Living Positively with HIV/AIDS
By Martin Fon Yembe
The Ugandan and Cameroonian Situations Compared
The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Board last Thursday October 4 2007, organized a three day MTCT Plus Peer Educator Training. The seminar which drew participants from far and near took place at the Pastoral Centre, Up-Station Bamenda. Prominent panelists at the seminar included Dr. Dennis Palmer who introduced the medical concept of HIV. His wife, Dr. Nancy Palmer, an anthropologist presented the psychological as well as anthropological aspect of the disease, especially in the African setting. The spiritual support for persons living with HIV and AIDS was ably done by Rev. Shadrack Vega. Support Group coordinators like Mrs. Florentine Munki, Mr. Joseph Wepnje and the boss of the Support Groups, Mr. Gideon Forgwei gave lectures relating to managing of Support Groups.
Most significant and prominent at the workshop was the presence of a Ugandan VSR Volunteer, Rebecca Nyamfuka, associated with an organization for widows and orphans living with HIV/AIDS. She spoke to The Frontier Telegraph at the end of the workshop, stating the reasons for her presence in Cameroon and sharing the Ugandan experience with Cameroonians:
Excerpts of her chat with The Frontier Telegraph:
TFT: Please tell us the purpose of your presence here.
Rebecca: I am here for two reasons: We want to help develop the capacity for HIV/AIDS service providers, and to develop the organization to perform better and serve her clients in a better way. I will be in Cameroon for one year, and will also endeavour to work with other organizations that will need my help. I will be based in Bamenda, but will also be networking with other organizations.
TFT: Describe for us the nature of Support Groups in Uganda:
Rebecca: Support Groups in Uganda are very strong. You are aware of the fact that Uganda is leading in the rate of HIV infections, and the Government is supporting the Support Groups tremendously. The success of the Support Groups and the war against HIV/AIDS in Uganda is because of the strong support from the Government. The Support Groups help in many aspects, like in reducing stigma against those with HIV/AIDS, economic empowerment, social help etc. In fact, many affected persons are using Support Groups to better their lives.
|
 |
 President Museveni Opening the AIDS/HIV and anti-malarial Drugs Plant
TFT: After attending the Peer Educator Seminar in Bamenda, can you tell whether such workshops take place in Uganda, and how do people in Uganda react when their status is revealed to them.
Rebecca: Uganda has many organizations that organize workshops for peer educators. We have one, reputed to have organized many seminars, training many peer educators who are positive to go out and teach people how to prevent HIV/AIDS. Many who are positive are today free to talk about HIV/AIDS, and even helping themselves.
TFT: In Cameroon, we find that 75% of those who attend these workshops are women. Men are more prone to stigma, so to speak, what is the situation in Uganda?
Rebecca: Yeah! This problem is not peculiar to Cameroon. Actually, this issue of men shying away is a general concept all over. If the few men in the Support Groups are given the chance to go out and campaign to their fellow men, give out their testimonies, I think it will attract more men to belong to Support Groups and defeat the “Denial Syndrome.” Usually, caring for the sick is largely regarded as a thing for the women. I think this is the reason. With time I see it changing, HIV/AIDS is not a gender issue, but a thing for all.
TFT: How is the stigma of HIV/AIDS in Uganda?
Rebecca: Unlike the case in Cameroon, HIV/AIDS in Uganda is an everyday thing. People have accepted it. They are empowered; they are free to talk about it, the negative stigma is very low in Uganda. It is almost dying away. It is not as strong as it used to be. As people come out and talk, it is gradually going away. I am even impressed that in Cameroon it is fading off which is very good?
In a related story, President Yoweri Museveni last Sunday, October 7 opened a plant in Kampala, Uganda that will produce anti-retroviral HIV drugs and anti-malaria drugs that should be available by January 2008 Ugandan health minister told the BBC’s Network Africa.
The Frontier Telegraph will be presenting a detailed concept of HIV as presented by Dr. Palmer Dennis in its subsequent editions.
|
