AIDS agenda campaign

The issue

The HIV and AIDS pandemic has reached critical proportions, and women are being particularly affected. Women are more vulnerable to infection, and are also carrying the burden of caring for people with HIV and AIDS.

The facts

Globally, there are now more women living with HIV and AIDS than men. In 2007, 59 per cent of positive people in sub-Saharan Africa were women. But because women are not necessarily seen as equal to men, they often do not receive the same information that can help them protect themselves against infection. Many women experience violence and rape, and are not always in a position to negotiate safe sex with their partners. This inequality also means that they are not as likely to receive treatment and care when it is available.

The situation for many women is exacerbated by weak public health systems in many countries and a shortage of health workers and hospitals. Communities are responding to the crisis by caring for the sick themselves, but it is women and girls, traditionally the carers in society, who bear the brunt of this difficult and stressful work. Moreover, they often do not get paid, receive training or recognition for this work. Caring for the sick means many women are prevented from continuing their education or pursuing paid work.

What we’re calling for

If we’re to effectively address the HIV and AIDS pandemic, we must reduce the burden of HIV and AIDS care on women and girls by:

• recognising and supporting the rights of community caregivers

• sharing the burden of delivering community based care with men

• improving state health systems to support community-based care.

We must also empower women to attain equality and ensure HIV and AIDS programmes:

• Provide appropriate information on HIV prevention to all. This means giving people a range of options, not just abstinence messages, so that they can choose the right approach for them.

• This information should be delivered appropriately and in a way that empowers people. It should be accessible to all.

• We must also address the immediate needs of women affected by HIV and AIDS.

In all of our work, VSO International ensures that people living with HIV and AIDS are involved in a meaningful way.