From an international perspective, the primary response to the AIDS epidemic almost always comes from HIV-infected individuals, their friends and families, who organize themselves to provide assistance to those in need. Nevertheless, such initiatives as the XVI International AIDS Conference, which will take place in Toronto from August 13 to 18, is an opportune time for Uniterra, the voluntary action program of the CECI and WUSC, to work with other players on the international scene to inform the Canadian public about this issue. It also provides its Uniterra partners from Botswana, Malawi and Burkina Faso an opportunity to call upon you to become informed about related initiatives in both the North and South.
Uniterra’s involved in the fight against AIDS
In Botswna, Burkina Faso and Malawi, Uniterra partners with HIV AIDS service organisations, networks and agencies committed to fighting the pandemic. Our partners face important challenges. They must offer services and support to families and communities affected by HIV AIDS. They must ensure that their staff are able to do the best job possible under demanding circumstances. Uniterra’s volunteers support our partners to do this work. Read more >>
Working Stronger, Together
Several of Canada’s international volunteer cooperation agencies (VCAs) are working with African partners in the HIV AIDS sector. Canadian agencies play a support role, working with their partners to define the ways in which volunteers may work alongside partners. They move toward a shared goal: stronger organizations equipped to deliver quality services to HIV AIDS affected communities. Read more >>
Botswana and Malawi: Engaged in a continual struggle since 1985
For some twenty years now, the countries of Botswana and Malawi have been waging an unrelenting fight against HIV. Thanks to the efforts of citizens, governments and international partners, progress has been made. For example, the prevalence rate of the virus among that segment of the population most at risk—those aged 15 to 49—has declined from 39.5% to 35.5% in Botswana and from 16% to 14% in Malawi. We can only hope to see further decreases in these rates, which remain alarming. Read more >>
Burkina Faso : Strong Social Forces Take on a Relentless Pandemic
Burkina Faso is the second most HIV/AIDS-affected country in West Africa. Confronted by one of the worst economic situations in the world, it has, according to Fatimata Lankoande, succeeded in mobilizing itself to fight the disease. The intense involvement of every stratum of society, along with the support of technical and financial partners, has resulted in interesting results. For example, the infection’s prevalence rate, as the WHO/UNAIDS notes, has decreased from 7.17% in 1997 to 2.7 % in 2003. Read more >>
African Countries Assert their Right to Access Medications
A year ago, the leaders of the world’s richest industrial nations, including Canada, committed to do their utmost to counter the AIDS pandemic that is currently devastating Africa by providing resources, expertise and funding. At almost the same time, the Jean Chrétien Pledge to Africa Act, intended to promote the export of Canadian-made generic drugs to Africa, came into force. This bill had been unanimously passed by Canada’s parliament in 2004. Read more >>
Fighting AIDS on Campus
There are a number of small measures─none of which cost a great deal─that nevertheless can make a big contribution to the fight against AIDS in Africa. For example, to counter the lack of means to transport people in rural areas suffering from AIDS to treatment centres, Malawians have adopted the bicycle ambulance. Assembled locally, this consists of a lightweight trailer attached to a bicycle. It enables caregivers to reach isolated villages and, if necessary, transport the more seriously ill patients to places where they can receive the appropriate medical assistance. Read more >>
Spirulina turns on a living-positive note
Under a microscope, spirulina resembles a coil spring. For HIV-positive persons in Burkina Faso, this green algae resembles a food supplement that provides vitamins, salts and minerals to weakened immune systems waiting to receive antiretroviral treatment (ARV). More >>
The Diaspora in action
In December 2005, Jules Zanre began working as volunteer cooperant for Uniterra. He’s responsible for monitoring and evaluation with RALIS-Bobo, (the Network of Associations Fighting AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections), which is located in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second largest city. More >>
Women for Fair Development 
Caring for those with HIV/AIDS-related sicknesses in Malawi is sensitive work. When a caregiver from the Malawian community-based organization Women for Fair Development arrives at a patient’s home, she first introduces herself and asks about the patient’s condition. More >>
A child in need is everyone’s child
Fifty kilometres north of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, in the village of Molepolole where cows, donkeys, goats and chickens roam freely, lies a quiet, clean and well managed orphan day care centre that is home away from home for 411 Batswana orphans whose individual stories resonate across the country. More >>
Call to Action
Reducing extreme poverty in the world by 2015 IS possible! However, to meet this U.N. Millennium Development Goal, governments worldwide, civil society and citizens of the world must work together. CECI and WUSC offer, through its Uniterra program, many possible means by which you too can play an active role in helping to reduce global poverty.
• Have you ever considered sharing your skills and knowledge, as a volunteer, in Africa, Asia or Latin America? To find out how you can do this, check out our website too see the list of positions to be filled in HIV/AIDS and other fields.
• Inform your MP or readers of your local newspaper on what Canada can concretely do about HIV/AIDS in developing countries? Click here to download the AIDS 2006 Community Mobilization Kit developed in collaboration with the nine Canadian Volunteer Cooperation Agencies – it’s chock full of useful and practical tips.
• Are you curious about knowing how you could lead a workshop or deliver a presentation on HIV/AIDS to your colleagues, neighbours, or local schools? The education kit Behind the Pandemic: Uncovering the Links Between Social Inequity and HIV/AIDS can be found on the website of Uniterra’s partner, the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD). To view the kit click on www.icad-cisd.com/content/resources_edu.cfm. The AIDS 2006 Community Mobilization Kit mentioned above and the kit Keep Your Promise also offer information on mobilizing people in your community.
• Support the pan-Canadian youth-led Bike for Aids campaign, organized in collaboration with our partner Cap-Aids, whereby over $25, 000 have already been raised to buy bicycle ambulances for Malawian rural communities. University students Kylie and Jason are biking across the country this summer to raise even more money! To find out more, and support their initiative with a donation go to www.bikeacrosscanada.ca.
• Join us, on October 17th 2006 for the international mobilization day for poverty reduction in the world. There will be activities throughout the world. If you are interested in organizing an event, big or small, in your own community on October 17th, contact Daniel at daniel@wusc.ca. We’ll be happy to propose ideas, and to offer you helpful tips and tools.
General statistics from Médecin sans frontière. www.msf.ca
