Sheikh Sameer © Sameer Al Namri/ Irfan Akhtar/ Progressio

Progressio development worker Irfan Akhtar describes how Yemen's traditional society is getting to grips with the reality of HIV and AIDS

Working on HIV and AIDS in Yemen is a major challenge. Being a Muslim country, Yemen has a high level of denial about, and a culture of silence on, HIV and AIDS. The issue cuts across a wide spectrum of sex and sexuality, and discussion on it is considered almost taboo.

That's why Progressio decided to initiate its intervention through faith-based organisation and religious leaders. As Progressio's country representative, Abdulla al Syari, explains: 'Religious leaders are important sources of information in Yemeni societies. Working with religious leaders on mitigation of HIV and AIDS has been an important platform to fight stigma and denial.'

Initially we worked with faith-based organisations to sensitise them to the issues around HIV and AIDS. We then took this further by consulting and coordinating with religious leaders. The Yemeni lifestyle is based on Islamic principles and practice, and religious leaders like imams, khateebs, qadis and muftis (religious clerics) have high credibility and influence, both in the community and with government. So it is very important to make them understand and address HIV and AIDS as a social, economic and development issue through Islamic teachings which can provide a highly relevant framework for HIV and AIDS prevention activities and for care for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Reducing stigma

Working in collaboration with a faith-based partner organisation known as Jamiat Abu Musa and with the National AIDS Program unit in the Hodeidah health office, we organised a training workshop for 21 imams from mosques in the Hodeidah area. The aim was to sensitise the imams to the issues of HIV and AIDS and equip them with the most accurate information to enable them to work towards reducing stigma and discrimination about HIV and AIDS in Yemeni society.

The responses from participants were very encouraging. I had a pre-conceived notion that they would be reluctant to talk on this very sensitive issue of sexuality and HIV and AIDS, but in fact they had very positive attitudes towards the issue and towards people living with HIV and AIDS. The workshop was instrumental in helping them understand the issues around HIV and AIDS prevention, and the key role that they can play as respected opinion leaders.
 
But there is one common question: what happened after the  training? As a follow-up, I visited two mosques to find out what impact, if any, there had been. One imam told me that he had delivered a special khutba (sermon) on HIV and AIDS which had prompted questions and further discussion. He said: 'I have been talking about many social issues during khutba, so this time I took HIV and AIDS as a social issue which is affecting human kind.' Being a well-known sheikh of the city, he is also invited to mosques in other districts, so he has also got the opportunity to spread the message even wider.

Wide impact

There can be up to 500 people in each mosque for Friday prayers. So if we calculate the number of trained imams talking about HIV and AIDS, then the outreach is very high. But the imams I have visited are not only talking on Friday; they also have other ways of reaching out to people. For example, after the evening prayer (maghrib) there is a lecture (muhadra) on certain issues, in which the imam also integrated the issue of HIV and AIDS. In the same mosque there is madrasa for Islamic teaching, where there are about 500 students (boys and girls). The imam has also delivered a lecture on HIV and AIDS to the students, and even took the opportunity to talk about AIDS during a parents' meeting. So we can say that through the religious leaders, the message is going out to a very wide audience.
 
Our strategy at Progressio also includes trying to reach one of the most vulnerable groups: women. We have begun working on HIV and AIDS with a partner organisation in Aden, the Women's Association for Sustainable Development, which works on promoting micro-enterprises for women's economic empowerment, formation of self-help groups of poor women in various slums, and vocational training for income generation.

Reaching women

In order to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS among the most vulnerable communities, we organised a training workshop with the concept of reaching vulnerable women through women peer educators. The workshop was attended by 19 women from various fishing communities. These women are marginalised and vulnerable to HIV and AIDS due to various factors including gender disparity and lack of access to information. It was discovered that due to economic hardship some of the women are also involved in unsafe commercial sex in this area. There were three sex workers who attended this training workshop. The participants said that the training provided very fruitful learning for them because they never knew that they are at greater risk of HIV and AIDS, as they had very little knowledge and many myths and misconceptions.

During the training the women said they knew other women clandestinely involved in the sex trade who would benefit from the information about risk behaviour and the prevention of HIV and AIDS. The trainees resolved to themselves organise a session exclusively for those women who are involved in the sex trade - a perfect example of women working as peer educators to disseminate the information among other women. Our work shows that the minds of Yemen's people are not closed, but that they are eager for the information that will help raise their awareness about HIV and AIDS.

'HIV and AIDS is a problem of all human kind and it has no boundary of country, religion, age or gender. It affects all sections of society…. It is directly linked to human rights because of the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. The imams can talk about the religious rights of people which includes equality, sympathy and compassion…. Religious leaders also have great influence on political leaders, and these leaders can play a positive role in creating a supporting environment by introducing favourable policies on HIV and AIDS.'

Sheikh Abdo Ali Mansoob, executive manager of Jamiat Abu Musa

'The training helped me to acquire skill and develop my confidence in breaking the silence about HIV and AIDS. After delivering a khutba (sermon), several people came forward and praised my initiative. So I feel that the problem of AIDS is gaining people's acceptance now.'

Sheikh Hayel Saeed Mohammad, khateeb at Jaafar Abi Talib mosque

 
'The mosque receives people from all sections of society, young and old, men and women, poor and rich. The imams and khateebs can play a vital role in educating people about HIV and AIDS.'

Sheikh Mohammad Daghbashi, general manager of Jamiat Abu Musa

All pictures by Sameer Al Namri/Irfan Akhtar