HIV Response In Conservative Settings: Striking The Balance 

International Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS

Presented by:Rev. Phumzile Mabizela 

@ICASA 2015

Outline

• 1.Introduction• 2. Importance of psychosocial support• 3. Cultural and social issues• 4. Religious issues • 5. Ethical issues ( health centres)• 6. BEST PRACTICES

Introduction

• Just a few of the barriers that make it difficult for progress to be realised in conservative settings:

• Stigma• Shame• Denial• Discrimination• Inaction and Misaction

Cultural issues

• Patriarchy and Hierarchy

• Rituals: FGM, VT, Cultural Male circumcision

• Selective transformation

• Customary laws; Sexuality is taboo

SOCIAL ISSUES• Socialization: Patriarchy

Gender stereotypes: Boys and girlsGender inequality

• Stigma: Fear of the unknown leads to lack of testing and access to health services

• Legal Framework: Criminalisation of HIV transmission and sexual orientation

Religious issues

• Use of sacred texts • Creation Story• Human rights vs dignity• Procreation and recreation• Religious fundamentalism• Marriage: vulnerability• Faith Healing

Ethical issues

• Health professionals: further stigmatising• Religious Leaders: promoting negative

messages on PLWHIV• Moralising HIV• Forced sterilisation• Response to key drivers of HIV, for example,

Gender Inequality, Sexuality

Ethical Issues- continued

• Lack of monitoring of the private health sector• Accountability and transparency – important

values• The faith healing debate • Intergenerational relationships• Legal Frameworks- Criminalization of sexuality• Laws on SGBV

Recommendations• Culture is dynamic• Redefine cultural rituals• Mutual faithfulness• Eradication of homophobia and transphobia• Intergration of CSE into all curricula• Working with boys and men• Holding teachers and health workers accountable• Civil society should be involved in policy making -

watchdogs

Importance of psychosocial support

• To reach the 90/90/90 – attitudes towards HIV have to change.

• Important pillar of care and support • It promotes adherence and resilience• Depression and lack of support - non-

adherence• Revive the Directly Observed Therapy(DOT)

that worked for the treatment of TB

ConclusionRobert Frost:The Road Not TakenTwo roads diverged in a yellow woodAnd sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveller, long I stood…………..

Two roads diverged in  a wood, and I,I took the one less travelled byAnd that has made all the difference

TIME TO ACT

Change begins with you and I.

PLHIV must thrive and not just barely survive

Getting tested is the first step towards life in abundance

LET US WALK TOGETHER!!WE CAN END 

AIDS!!Thank you