Addis Beza #LinkUp

Addis Beza #LinkUp

International HIV/AIDS Alliance

Prepared by Battenhall, 22 November 2013

Addis Beza: Helping Prevent HIV Through Dance

Today's young people are the first generation that has never known a world without HIV and AIDS. In Ethiopia, where more than half of the population is under the age of 24, cultural attitudes among the older generation towards sexual health issues are making it difficult for young people to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe.

But one enterprising group of youngsters in Addis Ababa, the BEZA Anti-AIDS youth group, are determined to use their combined talents for music and dance to get messages about HIV prevention across to the public and their peers. Members of the youth group, all aged between 15 and 20, have founded a dance troupe called Addis Beza, meaning “to live for others”. The troupe perform regularly in popular public spots around Addis Ababa, using the occasion to hand out information leaflets and to encourage people to get tested for HIV free of charge so that they know their status and can be treated accordingly.

INSERT VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTLcXRhkkw8&feature=youtu.be

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The mobile testing clinics are organised by the Organization for Social Services for AIDS (OSSA), Ethiopia’s largest NGO working on HIV, and attract up to a thousand people over the course of five days. If somebody is found to be HIV positive, they are then referred on to a local health facility for access to treatment, care and support.

At the youth club centre, as well as training long hours to learn dance moves, members take it in turns to offer a drop in counselling service for young people and to give out free condoms. Habtegoregies Hailu, better known as Habte, is the club’s chairman, and is determined to help them navigate through their teenage years.

The troupe practising their dance moves

Photo credit: duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

“We’re going to save ourselves first, and then become a shelter for others who need protection,” he says. “This is the start not the end for us, helping protect young people from HIV.”

The Youth Group’s Debates

The club’s regular debate session is always well attended by members and this month’s topic - what is the right age to start having sex – drew quite a crowd. At these debates, opinion is often fiercely divided, but everybody gets the chance to express their view.

Club chairman Habte’s offering sees him open up the floor to personal opinion and thought. “How much control we do we have over ourselves, over our bodies? Marriage is not necessarily a timetable for having sex. It’s ok to experience, but we must be careful. It’s ok to jump in and enjoy life but do we take responsibility for our actions? Enjoy life but go and get information on how to enjoy it responsibly and carefully.”

Charismatic troupe leader Samson, 17, had this to say: “We have to have sex, we strongly have to. Because the Bible says to be reproductive – so we have to fulfil God’s word and use our body.  What is it for otherwise?”

Wendimagegne is more hesitant: “I’m waiting until marriage, because otherwise we won’t be able to handle the consequences. We’re not knowledgeable enough at 16.”

Samson and his story

Samson is typical of the kind of young person that the club aims to attract. Now a model student taking an evening class in hotel management, he was once branded a troublemaker and had a history of petty stealing. Brought up by his grandmother, his father died when he was a baby and he has no real knowledge of his mother. Remembering when he was younger, he says: “We got into fights with gangs from other villages and had problems with the police.”

Samson standing in front of a mobile HIV-testing clinic

Photo credit: duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

“I feel I have benefitted greatly from joining Addis Beza,” he continues. “The main benefit is a change in my life. Although I joined for the dance troupe, I’ve learnt lots of things. I did not have self-awareness until now and it has helped me to teach other people what I have learned. There is a big difference between the old me and the new me.”

Samson has seen first hand the tragedy that HIV can hold for young people if they do not have the knowledge they need to understand how to manage the virus. His friend Abel took his own life on discovering that he was positive, too frightened to reveal his diagnosis to his family for fear of being rejected.

“If you catch HIV it means that everyone will discriminate against you,” Samson says.  “People will think that you can’t live with anyone, that it is an alien disease. [Before joining the youth group] the opinion I had is that it’s not even possible to eat together.  Our families used to say that it's a punishment from God.”

“I did not have any knowledge and didn't know its methods of transmission, but I have learned to practise safe sex, when I should start having sex, what I need to do after sex if a woman gets pregnant.”

