lifespan that adapts and changes to a variety of needs throughout the lifecycle. Addressing chronic conditions also means offering support and care to those affected - the family, friends, employers and caregivers, as examples, of people living with a chronic condition. Challenges, of course, of lumping HIV with other chronic illness is that we don’t address the uniqueness needs of those living with HIV, such stigma or the uniqueness needs of the key populations affected.
For more information
AIDS 2012 Care and Treatment for People with Chronic Conditions: What Can We Learn from the HIV Experience? A Health Systems Perspective abstract http://pag.aids2012.org/session.aspx?s=111
noncommunicable diseases
UNAIDS Report: Chronic care of HIV and non-communicable disease shttp://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011/20110526_JC2145_Chronic_care_of_HIV.pdf
Showing posts with label international. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international. Show all posts
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
HIV in the World Today
This article was written by AIDS Calgary’s Case Manager.
As some of you may know, this year’s theme in the world of HIV is “Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths.” The United Nations (UN) recently published their World’s AIDS Day Report and there have been some great improvements in reducing the rates of HIV. The number of new annual infections has decreased by 21% in the past 15 years, much of this due to advances and accessibility of antiretroviral treatment. The UN estimates that over 700,000 deaths were prevented in 2010 due to the availability of medications and the incident rate of HIV has decreased in 33 countries around the world. Great news indeed!!
While there have been significant improvements in many countries to decrease the transmission and deaths from HIV, there are some areas of the world where this is not the case. Rising rates in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are due to injection drug use and has led to a 250% increase of people living with HIV. It is reported that Russia and Ukraine have contributed to 90% of new infections in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. There are agencies in this area that recognize the value of harm reduction and are working with communities and injection drug users (IDU’s) to decrease the risk of HIV and HEP C transmission.
The Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN) works in 29 countries and their mission is to “to promote humane, evidence-based harm reduction approaches to drug use, with the aim of improving health and protecting human rights at the individual, community, and societal level.” The EHRN advocates for Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST), such as methadone, as a way to decrease the rates of HIV and HEP C and to improve the lives of some of the most marginalized populations. They estimate that the majority of IDU’s in the regions that they serve are opioid users, though there are still barriers (government and societal) in ensuring that the IDU’s are receiving the treatment they need. The introduction of OST treatment centres has been shown to have a positive impact on reducing the transmission rates in the short amount of time that they have been operational in a number of countries. Unfortunately the benefits of OST are not being seen in Russia as they have not been legalized for use.
This is not to say that there is not work being done in Russia to combat the rising rates of HIV and HEP C; ESVERO is a grassroots organization founded in 2003 and works with IDU’s, activists and service providers to promote change through advocacy, community development and information exchange. Their aim is to promote harm reduction messaging in their country and they offer several training opportunities for outreach workers to increase their knowledge of harm reduction techniques when working with vulnerable populations. In the short amount of time that harm reduction strategies and programs have been implemented in Russia (since 1996), there are now over 70 harm reduction projects throughout the country. Hopefully the next 15 years can see an even larger network of harm reduction programming, as well as access to OST and laws that recognize and support harm reduction methods.
References
http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011/JC2216_WorldAIDSday_report_2011_en.pdf
http://eng.esvero.ru/
http://www.harm-reduction.org/activities.html
As some of you may know, this year’s theme in the world of HIV is “Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths.” The United Nations (UN) recently published their World’s AIDS Day Report and there have been some great improvements in reducing the rates of HIV. The number of new annual infections has decreased by 21% in the past 15 years, much of this due to advances and accessibility of antiretroviral treatment. The UN estimates that over 700,000 deaths were prevented in 2010 due to the availability of medications and the incident rate of HIV has decreased in 33 countries around the world. Great news indeed!!
While there have been significant improvements in many countries to decrease the transmission and deaths from HIV, there are some areas of the world where this is not the case. Rising rates in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are due to injection drug use and has led to a 250% increase of people living with HIV. It is reported that Russia and Ukraine have contributed to 90% of new infections in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. There are agencies in this area that recognize the value of harm reduction and are working with communities and injection drug users (IDU’s) to decrease the risk of HIV and HEP C transmission.
The Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN) works in 29 countries and their mission is to “to promote humane, evidence-based harm reduction approaches to drug use, with the aim of improving health and protecting human rights at the individual, community, and societal level.” The EHRN advocates for Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST), such as methadone, as a way to decrease the rates of HIV and HEP C and to improve the lives of some of the most marginalized populations. They estimate that the majority of IDU’s in the regions that they serve are opioid users, though there are still barriers (government and societal) in ensuring that the IDU’s are receiving the treatment they need. The introduction of OST treatment centres has been shown to have a positive impact on reducing the transmission rates in the short amount of time that they have been operational in a number of countries. Unfortunately the benefits of OST are not being seen in Russia as they have not been legalized for use.
This is not to say that there is not work being done in Russia to combat the rising rates of HIV and HEP C; ESVERO is a grassroots organization founded in 2003 and works with IDU’s, activists and service providers to promote change through advocacy, community development and information exchange. Their aim is to promote harm reduction messaging in their country and they offer several training opportunities for outreach workers to increase their knowledge of harm reduction techniques when working with vulnerable populations. In the short amount of time that harm reduction strategies and programs have been implemented in Russia (since 1996), there are now over 70 harm reduction projects throughout the country. Hopefully the next 15 years can see an even larger network of harm reduction programming, as well as access to OST and laws that recognize and support harm reduction methods.
References
http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011/JC2216_WorldAIDSday_report_2011_en.pdf
http://eng.esvero.ru/
http://www.harm-reduction.org/activities.html
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Now More Than Ever – What do Human Rights have to do with HIV/AIDS?
The International AIDS Conference is a biennial event which provides professionals and people living with HIV from around the world with a platform to share knowledge, discuss experiences, and promote best practices. The 2010 International AIDS Conference, which wrapped up on July 23rd, focused on the future of the global response to HIV/AIDS under the theme “Rights Here, Rights Now."
Significant challenges persist in both the treatment and prevention of HIV in Africa and Eastern Europe. Why are we failing? Human rights issues are repeatedly cited as the most significant barrier to successful prevention and treatment but have largely gone unnoticed. In 2006, world leaders committed to achieving a goal of universal access to HIV medications and prevention programs by 2010. While there have been marked improvements in medication access in some areas of the world, the rate of new infections continues to exceed the number of people accessing antiretroviral therapy. All over the world, those most in need of HIV support and services still remain the least likely to receive them. Who are we failing? These are our women, children, and criminalised populations.
Women and girls face widespread discrimination and violence. Many countries do not recognise domestic abuse or rape within a marriage. Women are oppressed by laws restricting their rights to own property, even following a divorce or death. A lack of economic power leads to a lack of power to negotiate condom use or refuse sex. Women often have unequal access to education, health information, and services. Additionally, women often face discrimination and judgement from health care professionals, whether in accessing safer sex supplies or seeking antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. Less than 10 percent of women in the developing world have access to medication to prevent HIV transmission to their babies (something rarely seen in the developed world), and paediatric formulations of HIV medications are in very short supply.
Youth aged 15-24 account for over half of new HIV infections worldwide. Children and youth frequently lack access to HIV information, practical sexual education, and safer sex supplies. Sexual messaging towards youth is often filled with messages promoting abstinence and sexual morality rather than condom use. Children orphaned by AIDS in Africa are denied basic rights to social protection and routinely experience abuse, exploitation, and discrimination from the adults around them.
Criminalised populations are regularly deterred from HIV services because of discrimination and violence. These populations include men who have sex with men, sex workers, and people who use drugs. The police are often perpetrators of this violence, reinforced by the laws against sodomy (and homosexuality), narcotics, and sex work that exist in many countries. Prisoners in many parts of the world lack access to basic health services, including HIV testing and treatment. Prisoners living with HIV and aware of their status are often subject to discrimination and segregation within the prison population. Failure to take effective action against rape and a lack of safer sex, injection, and tattooing equipment worsen the impact of HIV/AIDS in these institutions.
In spite of significant increases for global HIV funding, there has been little investment in human rights initiatives. With a global economic crisis and a staggering estimate for universal treatment costs, the future of this funding is uncertain. AIDS is not in recession; to protect public health we must protect human rights. Without acknowledging this central piece we will continue to fall short of our goals.
If you would like to learn more about human rights and HIV, or support the “Now More Than Ever” campaign, visit: hivhumanrightsnow.org
Source
Human Rights and HIV/AIDS, Now More Than Ever. 10 Reasons Why Human Rights Should Occupy the Centre of the Global AIDS Struggle. Accessed August 5, 2010. http://www.hivhumanrightsnow.org/eng/Reasons/view/1
Significant challenges persist in both the treatment and prevention of HIV in Africa and Eastern Europe. Why are we failing? Human rights issues are repeatedly cited as the most significant barrier to successful prevention and treatment but have largely gone unnoticed. In 2006, world leaders committed to achieving a goal of universal access to HIV medications and prevention programs by 2010. While there have been marked improvements in medication access in some areas of the world, the rate of new infections continues to exceed the number of people accessing antiretroviral therapy. All over the world, those most in need of HIV support and services still remain the least likely to receive them. Who are we failing? These are our women, children, and criminalised populations.
