Empowering indigenous women in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Congo

AZUR Development and its partner ACIP are starting a project to benefit directly to 50 indigenous women living with HIV/AIDS and their families (men and children) and approximately 150 individuals in their communities.

10 indigenous women will be trained in care for people living with HIV/AIDS and be able to carry out home visits and conduct open talks on HIV/AIDS in the communities. This will build up a knowledge base on HIV/AIDS in the indigenous communities and these women will be empowered to advocate for the rights of indigenous people living with HIV/AIDS.

Actually, there are almost no indigenous people involved in the care for people living with HIV/AIDS and in talks. This work is done by the Bantu people. So, considering the relationship with the Bantu people and also cultural considerations, there’s an urgent need for a leadership of indigenous people on HIV/AIDS issues, especially on psychological and social support.

The AIDS treatment centre, the only one from the region, is located in the district of the region (Sibiti). Indigenous people live separated from the Bantu people close to forests and in even in the same villages as Bantu that are far from the district of the region. There are 70 indigenous people villages or camps in the department and it is difficult to reach all the 70 villages because of lack of means of transport.

Only those who could travel to the centre will have access to ARVs treatment, antibiotics and other treatment. If they don’t go to the centre, they just don’t receive care and support.

AZUR Development would like to build on the experience gained on a previous home based care project for 100 people living with HIV/AIDS, in majority women, that was implemented in Pointe-noire.
For more information, please contact us at info@azurdev.org