8th December, 2010
"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 joining 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.
Can you explain how HIV and AIDS is affecting African communities?
Africa is one of the hardest hit continents affected by HIV/AIDS, around 28 million people are affected by HIV/AIDS which represents more than 68% of the global HIV infection.
It seems that women suffer disproportionately from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa - why is this?
Women are greatly affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. They are biologically vulnerable 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 when they need money and many more are also in relationships where their partner's behaviour greatly increases their chance of contracting HIV. The socio-cultural dynamics mean 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 works from within communities to improve the health of the hardest to reach and the most marginalised in Africa - the communities which are often the most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. AMREF is very different in the way of its expertise in the communities, we have had long experience with communities in Africa, we understand how they work and work together to agree on what is most effective and will lead to lasting impact.
AMREF empowers the communities it works with so that they are able to demand for 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.
Learn more about AMREF's innovative HIV/AIDS programs.