With young people aged 15-24 accounting for 40% of new HIV infections globally, Samson and his fellow dancers are playing their part as duty bearing citizens. “I want to make Ethiopian culture known to the world,” he says proudly.  “Here we say that we want to be the light for others.”

The troupe performing in the piazza

Photo credit: duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Link Up

Ethiopia is one of five countries currently being targeted by the Alliance and its partners through Link Up, an initiative that aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of more than one million young people living with and affected by HIV.

Over the course of the next three years, Link Up will reach more than one million young people aged 15-24 by implementing tailored HIV and sexual and reproductive health interventions to increase uptake and access to services and reduce unintended pregnancies, new HIV infections and HIV-related maternal mortality. In Ethiopia the initiative aims to reach 140,000 young people to improve their sexual health.

What can you do to help?

Show your support to Addis Beza, the Link Up programme and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance by:

1.    Sharing the dance troupe’s story (Click to Tweet) (Share on Facebook) #LinkUp

2.    Keeping up to date with the work being carried out through Link Up at www.link-up.org

3.    Follow the International HIV/AIDS Alliance on Twitter @theaidsalliance and on Facebook

Thank you for taking the time to read about Addis BEZA today. It means a lot to everyone involved in this project.

@theaidsalliance.

Momina’s Story #LinkUp

Momina’s Story #LinkUp

International HIV/AIDS Alliance

Prepared by Battenhall, 22 November 2013

Meet Momina

Momina is a 22 year old single mother of two who lives in the city of Adama in central Ethiopia and was diagnosed as living with HIV three years ago. Although she wears a smile, sadness is etched across her face when she talks about her younger son, Yerosa. Born HIV positive, he is now three but Momina knows very little of his life save for the occasional photos she is sent by the American family who adopted him. Momina took the agonising decision to give him up for adoption in the hope that he would be able to receive medical treatment.    

Photo credit: Benjamin Chesterton\duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

In telling her story today, Momina hopes that she might help other young women just like her, to know how they can protect themselves from contracting HIV and get the care and support they need through projects like Link Up being led by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.

Momina’s Story

When Momima was a teenager, she left her family home as she was afraid that her parents would marry her off to an older man as they did with her older sister - who later died of AIDS. After falling pregnant with her first child Rapira, and without the support of her parents, she was forced to move from community to community, taking temporary jobs where she could, to try to provide food and shelter for her son.

“I don’t want my child to starve or get hurt,” says Momina.

Photo credit: Benjamin Chesterton\duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

“There are times when I feed my child and I do not eat at all. I sometimes come home late from work, there are times when I wake him up and feed him because I don’t want him to sleep on an empty belly.”

Without life being tough enough already, three years ago Momina was diagnosed as living with HIV. At that time she had no idea that she was pregnant and subsequently she was not able to receive the treatment needed to protect her unborn child from onward transmission of the virus. When her youngest son, Yerosa was just four months old, Momina learned that he was HIV positive and took the agonising decision to give him up to a family in the US with the hope that he would receive the medical care he needed.

“I convinced myself that it’s better to see my child well. If he had not been seriously ill, I would have not given him away. I would have fought until the end. I am praying for him to be well wherever he is.”

Living with HIV

Determined not to be defined by her HIV status, even when her own mother will not allow her into her family home for fear that she might infect her siblings, Momina remains candid about her condition with friends and colleagues. But in a country where HIV stigma and discrimination still prevail, her openness sometimes costs her and she is presently between jobs.

“I do not let myself down because I live with HIV and have my own objectives.”

Photo credit: Benjamin Chesterton\duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

“I want to continue my education and qualify as a nurse. I have always had a passion and love for the profession and I want to serve people like me, people living with the virus. I would be happy if I could do that. My biggest aim is to get educated, get a job and live my own life but at the same time I don’t want to cry over split milk”

Momina is assisted with access to HIV treatment and care by Ethiopia’s largest NGO working on HIV, the Organization for Social Services for AIDS (OSSA), who in turn is supported by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. Every fortnight she attends a support group meeting organised by OSSA where she and other members of her community living with HIV meet to share their experiences.

