1st December, 2010
Dr Teguest Guerma's World AIDS Day message
''We must empower communities to demand better health care in the fight against HIV''
Dr Guerma is AMREF's Director General. An Ethiopian national, and the first woman to lead AMREF, she has been involved in the fight against AIDS throughout her career.
Prior to AMREF, she was Associate Director of HIV/AIDS for the World Health Organisation (WHO).
To commemorate World AIDS Day 2010, Dr Guerma explains how AMREF's approach enables women -often the most vulnerable communities affected and infected by HIV in Africa - to access better health care and support.
Why do women suffer disproportionately from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa?
Women are greatly affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. They are biologically but also economically and socially vulnerable because women are usually the poorest members of society. Some may turn to sex work and unsafe sexual behaviour if they need money.
Many more are in relationships where their partner’s sexual activities greatly increase their chance of contracting HIV. The socio-cultural dynamics means that many of these women are affected or infected even though they may have not been actively engaging in risky behaviour.
Many organisations are working to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa, what makes AMREF's approach unique?
AMREF empowers the communities it works with so they are able to demand better health care. By developing projects directly with communities we can ensure that they really achieve what's best for the community not only in the short but also the long term.
How can the general public best help the communities AMREF works with?
By making a donation to AMREF you are helping us provide better health care for the poorest and most vulnerable people in Africa. HIV/AIDS in Africa is still a huge problem, particularly for women, and those too poor or too far from health centres to obtain medicine. Everyone has the right to good health. Support AMREF and you are giving people that right.
Support AMREF and make a difference to the lives of communities affected by HIV in Africa