EspañolFrançaisРусский
    
 
 
   
 
 
in
 
 
        Blogs       Forums      
 
Page 3 of 6 (87 items) < Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next > ... Last »
Sort Posts:

08-25-2008 3:53 PM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
Thank you Ashish, I think the problem with men needing a safe place to open up and discuss matters is also predominant in other patriarchal societies in Africa. Men because they are macho also dont want to admit their own vulnerability especially when they are in a position of any kind of leadership in the village or even a teacher.
Another area of concern is that they may be in the incubation period of the HIV infection and are asymptomatic and don't even know that they have contracted the virus. There is also an issue of access to voluntary testing in a safe place where the man's confidentiality will be respected. If we assume that HIV was not around for generations and this is something of the past 20 years, not everyone has caught on to this new culture of pre and post HIV counseling, voluntary testing and follow up and besides its a stigma to be HIV positive in most parts of the world. You have to understand that the socio-cultural components and bio-behaviours of getting tested for HIV is not part of the traditional culture, but an imposition upon the traditional role and worldview of a male, an African male as well as a Caribbean male because this was never ingrained in their worldview. If we can understand this then we know how to bring about the solution.
 
I think a safe place for men to learn to express themselves about things uncomfortable to them is critical. Access to ARV's will come once they have crossed that frigtheningly wide and deep river of talking about their problem. Some even suspect something may have happened to them why they are loosing weight and having diarrhea and that their mouth smell and that they have lesions on their body.
 
I had such a case in Kenya in Oct 07 with a Journalist. He loved interacting with me at an international conference but I saw he was a very sick man. Being a nurse I asked him if he was OK and he said he is OK. I paid for his dental visits, paid for his food and busfare and then I told a male collegue of mine for us to help him with his rent. He became gravely ill and developed psychotic behaviours and we took him to the hospital. While on our way, he had some clarity of mind and for the first time in 3 months he felt comfortable with us and told us he may have slept with a Tanzanian prostitute since he was "moving around" and picked up AIFS. Today he is in treatment and independent and needs little support financially because we helped him get his life back together. He told us he trusted no one, and no testing centre for 5 yrs and could not tell anyone he was sick and needed help because of the stigma from his community and also his peers. This man has a degree in Education is 47 years old and a Journalist. I was the one that had to councel the entire family and also give them dignity and make them know that eventhough I am not a Kenyan I care and will support them emotionally. They did tell me that a young sister of 29 was also infected and the tragedy was too much for their community. The beautiful thing was that he went to the village and spend time with a wife and kids for the first time in 5 years and asked for forgiveness and told them what happened to him. The family is coming to terms and it is difficult for them. I was so shocked to receive a call from his sister 5 months after I left Kenya. She thanked me for saving her brother's life and that he is getting on his feet and above all that I treated the family with respect and dignity so that they can have a positive outlook living with relatives with AIDS. She cried on the phone and made me cry for a moment because I never realized what I had done since this comes natural...she stated that the impact I made on a very big and poor family cannot be quantified in words.
 
This scenario repeats itself all over Africa every single day...If men don't have the comfort to speak to someone they can trust and we don't dont create an environment conducive for them to talk about themselves we will loose a lot of opportunities and ...access to ARVs is a mute point. They need a safeplace and then once they have found that they will gladly accept treatment and even ask for it.
 
If we will have to reach the marginalized populations of a different sexual orientation or men we need to start working with the agemates/male traditional societies which are very known in West Africa among many ethnic groups and also in all parts of Africa where men get circumcized with agemates around a certain time of the year or every two years. This is where we need to educate the traditional circumcizers to educate men what to do and to continue mentoring them for life as those men in turn will become mentors to the younger generation that will need to be circumcized. This is an untapped resource worldwide and it's not currently pursued as far as I know. When circumcision time comes for the male they receive traditional education and some other secret things which I can't discuss because the men from those communities will read it and feel I should not discuss this because I am a woman and woman are not supposed to discuss this at all.
 
HIV education perse and prevention and use of condoms isn't part of the traditional education package for men and that is actually where it needs to start because that is where boys listen up to wise councel to become men. The ceremony and feasting is huge...that is where NGOs should make a small financial contribution and make friendships with the chiefs and leaders to get the circumcizers worldview transformed to be at the forefront of AIDS education and prevention in Africa.
 
The girls in Kenya have a right of passage that is noninvasive that they are encouraged to follow instead of brutal circumsion still widely practiced in Kenya's Kalinjin, Kisii, Masaai and Northern communities. The education there is focused on abstinence and the girls are lectured very well what to do and what not to do but unfortunately they still get pregnant very early barely in puberty.
 
