Women Lead - Response to HIV/AIDS
Author(s): Omang, J.; Darvich-Kodjouri, K.
Produced by: Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), 2006

This publication, from the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), provides powerful stories of a range of women who are actively engaged in the response to HIV and AIDS. Each woman’s story describes her experiences and the AIDS situation in her respective country. Country experiences include Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ukraine, Kenya, Swaziland, Bangladesh, Nepal, USA and Pakistan. These stories emerge from a month long workshop run by CEDPA in October 2005, which aimed to build leadership abilities, technical expertise and programme management skills of women.

The experiences show that women and girls are the ones bearing the burden of the disease. Stigma prevents many women from finding out their status and HIV positive women who publicly acknowledge their status face discrimination and violence. But women are also leading the response to HIV and AIDS, and many are working to combat stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV and AIDS. They are also working to raise awareness about prevention methods, mobilising communities to support the care of patients, and demanding the availability of treatment and services. Finally, they are working in partnership with men and boys, who are central in the response