AFRICAN WOMEN NEED LEGAL PROTECTION FOR WOMEN

AFRICAN WOMEN NEED LEGAL PROTECTION FOR WOMEN

The high level of gender – based violence in Africa is preventing many women from accessing HIV/AIDS services according to a new report by Global Human Rights Watch.

The researchers warned that the ability of African women to get HIV/AIDS counseling testing and information has been “seriously impaired by the perceived and real control of men {particularly intimate partners} over their lives.

Hidden in the mealie meal gender based abuses and women’s HIV treatment in Africa Congo DRC AND Zambia it was found that many women were taking life – prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) medication with out informing their husband and were forced to resort to extreme measures to hide their medication.

Some of the women testified that thy dug toles in the ground or a flowerpots to hide ARV’s these women then retrieved the medicine which they must take for the rest of their lives twice everyday and then hid it again “said the report, which documented various abuses that obstruct Africa women’s ability to start and adhere to HIV treatment regimens.

According to UNAIDS, about 1.6 million of the 11.7 million population are HIV positive 57 percent of them women. But only 100,000 people are receiving ARV’s from the governments free treatment programme.

Congo DRC and Zambia which has one the world higher HIV/AIDS infections rates has set ambitious targets for rapidly scaling up HIV/AIDS treatment as part of its commitment of ensuring universal access of AIDS treatment by 2010 but researchers say women’s unequal status will greatly undermine the success of the programmers’.

Ignoring gender issues

“Government is paying little attention to gender dimension of treatment, especially the impact of entrenched discrimination and gender – based violence and abuse. This must change if HIV treatment is to be provided equitably.

I asked a woman who refused to be named and this is what she said”

I fear to tell my husband {about my HIV STATUS} because I fear that he can shout {at me} and divorce me he uses bad language with me.

“ I hide the medicine, I put it on a plate add mealie (maize meal) so when he takes the lid off he medicine l have to make sure that he is out side, has a result of such.

That is why l forgot to take medicine four times since l started treatment last year he hit me around the back with his fist”,

The kind of treatment is pulling down development in Africa and with the way things are going on African countries wont reach the MDG’s by 2010.

So we beg the women in the high position to proved such service and voice out of the African women legal protection for the African countries to reach the MDG’s

HIV/AIDS AND TREATMENT ALONGSIDE SCIENCE IN ZAMBIA(RESEARCH)

HIV/AIDS AND TREATMENT ALONGSIDE SCIENCE IN ZAMBIA(RESEARCH)

Based on the knowledge grained from the scientists and the people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) about treatment of HIV/AIDS with the drug called Antiretroviral (ARV)

Science has shown that people with the HIV/AIDS often become more frustrated with the management of the disease many are willing to try anything with the hope of staying healthy and living longer.

What is HIV/AIDS

Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) causes infections in the humans science has shown it and proofed it. It passes from one person to another through semen vaginal fluid, blood or breast milk. The most common way to get infected with HIV/AIDS is through unprotected sexual intercourse, HIV can also be transmitted(passed to another person) through injections , needles or blades that have been used on another person with HIV.Babies can get infected in the womb during birth or through the breast milk in their mother’s who has the virus. The does not happen every time soothe baby of an HIV positive mother might be HIV negative with the help of the clinical trials that care on going already introduced which is Prevent of mother – to –child transmission done with the help of the drug called antiretroviral drugs.

There are types in HIV, investigations have been and clinical trials where done and under taken and they showed to be two types these are HIV type one and HIV type two.

At first, HIV infection does not make a person very ill. He/ she may continue to have a healthy life for some months or many years sciencfity after eight years.

Medically it say’s that antibodies to be destroyed there should be eight years for someone to start indicating sign’s.

After some time person’s with HIV may start to lose a lot of weight, feel very tired and be unable  to do all their usually daily activities. Illnesses also start to happen especially infections such as tuberculosis (TB) herpes zoster (shingles) and other skin or chest infections these are called opportunistic infection – the effects of HIV on the immune system provides opportunities for these infection attack……

If people with AIDS do not get treatment they will gradually become very ill and are likely to die science has shown that their immune system can not with stand pressure of other opportunities infections that’s why they die easily.

Science shows if a person whose HIV positive develops to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) scientifly that person system has become weak and cannot repair or defend the body in the usual ways that keep humans healthy.

What Does a person with HIV Need

A person with HIV needs a lot of support psychosocial and economically, this should be done through their community, family and doctors. Treatment for people with HIV (PLWHA) should be comprehensive. This was medically proofed by the medical works in the biggest hospital in Zambia called university teaching hospital (UTH) which is based in the capital city of ZAMBIA the town called Lusaka.

 

What treatment is possible for a person with HIV

A person with HIV can get different kinds of treatment, both for the illnesses caused by HIV and for fighting the virus itself.thr simplest treatment is to make sure that a person with HIV can always get good food  that contain components of micronutrients, macronutrients and fibre.

Medical has shown a result that a person with HIV needs frequently medical checks ups due to the opportunistic illness such has TB, skin or chest infections.

HIV infection itself can be treated with the drug they are called antiretroviral (ARV) they reduce the effects of the virus and enable a person to become healthy again but they do not completely cure HIV infection .

 

 

What is ARV Treatment

Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment is for HIV infection that includes using drugs that interfere with the way that HIV virus reproduces in the body.

Zambia has come up with a different treatment which is going on clinical trials at the centre of excellence which has been funded by the ministry of health. This is the crocodile fat which has sciencfity and medical be tested and it’s being tested. The antibodies that are found in the crocodile are fighting the HIV virus and the people living with HIV (PLWHA) who are on these clinical trials  have showed a good indication . With is kind of science may be one day we will lend to the cure.

 

Mary Sathulu

HIV/AIDS REPORTER

Freelance/ journalist