Engaging Men in the Prevention of Vertical Transmission

Engaging Men in the Prevention of Vertical Transmission

Shamin Mohamed Jr. Founder | President

LetsStopAIDS, Canada

#LetsStopAIDS , @LetsStopAIDS@smjr2000

Men Involvement• Pivotal role• Knowledge of HIV increases• Behavior becomes supportive• Receptiveness to HIV testing• Shared Responsibility

Challenges• Sociocultural barriers• Economic• Multiple Partners• Violence against women• Substance use• Homophobia among men

Successes• Impact on mortality• Culture of Shared Responsibility• Primary Prevention of Vertical Transmission• Treatment as Prevention

Men Involvement• Balanced approach to gender programming in ART• Social Aspects of HIV– It needs to start with the community

• Stigma and HIV Testing• Greater Discussion about HIV– Social Media

• Behaviour Change

Non-Traditional Methods• Social Media• Sports• The Arts

Dududu Drop-In Centre• KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa• Initially, No Youth Programming• Focuses on young males aged 10-19• Opportunity to express themselves

Youth Pavilion in the Global Village

• “When men take action to prevent HIV infection they can change the course of the epidemic. And the very actions that prevent HIV infection also promote the sexual and reproductive health of both women and men.”

- United Nations Population Fund

ContactsShamin Mohamed Jr.Founder | PresidentLetsStopAIDS (Canada)smjr@LetsStopAIDS.org