Interact Worldwide in Africa
HIV and AIDS in Africa
Africa is the region most affected by HIV/AIDS, and also experiences poor sexual and reproductive health & rights (SRH&R). Young people, which make up a huge proportion of the population in Africa, have an enormous need for SRH&R and HIV/AIDS information and services, but due to cultural, social, economic and legal barriers do not have the necessary access to them.
Gender-based discrimination
Poverty, gender-based violence, discriminatory laws, policies and cultural practices place women at increased risk of HIV/AIDS and poor SRH outcomes. Although with proper nutrition and treatment many HIV positive people live long, healthy lives, they often experience stigma, discrimination and denial of their rights.
Interact Worldwide in Africa
Interact Worldwide works with partner organisations to build their capacity to improve access to and the quality of services for young people, women, people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS and other marginalised groups. We aim to empower these groups to demand and exercise their rights regarding these services and information.We recognise that it is important responses to SRH&R and HIV/AIDS are coordinated. With Interact Worldwide's support, traditional family planning providers have begun to integrate increased SRH&R, including HIV/AIDS prevention and care and support, into their services. Also, HIV/AIDS service organisations now work towards addressing the SRH&R needs of their clients along with networks of people living with HIV/AIDS. Interact Worldwide also supports our partners in establishing and strengthening referral systems with other organizations - public and private - to cover gaps. Throughout our programming, we support partners to address the underlying root causes of poor SRH&R outcomes and HIV/AIDS, including addressing gender inequities and discrimination, through advocacy, awareness raising, and sensitisation at the community, district, national and regional levels.
Learn more about our programmes in: Tanzania Uganda Multi Country Programmes |
