YWCAs of Latin America and the Caribbean share HIV prevention approaches at AIDS 2008
YWCA women from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in the Women’s Networking Zone at the AIDS 2008 conference in Mexico City on August 4 to share their innovative and creative approaches in HIV prevention throughout the region.
Lisette Herrera, a HIV positive woman and YWCA of Lima member, shared how the YWCA of Peru turned computer classes into a safe environment for HIV positive women. The YWCA of Peru invited HIV positive women to participate in their computer projects for young women from lower income families. Their meaningful contribution to the YWCA includes sharing their achievements with the computer project participants and advising and making recommendations to the leadership of the YWCA of Peru. The association has also been able to use the skills and knowledge of the HIV positive women to initiate workshops on HIV and AIDS and self-esteem.
Juçara Portugal, a YWCA of Brazil member living with HIV used the session to showcase the YWCA of Brazil’s educational kits complimented by workshops in collaboration with the International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) Brazil. The YWCA of Brazil partnered with (ICW) Brazil to facilitate awareness raising workshops on sexual and reproductive health rights for women and young women of Brazil that discussed sexually transmitted diseases, contraceptive methods and the female condom.
Tricia Gideon, a YWCA of Belize young woman Board member presented how the YWCA of Belize brings HIV education to barbershops and beauty salons. HIV and AIDS has become a significant problem in Belize due to the ‘feminisation’ of new infections in the country. Statistics show women have an almost one to one ratio with men for new HIV infections. For women, the age group most affected are those between 15 and 29 years old. The YWCA of Belize decided to reach young people of Belize in a dynamic way that used barbershops and beauty salons to help spread HIV prevention messages.
The YWCA of Belize's HIV and AIDS Education and Outreach programme adopted five youth friendly barbershops on the south side of Belize City. Combined, the barbershops and beauty salon services approximately 800 young people per week, between the ages of 14-25. Over 90 boxes of condoms were distributed to the barbershops and beauty salons in the first year of the programme that specialised in HIV prevention methods. The impact of the outreach work shows that 75% of the clients who visited the services said they learned something new about HIV.
The innovative approach of using Barbershops and Beauty Salons as resource centres for education and dissemination of HIV and AIDS information enhanced the recognition of the YWCA of Belize, nationally and globally.
Ana Maria Figueroa, President of the YWCA of Naucalpan spoke at the session about the YWCA of Naucalpan’s youth friendly prevention work around the female condom. The association has facilitated workshops on the female condom for young women in an engaging and youth friendly style to empower young people to develop advocacy skills around HIV prevention.
After the session, time was dedicated to sharing of experiences, best practices and open dialogue with participants.