Fenna
 
The lesson here is families and men need people that they can trust...a safe place to talk about their feelings and not be mocked or harassed or to break that confidentiality. The place must not carry a stigma in terms of the name making mention of AIDS or HIV.

08-25-2008 1:37 PM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
Statistics on gender can be confusing and sometimes not dependable because of the varying behavioral traits, between men and women. For instance in Africa, men are known to be polygamous, each man with several wives and concubines. If there is infection among the family brought by the man, logic would suggest that anti-retrovirals should prioritise women if the issue is who should get more attention. Polygamy will upset the significance attached to percentages. Secondly 56%, may not be a strong indication that women need help more than men. The figure is not significant. I think Global Fund should focus more on the basis of vulnerability. Yes, in some recorded cases such as prostitution, women may receive more attention in developing policies and strategies. But even in that case, men cannot be left out. It takes two to tangle! Use of sexual behavior patterns and likely trends is a more crucial approach especially in determining prevention strategies. The biggest challenge however, is that a very limited number of infected people have access to ARVs. This has to be solved first to increase accessibility by making drugs available and affordable to the majority of the poor. Control of malaria in Africa offers a good case study. Drugs are easily available at roadside kiosks which remain open late in the night. So, effectiveness of distribution systems has to be given serious considerations.

08-25-2008 1:11 PM



    • Saka
  • Top 50 Contributor
  • Nigeria
    Not currently affiliated with the Global Fund
  • Posts 17

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
Let not be bias, Gender is a major issues what about where you have to take permission to receive services needed, how do you reach infected not empower to acess treatment. However, we must be strategic and give services to those in need in respect of the gender status.

08-24-2008 7:59 PM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
Am happy this time people are talking seriously on gender strategy. if the discussion were hot like this from the begining until now Global Fund would have gone far from where it is.Keep up the spirit. Collins Kidega Radio King Gulu, Uganda

08-24-2008 7:29 PM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
Well put Jane and I support your submission. This is very brilliant. If you have to design the Blue Print of a Gender Strategy for Nigeria what would it look like? All the above points are correct because I have crisscrossed many parts of Nigeria. Your points are well taken and a good gender model can be designed from it. I notice Asima Chakraborty is quiet and also Dr Amzad Ali and Dr. May Farag. I you are ready to put one together I and you would like my inputs please let me know. Every model you design needs a transformation core built in. I build engineering models based on system theory and it has attracted the attention from a lot of scholars. I will be presenting a series of 8 models in 3 weeks time in Senegal. My gratitude for a job well done Fenna

08-24-2008 5:45 PM



    • Jane
  • Top 25 Contributor
  • Nigeria
    Not currently affiliated with the Global Fund
  • Posts 23

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
We have to be objective, using Problem Tree Analysis:- The Root of the problem is the issue, we look at the factors that make women more vulnerable ie: - Their biological make up.
 
- Secondly some Societal factors in some African Countries like Nigeria ie:-  wife inheritance, Polygamy,  where some men offer their wives to their friends as kola in some communities in Northern Nigeria, Tribal marks, female genital mutilation, attending more to the male more than the female in Educational needs etc.
 
-These factors creates more opportunities for women to be poor and they will be working towards coming out of that poverty level thereby making themselves more vulnerable to disease infections. There is a saying that: "If you are poor, you are disadvantaged in the Nigerian society,  but if you are poor and a woman you are doubly disadvantaged.
 
- We have to think of some approaches to solving some of these problems that make women more vulnerable ie:
 
- Need for women empowerment, equipping women with skills that will make them self reliant, because there is a saying that if you educate a man, you educate a person, but if you  educate a woman you educate a Nation. Equipping a woman makes her have her way in wealth creation, family support and Educational advancement.
 
- Efforts should be geared towards eliminating all forms of discrimination against women,  this will make lesser number of women to be vulnerable.
 
- We have to balance it, the gender strategy should focus on women, even at that there should not be a complete shift of attention from Gender Equality, attention should be given to men so that it does not bounce back on the women as evidence in MDGs: goal 3.  
 