OSSA have also helped contribute to her son Rapira’s annual school fee. Momina is determined to see that he gets a good education.

Photo credit:Benjamin Chesterton\duckrabbit\International HIV/AIDS Alliance

“I wish for him something much greater than I had,” she says with feeling.

“I hope he can go all the way and graduate which I was unable to do.”

In another world, life for Momina and her family could have turned out so very differently. If she had known how to protect herself against HIV. If she had gone through proper antenatal care when she was pregnant with Yerosa. If she had not felt compelled to run away from home for fear of early marriage. If she was able to work freely without worrying about becoming a target for discrimination.

“I would like people to see me a strong person,” she smiles. “I know that there is strength in me; I got that strength from the life I have had. I want young people of my age to be strong and to have the strength to face and overcome challenges.”

The International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Link Up

Ethiopia is one of five countries currently being targeted by the Alliance and its partners through Link Up, an initiative that aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of more than one million young people living with and affected by HIV.

Over the course of the next three years, Link Up will reach more than one million young people aged 15-24 by implementing tailored HIV and sexual and reproductive health interventions to increase uptake and access to services and reduce unintended pregnancies, new HIV infections and HIV-related maternal mortality. In Ethiopia the initiative aims to reach 140,000 young people to improve their sexual health.

What can you do to help?

Show your support to Momina, Link Up and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance by:

1.     Sharing Momina’s story (Click to Tweet) (Share on Facebook) #LinkUp

2.     Keeping up to date with the work being carried out through Link Up at www.link-up.org

3.    Follow the International HIV/AIDS Alliance on Twitter @theaidsalliance and on Facebook

Thank you for taking the time to read Momina’s story today. It means a lot to everyone involved in this project.

Justin's HIV Journal: World AIDS Day 2013 HIV/AIDS PSA

I decided to do a little PSA for World AIDS Day 2013. I don't know how I got the idea to even try to pull this off but I tried. The only thing I wish people would take from this is to know your HIV status. It's very hard to want to know your status but the sooner you do the better. Whether it is HIV positive or negative it will be alright. At least now you can take the precautions or continue to take the precautions that you need to protect yourself and others from the HIV virus.

I've had many friends pass away and today I really remember then and take a moment to sit by myself and ask why did they have to leave this earth so young? I know it's not my fault and I don't feel survivor's guilt at all, but I feel for the world. The world will not know the wonders that many of my friends that have passed away from HIV/AIDS complications could give to it and to their own communities.

Today a lot of people would think that I am out going to a World AIDS Day event, but today I stayed home with my husband and my son. I looked at him today thinking, "man oh man I hope that he is listening to my message and better yet learning from it. I hope that he knows how much I love him and understand why I do, what I do. It is because of him and his friends that I hope for the future and I will do my best, even if it takes my last breath

Justin's HIV Journal: NBC Channel 4 World AIDS Report 2009 3% of DC Residents have HIV/AIDS

Justin's HIV Journal: NBC Channel 4 World AIDS Report 2009 3% of DC Residents have HIV/AIDS 

Today I reminisced to when I started out as an AIDS activist.  This was my first news interview and I couldn’t believe I found it after all these years.  I was actually looking back on some old photos of friends and x-boyfriends that passed away.  I found this news interview and it was when I was about 29, which was about 5 years ago.  Now I look at my life now and I didn’t think I would be married legally and I didn’t think I would be a father.  I didn’t think that I would’ve come out with a children’s book about HIV or have done HIV activism as deeply as I have now.  

Sometimes I think about my death and I wonder if my son will know about the work I’ve done.  I wonder if he knows about how serious HIV/AIDS really is.  I know several generations before me probably said the same things about me when I was “growing up gay”.  Some of them are still around probably shaking their heads at some in my generations that shrug their shoulders at HIV/AIDS.  We will never know until time tells us the truth and only truth can come with time. 

