Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief - Working with HIV & AIDS-Affected Communities in Jarso, Ethiopia

Working with HIV & AIDS-Affected Communities in Jarso, Ethiopia

CPAR has been actively working over the past year to further address HIV & AIDS issues within its food security-focused program, Moving Beyond Hunger (MBH). Working closely with People Living with HIV (PLHIV) associations has been a critical dimension of this work. One such PLHIV Association in Jarso, Ethiopia has worked with CPAR to establish a thriving small goods and services shop.

Community Members in Jarso, Ethiopia

In the beginning, the Association numbered 19. With diligent outreach and community mobilization efforts by the Association, members have increased to 37, widening the outreach to PLHIV in Jarso Kebele areas (communities).

After a careful market assessment and training by CPAR in small business support and start-up (as well as some seed capital), The PLHIV Association has established a niche in Jarso for its goods and services.

"The Association offers critical support to its members by loaning grains such as wheat. This enables them to generate income and maximize profit with the intention of improving our livelihoods. This support is invaluable given the immense impact of HIV & AIDS in the community," says a member of the PLHIV Association.

Most members of the PLHIV Association have limited income opportunities, affecting their ability acquire nutritious foods, adequate shelter and critical routine preventive health care. Through its MBH program, CPAR is improving the livelihoods and food security of PLHIV in Jarso, Ethiopia.

Presently with CPAR’s help, the PLHIV Association has taken over as the pioneer association for Jarso Woreda (District), working hard to reach out to new members, generate income and finance travel expenses of community members from Jarso to Fitche clinic (140 km) for HIV counseling and testing. New members (those testing positive for HIV) are welcomed into the group, and care and support is provided for their families as they cope with the difficult diagnosis.

One of the challenges in coping in the immediate term, after a HIV positive test result has come back also involves coping with community stigma around the virus – stigma which can negatively affect the community’s ability to have a positive collective impact. The chairlady of the PLHIV Association makes a statement which illustrates the need to collectively resist silence around HIV & AIDS:

"The more we get together as PLHIVs, the greater the chance to break the silence on HIV/AIDS – and therefore the more productive we will be in our collective efforts."