British Ugandan woman tears down cultural HIV and AIDS stigma

African Diaspora organisations in the UK are at the forefront of life-changing developments across sub-Saharan Africa. Africare, a London-based organisation, has broken through cultural stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS in Uganda to provide vital education and enable those living with the virus to take control of their lives and health. Mary Mosinghi, a former teacher, set up Africare in 1995, shortly after moving to London from her country of origin, Uganda. While waiting for a teaching placement Mary volunteered at an HIV and AIDS charity and was deeply troubled by the effect HIV and AIDS was having on her community. “Ugandans at home and in UK were being hit very hard by the virus,” explains Mary. “I was watching my Ugandan school friends and their children die in hospital and would attend three HIV-related funerals every week in London. These deaths could have been easily prevented with education and medical support, which were being denied because of stigma. Ignorance was killing people.” Around that time Mary formed Africare to identify and train suitable carers from within the Ugandan Diaspora community, who could then adopt and foster HIV positive African children in the UK.  However, during a visit to her home country Mary realised that there was also an overwhelming need for Africare’s services in Uganda. “I met a group of widows living with HIV and this frail woman looked at me and said ‘help us, we don't know what to do, we are dying.’ That for me was the pivotal moment that I needed to do something.” Following this Africare established a relationship with Kadama Widows Association and the Charity Women’s Organisation in the Eastern Ugandan provinces of Pallisa and Soroti. Africare utilises its position as a UK-based organisation to strengthen and progress the work being carried out on the ground. “Most of us at Africare grew up in Uganda, know people across the region and have created vital links with ministers and other organisations there,” explains Mary. “Previously many people in the region had nowhere to get the antiretroviral drugs needed to control the virus but now we’ve linked our sister organisations up with The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), a charity that distributes the drugs and monitors progress on a site arranged by us.” Africare has a long-term relationship with Comic Relief, who with the support of UK aid (from the Department for International Development) are supporting African Diaspora organisations, enabling them to create a bigger impact and reduce poverty and injustice in Africa. Mary adds that being based in the UK has enabled Africare to transfer robust and effective skills to Ugandan communities by supporting productivity, policy development, supporting training and analysing programme performance. A significant focus of the work is tackling the stigma through providing education about HIV and AIDS and the need to get tested. “People used to think that HIV equals death and that they would be shunned by the community, lose their job and maybe their marriage if diagnosed,” says Mary, adding that women were often abused and thrown out of their homes for being HIV positive. Myths such as HIV and AIDS ‘being a curse from God that could infect others by just sitting in the same area’ were also common in Uganda. “It was a personal challenge for me as some doubted that anyone would come to us for help, simply because HIV was such a taboo subject. People would cross the street rather than walk past a HIV clinic because they didn’t want anyone to think they had the virus. I’ve had people in denial and refusing to believe their diagnosis and others who are reluctant to get help from us because we’re from the same local community. Africare, along with its sister organisations, hold community workshops and consult with influential faith leaders to raise awareness around HIV and AIDS, educate and encourage discussion. The organisations also work closely with those living with the virus, providing support group meetings, microcredit to set up businesses, mobile medical clinics, home based care for the very ill, Adult Literacy and programmes such as the Positive Self Management Programme (PSMP). The PSMP equips those who are HIV positive with the information, skills and support they need to take greater control of their lives and health. Mary’s ultimate aim is to see Africare grow, thrive and succeed. “I want to see it as an organisation that has enough impact on Ugandans both in the UK and back home to make a positive change in people’s mindsets.” < Prev   Next >

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 March 2011 12:35