 

THE HEALTH SHOW Papi Chulo Radio World AIDS Day 2013

 

 

TONIGHT @ 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT on Papi Chulo RADIO (www.PapiChuloRADIO.com

) -- Tune in for a special World AIDS Day EVENT. "The HEALTH Show: WORLD AIDS DAY 2013 - Living with HIV".

A panel is HIV/AIDS activists and advocates gathered to discuss living with HIV.

The panel includes:
-- Marvell Terry (HIV/AIDS Activist, The Executive Director of The Red Door Foundation in Memphis, TN and an Organizing Committee member for The Young Black Gay Leadership Initiative)
-- Justin B. Terry Smith (HIV Advice Columnist, Author and Activist)
-- Patrick Ingram (HIV/AIDS Activist, Committee Member of The National Minority AIDS Council’s HIV Leadership Working Group for their Health Literacy and Wellness Initiative, and member of The Youth Advisory Committee for The National Minority AIDS Council’s Youth Initiative to End HIV/AIDS in America)

Catch a special ENCORE of the broadcast Friday, December 6 @ 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT.

Justin's HIV Journal: Gamma Mu Phi Fraternity, Inc

Come and find out about the men of Gamma Mu Phi Fraternity, Inc., the FIRST national professional fraternity for Black & Latino men such as you.
The men of GAMMA believe in 7 Cardinal Principles, which are:

Brotherhood
Leadership
Professionalism
Service
Good Character
Manhood
Loyalty

GAMMA currently has chapters based in the following cities across the country:
Richmond, VA (Alpha Chapter), Washington, D.C. (Beta Chapter), Houston, TX (Delta Chapter), Dallas, TX (Epsilon Chapter), Philadelphia, PA (Zeta Chapter), Atlanta, GA (Eta Chapter) & Little Rock, AZ (Lambda Chapter) &Richmond, VA (Alpha Chapter), Washington, D.C. (Beta Chapter), Houston, TX (Delta Chapter), Dallas, TX (Epsilon Chapter), Philadelphia, PA (Zeta Chapter), Atlanta, GA (Eta Chapter), Little Rock, AZ (Lambda Chapter) & New Orleans, LA (Kappa Chapter)
Let us explain some distinct differences between GAMMA and other fraternities geared to men of color such as Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, and other member organizations in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

First, NPHC organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha & Kappa Alpha Psi are collegiate-based fraternities, and as such, chapters are established at various colleges and universities across the country and the globe.  GAMMA is a professional fraternity, and our chapters are city/metropolitan based.

Secondly, our membership is composed of professional men, who are mainly gay/bisexual men of color. GAMMA believes that there is a lack of unity among our community, and it is the mission of the Brothers of Gamma Mu Phi Fraternity Inc. to cultivate and restore it in our community.
Lastly, membership in NPHC based organizations does not prevent membership in GAMMA. In fact, some of our members are currently members of various NPHC organizations AKA "The Divine Nine". Membership in these organizations does not exclude you from membership in GAMMA.
Interested gentlemen should meet the following criteria: 18 yrs or older who have received a minimum of a high school diploma and are professional or working towards obtaining a professional career.  Interested gentlemen should also possess or have the ability and willingness to develop the qualities possessed by a Gamma Man.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gamma-Mu-Phi-Fraternity-Inc/20986233839

Just*in Time HIV Advice Column Transgendered

Just*in Time HIV Advice Column Transgendered

Photo by Don Harris © Don Harris Photographics, LLC. All rights reserved

 

