People identify and address their vulnerabilities
What makes people vulnerable to HIV? Every community will give you a different answer and will find its own unique solutions.
But what is common to all communities is that when people reflect on their vulnerabilities, they start acting on them. Back to results on HIV
"All communities have identified and acknowledged risk behaviors and taken preventive measures, e.g. requests for information and documents on HIV/AIDS, changed sexual & social practices, use of condoms, reduced alcohol and drug abuse, cessation of multiple partners, reduced criminality, income generation, improved family communications, and employment seeking [to avoid risk behaviors]." WHO/UNICEF evaluation in Papua New Guinea (2009)
A few examples...
Families of policemen united After doing their self-assessment, the Unit of Integrated Police in Kinshasa realized that being separated from their families for several months made them vulnerable to HIV. After discussing this with the General, all families were relocate to Kinshasa. |
| Eli from Walis Station sharing about his idea of organizing coffee nights | Coffee nights to address drugs and alcohol problems Eli, a youth leader from Walis Station, Papua New Guinea, shared: “When we boys take drugs or alcohol, it spins our mind and we engage in risky behavior.” After several SALT visits of the Constellation, the youth realized that they could change their situation. "We need to focus more on our strengths," said Eli. They started to organize coffee nights to discuss their vulnerabilities, like drugs and alcohol, and how to address them. After a few months one of the mothers shared: "I am so proud of our young men. I happy I can sleep again at night. It is quiet in Walis Station now." More about the partnership in PNG |
Truckers stopped picking up girls on the road "We, truckers in Tanzania, used to pick up girls on the way and pass them on to other drivers. Now that we discussed about HIV, we changed our behaviour. We do not do this anymore. When we stop, we just have a drink, some food and then we leave. More about the GLIA partnership |
Music and safe sex Ian, a young man, leads a music band. With music comes alcohol, drugs and girls. Ian tells us how he stopped drinking. He now discusses with his band how to focus on music and to leave the rest. “I shared with my friends about how to be healthier. After speaking with my circle friends about the importance of using condom when having sex, now they start using condom and also they share this insight to more friends.' |
More experience on Addressing vulnerabilities