|
|
Fighting AIDS on the front lines in the South African region of Kwa Zulu-Natal, Empowerment Works has been developing new strategies to bring about collaboration, access to resources, and economic opportunities for at-risk women and their children. Why we are here:
Empowering mothers to take control of their health, stay alive, and prevent anticipated increase in orphans. Current initiatives: New Life Access Pass - Health Education Outreach Empowering those most at risk to reverse the pandemic The Health Safety Pass Project is a pocket sized laminated resource reference guide. It provides a way for representatives from multiple community sectors to become involved in preventing new infections among women of child bearing age as well as providing a more integrated way for service delivery for those presently infected. The Safety Pass, and integrated outreach program will include vital information about HIV/AIDS as well as give information about testing areas, counseling services, and health treatment in the person's community. Local artwork will be used to remain culturally engaging. Ideas for incentives to artists to contribute will be discussed through community engagement and fundraising. Local government services, NGOs, and private industries will be encouraged to increase their effectiveness through the collaboration. Coupons and other add-ons will be considered to provide value added for both clients and contributing service organizations. Background: EW's original "Art for AIDS Relief" pilot project in Zimbabwe 2002 engaged those most affected by the spread of AIDS to fight it on the front lines. Homeless youth, peer educators from “Streets Ahead” community center & artists from local craft markets are trained in health awareness outreach through DESERET International’s Education for Life “ course. Together, they lead a voluntary HIV testing & counseling movement in their communities advocating SAFE-SEX-OR-NO-SEX & guiding people to FREE HIV testing.
*Where homeless teens and migrant workers were the focus of "Art for AIDS Relief" in Zimbabwe, based on the public health issues in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, EW has identified middle aged mothers living with AIDS as the most at risk and under served demographic in its intervention here. AIDS in South Africa: In 2005, one third of women aged 30-34 years old were living with HIV (Shisana et al, 2005). Also, the epidemic in South Africa is starting to reach the time where death rates are growing exponentially. We now see that total deaths in South Africa have increased by 79% from 1997 to 2004 (Statistics South Africa, 2006). In line with this, life expectancy has fallen below 50 years of age in three provinces including Kwa Zulu-Natal). The latest UNAIDS Epidemic Report (2006) shows that new HIV infection rates have yet to reach their expected height in South Africa. An estimated 5.5 million were living with HIV in South Africa in 2005. Unfortunately an estimated 2 million people are thought to have HIV without any belief that they may be in danger. A survey in 2005 found that half of those interviewed before testing positive reported that they felt that they were at no risk for being infected (UNAIDS, 2006). |
South Africa