Women and girls face widespread discrimination and violence. Many countries do not recognise domestic abuse or rape within a marriage. Women are oppressed by laws restricting their rights to own property, even following a divorce or death. A lack of economic power leads to a lack of power to negotiate condom use or refuse sex. Women often have unequal access to education, health information, and services. Additionally, women often face discrimination and judgement from health care professionals, whether in accessing safer sex supplies or seeking antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. Less than 10 percent of women in the developing world have access to medication to prevent HIV transmission to their babies (something rarely seen in the developed world), and paediatric formulations of HIV medications are in very short supply.
Youth aged 15-24 account for over half of new HIV infections worldwide. Children and youth frequently lack access to HIV information, practical sexual education, and safer sex supplies. Sexual messaging towards youth is often filled with messages promoting abstinence and sexual morality rather than condom use. Children orphaned by AIDS in Africa are denied basic rights to social protection and routinely experience abuse, exploitation, and discrimination from the adults around them.
Criminalised populations are regularly deterred from HIV services because of discrimination and violence. These populations include men who have sex with men, sex workers, and people who use drugs. The police are often perpetrators of this violence, reinforced by the laws against sodomy (and homosexuality), narcotics, and sex work that exist in many countries. Prisoners in many parts of the world lack access to basic health services, including HIV testing and treatment. Prisoners living with HIV and aware of their status are often subject to discrimination and segregation within the prison population. Failure to take effective action against rape and a lack of safer sex, injection, and tattooing equipment worsen the impact of HIV/AIDS in these institutions.
In spite of significant increases for global HIV funding, there has been little investment in human rights initiatives. With a global economic crisis and a staggering estimate for universal treatment costs, the future of this funding is uncertain. AIDS is not in recession; to protect public health we must protect human rights. Without acknowledging this central piece we will continue to fall short of our goals.
If you would like to learn more about human rights and HIV, or support the “Now More Than Ever” campaign, visit: hivhumanrightsnow.org
Source
Human Rights and HIV/AIDS, Now More Than Ever. 10 Reasons Why Human Rights Should Occupy the Centre of the Global AIDS Struggle. Accessed August 5, 2010. http://www.hivhumanrightsnow.org/eng/Reasons/view/1
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Telo Talk
I’ll admit it, I’m more comfortable volunteering to stuff four hundred condom packs at AIDS Calgary then submitting an article on what’s happening with safe sex in Argentina. But I’m certainly willing to take a crack at Sex and the City, Buenos Aires style.
On my first day in Buenos Aires, I stumbled upon a tourist attraction: El Oblesco. The Obelisk is a smooth, 180 metre phallic shaped structure that’s hard to miss! Locals say it represents their society: passionate, undeniably sexual and even freely promiscuous. I was definitely not in Canada any more. What other cultural quirks would I discover here?
Many weeks later, during a bus ride, my friend “Maria” pointed out one of those quirks. It was a plain unmarked building with a small neon sign advertising: “transitorio”. Welcome to the not so secret underground world of the Buenos Aires Telo.
Telo: (TAY-LOW) noun, a very discreet hotel where you pay by the hour for a safe, secure, and private place to engage in sexual activities.
My friend “Alejandro” tells me that in the 80's Argentines had a way of talking by breaking the words into syllables and then reversing it. Telo comes from the word hotel. Turn around hotel to get telho, silence the ‘h’ and you get telo.
For us more reserved Canadians, the idea may sound a bit brow raising. When you find out how they are used and by who you can begin to understand that these legal establishments provide a very practical service.
Argentines can and do live with their parents until they secure a well paying job or get married. I discovered this when I went on a few dates with a thirty-six year old man who owned his own business, car, two computers...and lived with his mother. Enter the Telo.
Telos are for everyone; young lovers, older lovers, parents looking for an escape from small apartments, and even co-workers looking for a nooner...
Have I mentioned that Argentines keep odd hours? Clubs here can be open until nine the next morning! With over three million people in the city, you can imagine that there are a lot of club hoppers drinking, dancing, and romancing their nights and mornings away. Post fiesta telo anyone? But remember a telo is not only for the 2:00 am booty call (although prices and availability on weekends usually inflates). Telos provide services twenty-four hours a day.
