hi Stefanie,
nun HIV ist nicht unbekannt hier> mein Freund Nicola Ritter, hat sich mit dieser Krankheit angesteckt und gruendete die gruppe PILS.
die sich zur aufklaerung des themas aids in mauritius einsetzt und aids kranke unterstuetzt. sie haben sogar eine notruf nummer, die im express und anderen tageszeitungen, kostenlos geschaltet wird.
aber lass sie selbst erzaehlen:
I'm Daniel Napaul, from Mauritius, working as coordinator at the NGO
Prevention Information et Lutte contre le sida (PILS). Being a youth
under the age of 25, I'm also the leader of the youth panel of the
association (AJP), and one of the volunteer's doing information and
prevention sessions in schools, youth groups and with workers in
private sectors.
Mauritius, an independent country since 1968, is a multicultural
island with a population of 1, 2 M. The official figure for the last
13 years is quite low (239 cases) but we consider our vulnerability
to AIDS very high: tourism (500,000 visitors per year, intravenous
drug users and, high taboo on sexual matters due a strong religious
society). There is only one HIV testing center in Mauritius , and an
average of 150 voluntary tests per year. (HIV testing is illegal in
private clinics or laboratories).
PILS is the only NGO exclusively working in the fight against
HIV/AIDS since 1996.
Funded by its members, some private donations, clubs services (United
Way, Lions Club, Rotary) and international organization (E.C.S
France); PILS initiates prevention sessions for the youth trough
peer education or to any group of person asking for it. PILS also has
a toll free number (Hotline), with trained volunteers .
We are also involved with medical support, in coordination with
Reunion Island, people living with HIV/AIDS have the possibility to
get specific treatments to reduce the impact of the virus and also for
their blood analysis (CD4 cell count and viral load). Antiretrovriral
drugs are not available in public hospitals in Mauritius and no blood
analysis can be done for the time being in Mauritius.
Mauritius, having a platform of several religious beliefs and races,
people have a great difficulty to talk about sex which is a very hard
taboo. There is no sexual education in schools and the use of condoms
is always related to religious faith; saying that the promotion of
condoms is an incitation to have sexual relations.
AIDS is still known as a disease for others (tourists, sex workers,
gays and drug addicts). Worse than that, the Muslim community thinks
that they are beyond the AIDS pandemic; Catholics and Hindus trust in
virginity and abstinence before marriage, fidelity between couples,
and therefore have no recognition about the use of condoms. But in
reality, no one lives like this nowadays. Condoms are very expensive
for the average population and are not legal if being sold to minors
under 16.
There is still no study to measure the impact of AIDS in Mauritius,
but we can affirm that there is a real denial of the problem as the
number of voluntary testing is very low (average of 150/year). Only
the National Central Lab is authorized to practice HIV testing.
We can also affirm that there is no political will to tackle the
problem as, since 13 years (first HIV case discovered in 1987) there
is no budget allocated to the fight against AIDS. Another example is
that AIDS is managed by the non-communicable diseases unit of the
Ministry of Health.
Another problem related to the spread of HIV is the consumption of
heroin (Brown Sugar) in Mauritius. A recent study showed that all
intravenous drug users share their needles. The use (or the simple
fact of carrying) of syringes is forbidden by the law without medical
prescription and of course only available in pharmacies. There is no
risks reduction program as the drugs policy in Mauritius is focused on
repression, with no difference between hard and smooth drug. All
intravenous drug users followed by rehabilitation centers are VHC
positive....the door is open for AIDS!
The only mass media campaign on HIV/AIDS was initiated this year by
our organization...silence kills in Mauritius.
See you in Durban.
Salutations Solidaires,
Daniel NAPAUL
pils@intnet.mu
gefunden auf einem messageboard des UNDP
gruss
stefan