08-24-2008 1:33 PM



    • Ajithkumar
  • Top 500 Contributor
  • India
    Not currently affiliated with the Global Fund
  • Posts 2

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
Dear all, The fact that 56% of ART receipients are women does not prove or disprove anything. We should do staudies to find out wether this defferance of 12 % is significant or not and if significant why? is it because of some reagional defferance , the nature of the progres of epidemic,or ant other factors. We should try to get all men and women who are infected and possibly infected with HIV under follow up not just under ART. We should be able to start them on ART when ever ART is necessory and keep them on the best possible ART. The geneder policy should be situations specific to attain this objective. we may need a policy to attract more men toward HIV services if there is some imbalance in the servises provided at the same time we may have to foccus on women if there are comapartively more infected underprevelaged women in one community. DR Ajithkumar Trichur India

08-24-2008 9:02 AM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact

To,
e-Forum 2008

Regarding addressing gender inequalities in country program for global equity strategy, correct assessment of accessibility of ART & drugs for specific gender(men)should include strategic ancillary intervention of ART i.e.screening of affected population epidemiological survey,pre-operative testing,serological techniques, voluntary testing,biometric accessibility,general equilibrium
analysis for accessibility of ART for men.  Behaviour modification component could include behaviour data, specific prophylaxis with prominent health risk factors&under- standing of effective way to avoid causing factors of diseases. Discussion effective health & social intervention could give understanding of determining factors with ART
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To e-forum discussion 2008

Received Gender theme (effective health & social interventions) question. Regarding effective health & social intervention linking with HIV/AIDS & sexual reproductive health, awareness, supporting& understanding of bio-behavioural change process and its integration with general health protection measures can give effective delivery of health services. Screening of population group& an individual including blood- transfusion ,epidemiological survey,pre-operative testing, serological techniques,voluntary testing, specific prophylaxis's, microbicides,generic anti-retroviral therapy,prevention of haematological abnormalities, surveillance system,biometric accessment,use of clean syringes,OST,PCR methods,immunisation services are effective relevant preventive health interventions links with HIV/AIDS.
Regarding social intervention link with HIV/AIDS &sexual reproductive health understanding of bio-behavioural change process,social
interventions into all development activity are essential. Social intervention should be focused on high risk behaviour, prevention methods, abstinence,family health,local conditions, prevention of community cultural social discrimination,religious beliefs,legal prohibition on abnormal trade/cultural practices, high risk category of AIDS,capacity building for biological & cultural support for prevention of malpractices in religious beliefs.

Thanking you 
              
                                       ASHISH SRIVASTAVA
                                ex-International Marketing
                                    CCM(SEAR-INDIA)81237 

08-23-2008 3:08 PM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
I believe that Global Fund’s gender strategy should focus on both men and women equally. More efforts should be exerted by the NGOs in order to raise the awareness of people  on methods of treatment such as antiretroviral and emphasize the importance of involving patients in therapy choices in additing to  analyzing the risks and the potential benefits to patients without symptoms. 

08-23-2008 10:02 AM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
I have seen all of the deliveries of the participats of my global fund e-fourm regarding foeus – majority of the discussion results the antiretroviral treatment have to be concentrated on women rather than men because, the women those who are pregnant with HIV infection will deliver a baby with HIV. Gobal fund have to focus on both gender. Hence, I, further suggest and strongly support to concentrate on high risk group of women of the Antiretroviral treatment. Thank you, Ravichandran C, India

08-23-2008 9:20 AM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact

To e-Forum 2008

The GF mechanism could include behaviour modification component in community system strengthening for specific gender(men)rather than more accessibility & divergence of ART for men,the behaviour modification component should be based on voluntary testing, effective way to avoid contraction & spreading diseases, cultural& social factors for ethical bio-behaviour approaches, universal precautions. For gender fact component in CSS , healthy conditions for maternal healthcare,nutritional concepts,well equipped primary center& availability of all ART drugs,should be included in GF mechanism. Regarding addressing robust data for the need of global equity strategy I would like to give reference of effective interventions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Received discussion on gender issue.Regarding robust addressing data for the needs of women, girls,& sexual minorties understanding of social,cultural,traditional& economical interventions are essential. Robust data can include human ecology,bio-behaviour,& reciprocity of social,economic,physical,biological environmental factors. For reduction of HIV/AIDS vulnerability to women,girls& sexual minorties robust data should be based on multiple factors i.e. social& structure factors including demographic,religion,& educational(literacy level of female),raising awareness about HIV/AIDS before marriage ,partners,use of preventive methods, economical factors including micro-insurance,income,family& social support ,housing & employment. Data related to population &individual's opportunity for access of general health protection,understanding of pathogens, conducive education policy for universal primary education with health education model based on human ecology,bio-behaviour change process and its integration with physical& social environmental factors rather than primary sexual education can give sound approach & potential impact on reduction of vulnerability of HIV/AIDS & reduction in high risk of sexual behaviour. Understanding of child norms/spacing ,nutrition,immunization, hygiene ,family health could enable women/female to bring about significant impact in their own and their partners/family health. Basic health information system and its integration with pre-disposing factors& response could give effective data with monitoring & evaluation framework. Thanking you