There are many types of telos, from two star to first class, plain Jane to themed and decked out. Along with the bible in the nightstand are complimentary condoms. Have no fear that your friends, family members or co-workers will see you enter a telo because there is an unmarked door that slides opens for your car to drive through and a window to place your order.
In her own search for privacy, “Maria” visited a telo with her long-term lover. While not necessarily swinging from the chandeliers awesome, she said it wasn’t seedy and their encounter was successful. For “Alejandro” telos are not only about convenience and functionality... they are for FUN, pure and simple.
Literally at this very moment, I am staring out of the corner of my eye at a good looking middle-aged couple sitting across from me displaying generous amounts of PDA and I am tempted to whisper, “Get a telo!”
Buena suerte planning your first experience to an Argentine telo! And as I always say, safety first.
This guest post was submitted by AIDS Calgary volunteer, Melanie Merwin. To read more about Mel’s adventures in Beunos Aires, visit her blog at http://web.me.com/melmerwin/My_Roadtrip_to_Awesome/Blog/Blog.html
What do you think about the idea of telos? Will the telo ever come to Canada?
On my first day in Buenos Aires, I stumbled upon a tourist attraction: El Oblesco. The Obelisk is a smooth, 180 metre phallic shaped structure that’s hard to miss! Locals say it represents their society: passionate, undeniably sexual and even freely promiscuous. I was definitely not in Canada any more. What other cultural quirks would I discover here?
Many weeks later, during a bus ride, my friend “Maria” pointed out one of those quirks. It was a plain unmarked building with a small neon sign advertising: “transitorio”. Welcome to the not so secret underground world of the Buenos Aires Telo.
Telo: (TAY-LOW) noun, a very discreet hotel where you pay by the hour for a safe, secure, and private place to engage in sexual activities.
My friend “Alejandro” tells me that in the 80's Argentines had a way of talking by breaking the words into syllables and then reversing it. Telo comes from the word hotel. Turn around hotel to get telho, silence the ‘h’ and you get telo.
For us more reserved Canadians, the idea may sound a bit brow raising. When you find out how they are used and by who you can begin to understand that these legal establishments provide a very practical service.
Argentines can and do live with their parents until they secure a well paying job or get married. I discovered this when I went on a few dates with a thirty-six year old man who owned his own business, car, two computers...and lived with his mother. Enter the Telo.
Telos are for everyone; young lovers, older lovers, parents looking for an escape from small apartments, and even co-workers looking for a nooner...
Have I mentioned that Argentines keep odd hours? Clubs here can be open until nine the next morning! With over three million people in the city, you can imagine that there are a lot of club hoppers drinking, dancing, and romancing their nights and mornings away. Post fiesta telo anyone? But remember a telo is not only for the 2:00 am booty call (although prices and availability on weekends usually inflates). Telos provide services twenty-four hours a day.
There are many types of telos, from two star to first class, plain Jane to themed and decked out. Along with the bible in the nightstand are complimentary condoms. Have no fear that your friends, family members or co-workers will see you enter a telo because there is an unmarked door that slides opens for your car to drive through and a window to place your order.
In her own search for privacy, “Maria” visited a telo with her long-term lover. While not necessarily swinging from the chandeliers awesome, she said it wasn’t seedy and their encounter was successful. For “Alejandro” telos are not only about convenience and functionality... they are for FUN, pure and simple.
Literally at this very moment, I am staring out of the corner of my eye at a good looking middle-aged couple sitting across from me displaying generous amounts of PDA and I am tempted to whisper, “Get a telo!”
Buena suerte planning your first experience to an Argentine telo! And as I always say, safety first.
This guest post was submitted by AIDS Calgary volunteer, Melanie Merwin. To read more about Mel’s adventures in Beunos Aires, visit her blog at http://web.me.com/melmerwin/My_Roadtrip_to_Awesome/Blog/Blog.html
What do you think about the idea of telos? Will the telo ever come to Canada?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Women and HIV
It may come as a big surprise to some people that the World Health Organization announced in 2009 that HIV is the number one cause of death and disease among women aged 15 – 49 worldwide. The reason that it can be a surprise is that women are often not seen as at risk for HIV, and that’s a large part of the problem. Women are, in fact, not only at risk but more vulnerable to HIV than men.
