HIV and AIDS project, Uganda © Progressio

A global problem

UNAIDS estimates that 70 million people will die prematurely of HIV/AIDS before 2020. We want to see changes in policy and practice to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and mitigate the effects of the epidemic at national and local levels.

Progressio's specific role is to increase community participation in responding effectively to the HIV/ AIDS pandemic.

On an international basis, Progressio also seeks to stimulate debate and greater understanding amongst religious audiences of HIV/AIDS and of religious teaching on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Our work in Latin America and the Caribbean

A rights-based approach is central to our work on HIV and AIDS. This seeks to promote a comprehensive and holistic HIV and AIDS prevention model and to tackle the stigma and discrimination that is prevalent throughout Latin America. Through our development workers we support local partner organisations to create materials that present people living with HIV and AIDS in a realistic, positive light. One example is Puntos de Encuentro in Nicaragua, which produced a weekly soap opera, broadcast nationwide and in other Central American countries, portraying the everyday life of young people affected by HIV and AIDS.

All our work seeks to promote women’s rights, and we have responded to the key role of machismo in unequal gender relations in Latin America by developing with partner organisations a programme of masculinities work, challenging ingrained attitudes and enabling men to become part of the solution, not just the problem. In the HIV and AIDS pandemic, women are particularly marginalised and disadvantaged in relation to prevention, care and support. With our partner organisations, we are now extending the masculinities approach to HIV and AIDS work, because of its potential impact in effective prevention.

Case study - Communications

Of all the countries where Progressio works Zimbabwe has probably been the worst affected by AIDS. At the most conservative estimate more than 1,400 people die of AIDS-related illnesses every week.

As an organisation that seeks to change minds as well as lives, communication is a vital part of Progressio's work. We aim to increase understanding of development issues by working with the media, producing publications and holding events that bring out the experience of our partners.

In 2002 Progressio published two 'Comments' written by Christian theologians in Southern Africa. Both booklets aim to help Christians think more deeply about the role of the churches and the impact of HIV/AIDS on women in particular.

Progressio also sought to increase understanding about HIV/AIDS through letters and articles published in the Catholic press.

Bishop Kevin Dowling from South Africa, who is AIDS Liaison Officer at the Southern Africa Bishops Conference, was keynote speaker at Progressio's Annual General Meeting in November 2002 and also at an international conference on HIV/AIDS hosted by Progressio (known at the time as CIIR).

Case study - Central America

CANTERA (the Popular Education and Communication Centre), a Progressio partner in Central America, is trying to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by changing men's behaviour. In Nicaragua, as in many other Latin American countries, beliefs about what it means to 'be a man' result in sexual behaviour that puts men at high risk of contracting or transmitting HIV.

Progressio development worker Patrick Welsh explains how CANTERA is working to change deeply ingrained attitudes: 'During the workshops we ask men when they first felt they became a man. Many men tell us that it was when they first slept with a woman, and hold deeply ingrained beliefs about virility and manhood. We ask them to reflect on how these beliefs damage both their own health and that of their partners.'

The results of CANTERA's work are impressive. Half of the men surveyed after the workshop said that they believed their sexual behaviour was more responsible - and this was confirmed by a similar survey among the women who lived with them.

Case study - Somaliland

In Somaliland HIV/AIDS has not yet reached epidemic proportions. However, Progressio research has shown that action taken now could contain the spread of HIV infection, and we have begun an information and training campaign with local organisations. Our representative in Somaliland organised a visit of leaders of local organisations to Uganda to learn about successful HIV/AIDS prevention work, and we are now working to support them in the development of appropriate strategies for their own country.

Progressio development workers and staff in Somaliland recognise that religious leaders in this strongly Muslim country could be a powerful force for promoting positive messages about HIV/AIDS. In June 2002, Progressio (known at the time as CIIR/ICD) development worker Sa'ada Abdi Ahmed held a workshop for 30 religious leaders to identify how they could play a role in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. The event was widely reported in the local media, and participants recommended that Progressio hold further similar workshops.

Workshops on HIV/AIDS have also been held for over 300 participants from women's groups and youth groups, health workers, media practitioners, schoolteachers, and representatives from governmental and non-governmental institutions and organisations.

Progressio provided technical assistance to a pilot scheme introduced in six areas of Somaliland for syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections as a direct method of reducing vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This includes supportive supervision, monitoring, and refresher courses for health professionals, as well as medical treatment and counselling for patients, which is provided by a Progressio development worker, Dr Abdirashid Hashi Abdi.