JOICFP | Development Issues

HIV/AIDS

Africa Regional Workshop on HIV/AIDS Stigma Reduction and VCT Promotion (JOICFP eNEWS November, 2006 )

The stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS in many countries is often as major a barrier to going for a HIV test or receiving treatment as is lack of services.

From 2nd to 7th October, JOICFP held an Africa Regional Workshop on BCC and Advocacy for Stigma Reduction and VCT Promotion in Kitwe, Zambia, under the UNFPA-supported Africa Regional Project 2006-2007, "Community Participatory BCC and Advocacy in the Fight against HIV/AIDS Total Management Model (ATOMM) Concept" (RAF5R303)

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Background & Issues
Approximately 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the world. With 3 million deaths due to AIDS and 5 million new HIV infections occurring in 2004 alone, HIV/AIDS has been rapidly spreading and threatening all countries and regions. Nearly half of new infections occur among young people aged between 15 and 24, who make up one-third of those living with HIV/AIDS. The magnitude of human suffering and the increased burden of care and support associated with the pandemic make HIV/AIDS a major challenge facing the global community today. HIV/AIDS is such a threatening problem that it wipes out all past efforts in health promotion, poverty reduction, and social-economic development. An increase in poverty and deterioration of socio-economic situations due to HIV/AIDS again deepens people’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, making it a vicious cycle. Urgent and concerted actions need to be taken linking prevention, testing, care and support for HIV/AIDS at the community level.

JOICFP Strategy & Goal
JOICFP’s strategies to fight against HIV/AIDS are three-fold. Firstly, JOICFP has responded by working with African communities to develop effective community-based strategies through strengthening behaviour change communication (BCC) and advocacy activities at the community level. The community-operated reproductive health (CoRH) JOICFP has been promoting has established networks of frontline health volunteers who have already built a relationship of trust with community people. JOICFP equips these grassroots volunteers with BCC/advocacy materials and skills in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Secondly, using the HIV/AIDS Total Management Model (ATOMM) as a guiding concept, JOICFP facilitates collaboration among the organizations working in the field of HIV/AIDS and SRH (sexual and reproductive health) and brings about synergy among the interventions. Thirdly, JOICFP advocates to the Japanese government and general public on the importance of incorporating HIV/AIDS issues in all fields of Japanese official development assistance (ODA).