Stigma & discrimination mutomo youth

National Conference on National Conference on Peer Education, HIV & AIDSPeer Education, HIV & AIDS

Theme: “Let’s Care and Care to Care”Theme: “Let’s Care and Care to Care”

Stigma & Discrimination Stigma & Discrimination around HIV/AIDSaround HIV/AIDS

““How much do we care”?How much do we care”?

Prepared by: Prepared by: Mutomo Youth Peer Mutomo Youth Peer EducatorsEducatorsPresented by:Presented by:

Robert MunyauRobert Munyau

Mutomo EFL Satellite TeamMutomo EFL Satellite Team

Mutomo Youth Peer EducatorsMutomo Youth Peer Educators

Stigma & DiscriminationStigma & Discrimination

• A major obstacle to HIV/AIDS preventionA major obstacle to HIV/AIDS prevention

StigmaStigma

• A negative perception about a person / A negative perception about a person /

group of people.group of people.

• Based on a prejudiced positionBased on a prejudiced position

DiscriminationDiscrimination

• Is the action resulting from these negative perceptions about a person or group

• HIV / AIDS is associated with some of the HIV / AIDS is associated with some of the elementary parts of human life – elementary parts of human life –

• sex,sex,• blood,blood,• disease disease • death.death.

• Consequently people are not willing to know their

HIV status

Statistics from Mutomo -2005Statistics from Mutomo -2005

• Population – 140,539Population – 140,539

• Tested - 1,340Tested - 1,340

• Early stage ofEarly stage of

HIV - 409 HIV - 409

• No. of HIV + - 14No. of HIV + - 14

• Late stage of HIV - 931

• No of HIV + -

361

• No of deaths - 70

Sources of Stigma & Sources of Stigma & DiscriminationDiscrimination

• Myths about HIV and AIDS transmission and cure

• Social fears about sexuality

• Fear related to illness and death

• Ignorance about the pandemic and other pre-existing forms of stigma

Effects of Stigma & Effects of Stigma & DiscriminationDiscrimination

• Self-hatred

• Re-infection with the virus

• Suicidal tendencies

• Feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness

Our Efforts as Youth Peer Our Efforts as Youth Peer Educators in Confronting Educators in Confronting Stigma & DiscriminationStigma & Discrimination

• Giving the community solid facts about Giving the community solid facts about HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

• Interacting with HIV+ youth who walk with us Interacting with HIV+ youth who walk with us to talk about HIV and AIDS in:to talk about HIV and AIDS in:– SchoolsSchools– ChurchesChurches– Public BarazasPublic Barazas

• Formation of a Youth group in the marketFormation of a Youth group in the market

Solid FactsSolid Facts

Solid FactsSolid Facts

Confronting StigmaConfronting Stigma

People we reached in 2005People we reached in 2005

• Youths – Boys: 13,396– Girls: 16,166

Youths in and out of school

• Adults– Men: 3,102– Women: 3,023

Impact indicators of our Impact indicators of our activitiesactivities

• Increased interest in our activities from people who initially resisted /were not interested at all.

• Increased numbers of youth coming for VCT• Youth on the street are now becoming

involved in recreational activities.• The culture is changing – more people talking

about HIV/AIDS openly and without fear.

How much do we care?How much do we care?

• What are our feelings about people who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS?

• Can we accept, love and give hope to these people?

• Can we journey with them – cry with them, spend time with them, be there for them,assist and care for them, and not be worried about what others think/say about us?

Acceptance without fearAcceptance without fear

Confronting Stigma –the BibleConfronting Stigma –the Bible

• As Christians – Jesus our role model• Luke 15:1-2 . Jesus sitting with pharisees and

sinners.• John 8: 1-11. The woman who was caught in

adultery• Mathew 9: 10. Jesus having dinner with tax

collectors and sinners.• Our best efforts may be small but together with

others they will be significant for the survival of the human race.

Acceptance with Love and CareAcceptance with Love and Care

Thank Thank YouYou