ASHISH SRIVASTAVA
EX-International marketing
& c.c.m (SEAR-INDIA)
81237

08-23-2008 7:00 AM



    • susanbabu
  • Top 200 Contributor
  • India
    Not currently affiliated with the Global Fund
  • Posts 4

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
I feel at a time when the whole world is moving in a positive direction in all aspects of life, this topic sounds very primitive & not very "Prudent". Every word of "Women" "Men" is present & that is my comment. So let us spent our time in more fruitful discussions. Best Regards & Wishes' Dr.Chazhoor John Babu
Tag(s):

08-23-2008 4:42 AM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
It is interesting news that more women are accessing ARV treatment than men by end of 2007 The background of this statistic would help to inform my over all yes or no to the question posed above. HIV have informed me that no one response will answer the need to mitigate the spread of HIV and the resulting socio/economical and death. I believe that a strategy to encourage men to access treatment is necessary and that strategy MUST include women..who many times provide the treatment that their spouses are taking. Education and more awareness on Gender issues will help more people understand their role and responsibilities and why it is necessary to address the issues of gender in the HIV era

08-23-2008 2:43 AM

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
Jessica, This is a good perspective of looking at a very complex problem wherea Gender strategy will be appropriate. Well whether we think its appropriate or not 14 SADC member countries have signed on to the Gender Policy this week. Whether anyone on this e-forum is for or against this Gender Strategy, you have to work within the framework of these Southern African countries and design your programs to reflect the inclusiveness of this policy. I expect more sub-Saharan African countries to follow. It is no longer what who ever wants to dictate those countries to do but ..who ever will follow the laws of the land.
The time has come that the top down approach of dictating to sovereign jurisdictions needs to be challenged. A sovereign state has the right to determine their destiny what they see best for their women and how they will define and prepare their women for future roles in every aspect of society. It also needs to be mentioned...what no one mentioned in this e-forum is that when a woman is pregnant and has to give birth she exposes herself for testing among them hopefully consensual for the HIV infection. If she test positive she will be the one to receive medications while the husband question her why she is on medicine and will accuse her of being unfaithful. It is because she is using the 'clinic or hospital" to give birth, that exposes her risk 100% to be tested. If she isnt giving birth she may not necessarily find herself in a very akward position where whether she likes it or not. For that reason women are tested for HIV/AIDS before men and then men think that the women are cheaters and have given them the HIV/AIDS. As far as I know with the exception of one case in the United States of a man that gave birth, men normally dont give birth and have no reason to see an Obstetrician. That is why they are not tested more than women. Women have many reasons for going to doctors because they have to get prenatal care if they have some level of education and also give birth and when the children are born they will be taking them.
 
So this solves the mystery of why more women are also on ARVs, but that doesnt take away for the need to examine the Gender Policy in Southern Africa and develop a complimentary policy taking in consideration the worldview of the communities they serve. I will not stop calling for a shift in paradigm and critical gender strategy for reasons mentioned in this e-forum Cheers Drs Bacchus

08-23-2008 2:41 AM



    • debbie_k
  • Top 500 Contributor
  • United States
    Not currently affiliated with the Global Fund
  • Posts 3

Re: Week 1: Gender Stategy focus

Reply Contact
This is my first post in this forum and I am gratified to know that there are so many knowledgeable and concerned people around the world on this issue. I gives me renewed hope that we will defeat HIV/AIDS. Second, let me just say how much respect that I have for the Global Fund. Seldom will you see such an important organization open up a forum such as this to take the public's comments. I think this forum speaks very well for the Global Fund. Now, for the question - I think that the GF's strategy toward the elimination of HIV/AIDS MUST be gender-neutral. A two-sided approach is best: education of women/girls and men/boys as to what each "group" can do to stop the spread of this virus. An approach which virtually isolates the two groups is short-sighted and is doomed to failure. All of us together: men & women, straight & gay, young & old, rich & poor and from around the world - this is the best way to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in our world. Thank you for allowing me to share my ideas. Take good care, my friends. - debbie :)
Page 3 of 6 (87 items) < Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next > ... Last »
© 2002 - 2008 The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. About this site | Legal