Biologically women’s bodies place them at a disadvantage. A larger surface area in the vagina allows HIV more access points into the body. Women are also at a higher risk for trauma in the vagina than men on their penis, and trauma increases the risk of HIV. Women are also more likely than men to have sexually transmitted infections without experiencing any symptoms; therefore it is difficult to know whether they have an STI at any given time. The presence of an STI in the body also increases the risk of HIV. There is a higher HIV concentration in semen versus vaginal fluids, adding an additional increase risk of HIV transmission. The age of a woman also impacts the risk of HIV. Young women and girls are not yet fully developed, or during menopause older women may experience vaginal dryness and increased vaginal fragility, in both cases leading to more abrasions and a potential increase in HIV transmission.
Beyond the biology, there are numerous social reasons why women are more vulnerable to HIV. Women who have heterosexual sex can find it harder to protect themselves, needing their partner’s permission to put on a male condom. Female condoms can be less accessible, and more costly than the male condom. Gender norms continue to put women at a disadvantage. Women tend to assume the majority of care giving in their families, putting their families’ health above their own. Women experiencing violence - whether it be assault, abuse, or fear of violence – have an increased vulnerability as well. As women are often not seen as at risk, medical professionals are less likely to speak about HIV prevention or suggest testing.
Economics also play a part in HIV transmission. Women may be financially dependant on men in their relationships & marriages. The results of less financial security may be a decreased access to health care or health benefits, ability to insist on safer sex, or seek out other sources of support. These factors influence a women’s ability to care for her health and make her own decisions around her sexual health.
According to the latest (2008) WHO and UNAIDS global estimates, women comprise 50% of people living with HIV. If women aren’t told that they are at risk for HIV, taught HIV transmission & prevention, and have less access to appropriate health care…. well is it any surprise? As we enter International Women’s Day on March 8, let’s put our hands out to women all around the world.
More Information:
World Health Organization
Biologically women’s bodies place them at a disadvantage. A larger surface area in the vagina allows HIV more access points into the body. Women are also at a higher risk for trauma in the vagina than men on their penis, and trauma increases the risk of HIV. Women are also more likely than men to have sexually transmitted infections without experiencing any symptoms; therefore it is difficult to know whether they have an STI at any given time. The presence of an STI in the body also increases the risk of HIV. There is a higher HIV concentration in semen versus vaginal fluids, adding an additional increase risk of HIV transmission. The age of a woman also impacts the risk of HIV. Young women and girls are not yet fully developed, or during menopause older women may experience vaginal dryness and increased vaginal fragility, in both cases leading to more abrasions and a potential increase in HIV transmission.
Beyond the biology, there are numerous social reasons why women are more vulnerable to HIV. Women who have heterosexual sex can find it harder to protect themselves, needing their partner’s permission to put on a male condom. Female condoms can be less accessible, and more costly than the male condom. Gender norms continue to put women at a disadvantage. Women tend to assume the majority of care giving in their families, putting their families’ health above their own. Women experiencing violence - whether it be assault, abuse, or fear of violence – have an increased vulnerability as well. As women are often not seen as at risk, medical professionals are less likely to speak about HIV prevention or suggest testing.
Economics also play a part in HIV transmission. Women may be financially dependant on men in their relationships & marriages. The results of less financial security may be a decreased access to health care or health benefits, ability to insist on safer sex, or seek out other sources of support. These factors influence a women’s ability to care for her health and make her own decisions around her sexual health.
According to the latest (2008) WHO and UNAIDS global estimates, women comprise 50% of people living with HIV. If women aren’t told that they are at risk for HIV, taught HIV transmission & prevention, and have less access to appropriate health care…. well is it any surprise? As we enter International Women’s Day on March 8, let’s put our hands out to women all around the world.
More Information:
World Health Organization
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Picture of HIV/AIDS in France
Though many people may think of HIV as a problem confined to Sub-Saharan Africa, the fact is that HIV is still a pressing issue in developed nations as well. Currently living in France, AIDS Calgary volunteer Emilie Zaloum provides us with a picture of HIV in another developed nation.
VIH/SIDA – French for HIV/AIDS. After six months of living with a French host-family, I discovered the power of this word when I uttered it for the first time a few weeks ago. The whole family had just watched a two-hour fundraising telethon for Sidaction featuring musical performances on the streets of Paris by high-profile artists including Seal and Celine Dion. With concerned looks, my host parents had called to make a donation and listened intently to the statistics and preventive messages being expressed by the hosts.
