HIV/AIDS Support Group Helps Hondurans Claim their
RightsMarch 2004
PUERTO CORTÉS, Honduras -- As in many other cities, people living with HIV/AIDS
in
Honduras’s leading port have been denied medical and educational services
or faced other types of discrimination.
Acción SIDA, funded by USAID, helped
HIV-positive people in Puerto Cortés organize a support group of 20 members called
Genesis. In 2003, the group created alliances with local health staff, media,
religious
groups, local authorities, and public and private schools.
“Today I can serve
the people living with HIV/AIDS in my community,” said José Antonio Escada, a
member of Genesis. “I am familiar with the national HIV/AIDS law and my rights.
My self-esteem is higher, and I am capable and comfortable counseling
my peers.”
Acción SIDA encourages people to talk about their
HIV-positive status and fight discrimination.
One of the group’s first achievements was to open an activity center
that provides individual counseling, support meetings,
referal services, and occupational training. Genesis has also increased AIDS
awareness in the community through advocates like Escada. Through testimonials
and discussions, they are enlightening the general population about people with
HIV/AIDS.
Access the March 2004 edition of FrontLines [PDF, 2MB]
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