Hey Justin,How are you? I really enjoy your videos and I admire your strength. My issue is that I’m a twenty-one-year-old transgender female and I’m scared I may be positive. A couple months ago I got bumps on my left breast that turned into a scab; I scrubbed the scab off and my skin never healed. A couple days ago I had smaller bumps pop up (one turned into a scab) and the others are very tiny sores; I went to the urgent care clinic in my area and they didn’t even know what it really was. They labeled it dermatitis, so I let it go and, later, decided to get an HIV test. I was talking to my friend who was a nursing student and he said this condition normally occurs in people with HIV (I didn’t tell him it was me, though). I’m scared because if I am positive, then this isn’t something that I want anybody to know. I want it to be a secret until the day I die. I’m used to being the pretty girl and getting a lot of compliments and attention and I know a lot of people would feel as though I deserved it or wouldn’t look at me the same anymore. I can’t tell my mother or father as they are very uneducated about HIV—they think you can get HIV from sharing a pizza with a person who has it, so imagine how they would treat me? I had a former friend who has HIV but we no longer speak and I don’t know if I could trust him with this because he is very open about his own status. I know you’re a very busy person but, please, if you’re ever on-line, can you check on me every once in a while? You’re the only person I can talk to. —TG Sexy
I’m doing fine, but it sounds like you’re in need of some advice. We will have to address one problem at a time. Dermatitis is not caused by HIV. Dermatitis is simply inflammation of the skin; there are many things that can cause dermatitis. Some metals, fiberglass, rubber, perfumes, etc., can cause the inflammation. I know for a fact that I love wearing silver, but it is silver-plated material that makes me break out. Every time I wore a silver-plated chain around my neck, I needed cream prescribed by a doctor. Dermatitis can also be caused by outside irritants like bleach, soaps, detergents, and other cleaning supplies. It also can be caused by stress or a vitamin deficiency. Go see your doctor to get properly diagnosed and treated for dermatitis. I know you’re scared, but my motto is: Only worry about something when there is something to worry about. You must get tested. Now, I know that is hard to do but you must do it. If it’s negative you will be okay. If the test is positive, then the earlier you know, the better. The more time that goes by that you are untreated for HIV, the more you open yourself up to infections and other complications from the virus.

It sounds like people around you are ignorant about HIV. I suggest if you are HIV-positive you may want to find a group of people that is supportive because you will need them in your network. Be careful about whom you confide in, but you must find support in groups of like-minded people.
Again, if the test is positive, you might want to look at it as another chance at life. Think about the different ways HIV will make you focus on your health and happiness. You will find solace as long as you focus on the positive things you get from this very experience. Life doesn’t stop because you have HIV; you have to live on for you and all the transgender men and women out there who are HIV-positive. Be an example of a healthy, HIV-positive beautiful girl that you know and I know you are, inside and outside. You’re a wonderful transgender woman and fuck all the haters. Get up and get tested. Love you!

Justin's HIV Journal: Justin takes the OraQuick HIV In Home Test

At first when I learned of this test I was skeptical.  But if it is going to benefit people I figured I'd try it myself, even though I already know I'm HIV positive.  This test has made me think of how far we have come in HIV testing.  Before it was a blood test that you have to wait at least 2 weeks for .  Now it's a 20 minute test you can take at home. This test came into play about June/July of 2012.  It can be found online as well as your local drug stores including Walgreens, CVS, Sears, WalMart etc. 

According to the Huffington Post, in a trial conducted by test maker Orasure, OraQuick detected HIV in those carrying the virus only 92 percent of the time, but was 99.9 percent accurate in ruling out HIV in patients who are not carrying the disease.

That means the test could miss 1 in 12 HIV-infected people who use it, according to the FDA, but would incorrectly identify only one patient as having HIV for every 5,000 HIV-negative people tested.

I was wondering if someone found out that they were HIV positive what does the test tell them to do.  It states:

Call our 24/7 support center toll-free at 1-866-436-6527. Your call will be completely confidential. You will only be asked for a zip code or city in order to help you find what you need.

To locate organizations offering HIV/AIDS services, visit cdcnpin.org

You can also use the HIV Provider Directory at hivma.org

I took the test to see if it was fast and easy as many people say that it is.  Well in my opinion it is.

This test may also help the stigma of going out to get test when you can do it in the privacy of your own home.  But the important thing is that everyone get tested.  If you positive don't worry, always get a second opinion.  If the 2nd opinion still says you HIV positive STILL don't worry.  Your life is NOT over.  Get Support

Justin's HIV Journal: Who Infected Me With HIV?

