Concern Worldwide and Comic Relief

One of Concern Worldwide's key partnerships is with Comic Relief who are providing a grant of £350,000 over 5 years (2004 - 2008) to support Concern Worldwide's 'Capacity Building for HIV/AIDS Mitigation Programme', in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Capacity Building for HIV/AIDS Mitigation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

"Concern Worldwide's Capacity Building for HIV/AIDS Mitigation project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has the potential to help some of the most disadvantaged people living with HIV/AIDS to understand and prevent the spread of HIV, get the care and support they need and challenge the stigma and discrimination they face."  Comic Relief

Ethiopia is the 5th poorest country in the world (UNDP Report 2002). The increased spread of HIV and the associated death toll is having a devastating impact on the already impoverished population of Ethiopia. Moreover, People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and AIDs orphans are unable to meet their rights in terms of access to health care or psychosocial support and face widespread stigma and discrimination. The already over-stretched health system in the country is unable to cope with the increase in HIV/AIDS related illness.

"Between 1999 and 2000 more people died of AIDS in Africa than in all the wars on the continent..... None of us has yet begun to grasp the full impact of this horror - on the quality of life in Africa, its economic potential and its social and political stability." Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General

The overall objective of the project is to train and mentor our partners (three non governmental organisations) and to work with anti-AIDS clubs, women's groups, local government AIDS councils in order to strengthen their ability to manage long term HIV/AIDS activities. The organisations which Concern Worldwide are supporting in Ethiopia are working to ensure that:

• the spread of HIV is prevented - Workshops, public meetings, drama groups, peer education, condom distribution, a popular radio programme and house to house teaching are used to encourage behaviour change. PLWHA are encouraged to get involved with these behaviour change activities. Also (female) commercial sex workers are supported to strengthen their ability to protect themselves and others against the spread of HIV.
• people living with HIV have an improved quality of life - family members of PLWHA and interested community members are provided with homecare kits and are trained in massage, nutrition and HIV modes of transmission. AIDS orphans are supported to attend school through the provision of uniforms and school materials. Bedding is provided to extremely poor/isolated PLWHA. Lastly, income generation activities increase PLWHA's control and access to resources.
• feelings of despair and hopelessness are tackled - volunteers are trained in counselling techniques in order to help PLWHA and their families to cope with denial, fear and the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. Refresher training is carried out and monthly meetings are held to share experiences, to sustain motivation and provide feedback and support.
• the stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS is challenged - linkages between our partner organisations and Concern Ethiopia are being built in order to build and share experience that can be used to influence policy makers at the local and national level.

"I urge you to join me in speaking up loud and clear about HIV/AIDS. Join me in tearing down the walls of silence, stigma and discrimination that surround the epidemic. Join me, because the fight against HIV/AIDS begins with you." Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General

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