World AIDS Day

33.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and 68% (22.5 million) of PLWA are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Based on facts from 2007, 2.5 million are newly infected and 2.1 million died.

13.1 million women in sub-Saharan Africa have HIV/AIDS, this is 87% of the 15.4 million women living with HIV/AIDS in the world.

In sub-Saharan Africa, 1.7 million are newly infected and 1.6 million died of AIDS.

In Burkina Faso, UNAIDS 2006 reported that “only” 2% of the adult population had HIV/AIDS. This statistic is devious because it only counts the number of people who got tested in Burkina Faso. Since a majority of Burkinabe live rurally and do not have access to a health clinic this 2% is most likely larger. HIV/AIDS is more prevalent in the larger cities of Bobo and Ouaga. The percentage of the population has decreased in the past decade though, in 1997 7.17% of the population to the 2% reported in 2006.

Socio-cultural contributing factors: For women Poverty, their lack of power to make decisions, early marriage, lack of education, and gender discrimination contribute to the larger numbers of women with HIV/AIDS. For men, the expectation of the society of what is masculinity and the socio economic status contribute to HIV/AIDS within the Burkinabe society.

There are many myths in Burkina (similar in other sub-Saharan countries) as to how AIDS is transmitted and only 50% of the population can correctly cite the mode of transmission. 48% think that HIV/AIDS is transmitted by mosquito, which is false. There is another myth that condoms were created by the western world to exterminate the people of Africa. There are countless other “myths” that make it hard for AIDS sensibilazations to be taken seriously in many African countries.

In Burkina Faso there is high political will and a National Council against AIDS (CNLS) which is led by the president of BF.

All Peace Corps volunteers are involved in the fight against AIDS in Burkina; it goes beyond Health volunteers.

As Peace Corps Trainees this year we were asked to create radio vignettes that would play on the radio station here in OHG on Worlds AIDS Day, Dec. 1^st. We were divided into 3 groups, some groups sang songs, played games, or interviewed local organizations about the importance of getting tested. The group I was in did a skit to talk about the myths behind the transmission of HIV/AIDS and how important it is to remain friends with people with AIDS. A major problem is that when people are diagnosed they are shunned from the family and society, this really discourages people from wanting to get tested. We recorded our 15 minute segments the Friday before World AIDS Day and then went out to villages to participate in current PCV AIDS sensibilisations to villagers.

Nov. 28, 2008: Chantel, the leader my AIDS radio group doing amazing work writing out our script in French.

Nov. 28, 2008: Audry and Amanda waiting at the radio station for our turn to go on. You can see the huge blackboard in the background where they have a list of all time slots with radio segments.

Nov. 28, 2008: Chantel, David, Audry (standing), Mel, Gwen, and Amanda practicing our skit, which we adapted from a children’s story about two friends and what happens when one of the boys finds out he has AIDS.

Nov. 28, 2008: David (Pierre in the skit) and Gwen (Ali in the skit) during the recording of our segment of the AIDS day broadcast.

Nov. 28, 2008: Melanie reading her section of the skit.

Nov. 28, 2008: Audry sensibilising the masses as the nurse of our skit. Chantel is all ready as the narrator.

Nov. 28, 2008: Melanie and Karla sing the song the begins and ends our segment of our radio broadcast. Dave listens and enjoys the music.

Nov. 28, 2008: Outside the radio station our group captures a photo (L to R: Dave, Audrey, Aaron (honorary group member), Amanda, Chantel, Gwen, Karla, and Melanie)

For World AIDS Day I actually when to the small village of Youba, it would be the first time they would ever have an event for World AIDS Day, thanks to a current PCV. We were invited to be spectators. We biked for an hour to get to Youba and it was a very bad road but we made it! It was great to watch all of the Burkinabe men, women, and children as they learned about AIDS. Most of the presentation was done in Moore, which was great because that way everyone of the villagers could understand the importance of AIDS.

Dec. 1, 2008: One enterprising lad came around and sold us sticks of what I think was molasses. Colin who is from Vermont felt like he was at home, kinda. Colin and Gwen

Dec. 1, 2008: Youba had a bike race and the winner would get a whole box of condoms. We cheered the winner (pictured) to the finish line.

Dec. 1, 2008: The finish line of the bike race in the village of Youba

Dec. 1, 2008: It is a big selling day for the women of Youba as Jen and Brittany buy some oranges

Dec. 1, 2008: So there was this camel that was close to the health center and all of us were super excited to get our picture taken with the white camel. Camels are a lot more present in the northern Sahelien part of the country. A PCVF said that the last time she saw a camel the guy who owned him was making people pay to get their photo with the camel. This camel did not make me pay, thank goodness.

Dec. 1, 2008: The women of Youba with their children watching the informative session on AIDS in Moore.

Dec. 1, 2008: PCV Christina and her counterpart showing how AIDS can be transmitted: Sex, Needles, Mother to Child, and Breast Milk. Pictures go a long way when it comes to teaching the Burkinabe because a majority of the population is illiterate.

Dec. 1, 2008: This man and women are doing a skit in Moore about AIDS. The crowd loved it.

Dec. 1, 2008: After the event we were given Zum Kum a national drink of Burkinabe. I of course cannot refuse because they are serving it in a calabash, watch the spillage. Zum Kum = Pulverized millet added to water (kum) and then depending on the person sugar and spices (ginger, tamerin) are added. It is hit or miss sometimes.

Dec. 1, 2008: I road back to OHG by myself so I could take some photos. These were taken right outside OHG, it is really beautiful in some areas of the Sahel, mainly near bodies of water where things are green. I thought of the Sound of Music for these 2 photos.

Dec. 1, 2008: People working out in the swamp. I have no idea what they are doing but in a month or two all of this will be dry and desert-like.