When I was infected with HIV I called the person who I believed in infected me, I got him tested and he was positive also; that happened in 2006.  All these years I thought I knew who infected me.  But something came up a couple of months ago.  I got a phone call from a friend who said that we had sex unprotected some year back.  I honestly had no idea, but I knew we had sex before about 3 times.  I do remember all the times we had sex, but I didn’t know that one of those times was unprotected.  I must say he didn’t know he was HIV positive at the time either, but he found out later.  When he had eventually found out, we had already lost contact.  

It is now 2013 and the same handsome man had called me after watching and reading my blog.  He had told what I had mentioned above.  I do believe him and we are still friends.  I can’t blame him because it took two to tango and it was consensual sex.  But now I’m at an impasse, and I don’t know what to do.  

Should I investigate further and find out who infected me?  Or should I move on and live my life without that answer?

I’ve lived my life thus far not knowing, but I gave myself a false knowing of who infected me and now I just don’t know.  Maybe I unconsciously knew that there may have been another sexual encounter I had that may had infected me with HIV.  

Even if I find out who infected me, will that make me any happier?  Will is close a door that wasn’t meant to be opened?  

All I know now is that I took solace in knowing who infected and I lived my life for me and my family.  But will I stop doing what I’m doing and being who I am because of this.  The answer is NO.  I now take solace in not wanting to know who infected me but in my husband, my son, my friends and family.  These are the things that truly matter to me.  These are the things that will always matter to me.

However it would be nice to know…

Justin's HIV Journal: National Coming Out Day

For National Coming Day I've decided to come out as a Black Gay HIV positive man.  Here is the description of the campaign

Here is the site be apart of this campaign:
http://on.fb.me/GTyePX

Also on Twitter tagging @NBGMAC @NMACCommunity and @Stigma_Project
Each year on October 11, we mark National Coming Out Day, an occasion to encourage Black gay, bisexual and Same Gender Loving (SGL) individuals across the country to come out and declare openly who they are and who they love in order to combat the persistent, if diminishing stigma facing this community. Too many men are forced to face the prospect of coming out twice – once about their sexuality and again about their HIV status.  And while we are making significant progress when it comes to homophobia, the stigma around HIV continues to be pervasive and destructive.

For that reason, the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) has teamed up with the Stigma Project and the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition (NBGMAC) on a new social media campaign called “Come Out Against Stigma,” encouraging the public to take this opportunity to openly proclaim their sexual orientation as well as their HIV status, and spark a dialogue around how each form of stigma perpetuates the other, and impacts our community.

Despite one’s status, HIV is an issue that impacts our entire community.  Those that are negative must struggle their entire lives to remain that way, questioning any mistake and facing the trauma the inevitably accompanies each new HIV test.  Those who are positive not only have to contend with the virus itself, but the social isolation that so often comes with it.  But it doesn’t need to be this way.  Advances in treatment and biomedical research mean that people with HIV who have access to and choose to initiate treatment can live long and healthy lives, while greatly reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to others.  At the same time, negative individuals have more options than ever before to protect their sexual health, including PrEP, PEP and condoms.

“While the decision to live openly about one’s sexual orientation and HIV status is deeply personal and often scary, I am living proof that there is joy, fulfillment and love waiting for those that choose to do so” stated Kali Lindsey, Vice-Chair of the NBGMAC Executive Committee and NMAC Director of Legislative and Public Affairs.  On this National Coming Out Day, I hope you will join us by changing your Facebook and Twitter profile pictures and sharing the campaign with your networks.  Together, we can combat stigma and empower people to live out, live proud, and live HIV neutral.

Justin's HIV Journal: What Does PRIDE mean to you?

During PRIDE in DC I walked around asking people just one question.  What does Pride mean to them?

Justin's HIV Journal: Federal Government Shutdown 2013 Furlough Protest at the Capitol

As of September 5th with no end in sight for the Fed Government shutdown, I go down to the National Capitol to hear exactly what some protestors are saying.  Why are they there?  Who is at fault for the Federal Government Shutdown? GOP? Democrats?