Gender on the agenda

Of every 10 people who are HIV positive, 6 are women. In some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the HIV prevalence of girls aged 15 – 19 is six times higher compared to boys the same age.
Such statistics, released annually by bodies like UNAIDS clearly indicate the gender dimension to the HIV epidemic. Men and women are affected differently – for physiological reasons and because gender inequalities drive infection rates disproportionately towards women. Not surprisingly, HIV response programs are often designed to address gender disparities.
Figures released this week at a CSW 53 session titled “Integrating Gender into a Locally-Owned HIV/AIDS Response “indicate women also take up HIV services more keenly. Analysis of data by the President’s Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) shows women represent 63% of those who are on ARV treatment. Women make up 64% of those going for voluntary testing. PEPFAR says the good news about this is that its gender strategy is paying off. The Fund says its programs aim to
· Increase gender Equity in HIV services
· Address Male Norms and Behaviors
· Reduce Violence and Coercion
· Increase Access to Income and Resources for Women
· Increase Women’s legal Rights and Protection
The bad news is: the figures highlight a problem – that men are not accessing services. And their reluctance to get tested and treated affects both men and women negatively.

Keep it local

In addition to addressing gender concerns, HIV programs should also be “local and grassroots”, says Faith Meitiaki, a young woman from Kenya. Faith’s story of courage and luck fascinated delegates at CSW 53. She is 1 of six daughters, born into a traditional Maasai community. She ran away from home to escape female genital mutilation and early marriage.

Faith says countries with ethnic diversity like Kenya cannot have a one-size-fits-all gender and HIV response. The pressures which a young Maasai girl experiences are completely different to those of a woman from Kenya’s Coastal area. Gender issues aside, the HIV risks are also different, she says. At the Coast, girls easily fall into sex tourism and risk HIV infection. In Maasailand, the HIV risk comes from re-using knives used for female genital mutilation and from early marriage to a man who may already have other wives.

But whatever the local circumstances, young girls and women will continue to need support – from the donor community and the media, says Faith.




Faith says the trouble is: media messages often fall on deaf ears – and that means a whole lot of work lies ahead to change mindsets.