Having observed their reaction to the program, I thought they might be open to discussing the topic. I brought it up at lunch a couple of days later. “I’m writing a blog entry about French perceptions of HIV/AIDS,” I said. “What do you think?” The table fell silent. My host parents puffed their cheeks, looked shocked, guilty and sad then swiftly changed the subject. I, in turn, lowered my eyes, not with embarrassment but with disappointment that despite an intense three-day fundraising and awareness campaign broadcast on 11 national television and 5 radio stations it had remained a taboo topic of conversation.
Not to let this be my only point of reference, I sought out Sabina, a caseworker at the local branch of AIDES (a national AIDS Awareness Association in the nearby city of Chartres. Located 80 km from Paris and with a population of 90,000, it is the capital of the Eure-et-Loire region where we live. She was not surprised by my hosts’ reaction and the size of their centre revealed that it’s not just residents, but the local government that are turning a blind eye to the AIDS pandemic in France.
Sitting in the center’s tiny lounge Sabina shared her observations about the region, which echoed many of the statistics I found on the National Health Institute’s website.
By: Emilie Zaloum
Born in Montreal, Emilie made Calgary her home in 2005. She has spent the last three years living and traveling between Japan, Canada and France. Emilie is an AIDS Calgary volunteer.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Canadians have a more progressive view of HIV in our country? Do Canadians still consider HIV a taboo topic?
VIH/SIDA – French for HIV/AIDS. After six months of living with a French host-family, I discovered the power of this word when I uttered it for the first time a few weeks ago. The whole family had just watched a two-hour fundraising telethon for Sidaction featuring musical performances on the streets of Paris by high-profile artists including Seal and Celine Dion. With concerned looks, my host parents had called to make a donation and listened intently to the statistics and preventive messages being expressed by the hosts.
Having observed their reaction to the program, I thought they might be open to discussing the topic. I brought it up at lunch a couple of days later. “I’m writing a blog entry about French perceptions of HIV/AIDS,” I said. “What do you think?” The table fell silent. My host parents puffed their cheeks, looked shocked, guilty and sad then swiftly changed the subject. I, in turn, lowered my eyes, not with embarrassment but with disappointment that despite an intense three-day fundraising and awareness campaign broadcast on 11 national television and 5 radio stations it had remained a taboo topic of conversation.
Not to let this be my only point of reference, I sought out Sabina, a caseworker at the local branch of AIDES (a national AIDS Awareness Association in the nearby city of Chartres. Located 80 km from Paris and with a population of 90,000, it is the capital of the Eure-et-Loire region where we live. She was not surprised by my hosts’ reaction and the size of their centre revealed that it’s not just residents, but the local government that are turning a blind eye to the AIDS pandemic in France.
Sitting in the center’s tiny lounge Sabina shared her observations about the region, which echoed many of the statistics I found on the National Health Institute’s website.
- In 2007, over 50% of newly reported cases were among heterosexuals
- About a quarter of new cases in 2007 were among immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa; most cases are still among French nationals
- The number of women, as a proportion of new cases, increased from 20.5% in 2001 to 31.3% in 2006
Aside from sharing literature such as the latest copy of the Remaides magazine, and free condoms, she told me about the populations she’s involved with – mainly gay men, migrant women and intravenous drug users.
In the absence of a gay club, or even openly gay-friendly hang-out, in Chartres, Sabina is forced to seek out this group in the woods, where meetings are pre-arranged via the internet. In the company of male volunteers, Sabina makes regular visits to the most commonly designated areas to dispense condoms and information for anyone concerned about recent risky encounters.
Among the women she works with (largely from Sub-Saharan Africa), she noted that most contracted HIV after arriving on French soil. The hardship associated with their displacement makes them vulnerable to risky sexual behaviour, especially since it is difficult to escape abusive relationships.
Aside from providing a confidential, non-judgmental space for empowerment and open communication, AIDES also works to dispel stereotypes and prejudice; but Sabina lamented the slow pace of change with respect to social values. A lack of acceptance and visibility in Chartres has kept progress slow; and the lack of communication between the various HIV/AIDS-related associations in the region has further impeded efforts to strengthen the community. Sabina refuses to be discouraged, however; despite its low-profile, AIDES Chartres continues to be funded almost solely through private, albeit anonymous, donations – a sign that the general population is more concerned than they might let on.
By: Emilie Zaloum
Born in Montreal, Emilie made Calgary her home in 2005. She has spent the last three years living and traveling between Japan, Canada and France. Emilie is an AIDS Calgary volunteer.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Canadians have a more progressive view of HIV in our country? Do Canadians still consider HIV a taboo topic?