Mitigation activities are developed to reduce the impact of an HIV epidemic. In this section we describe different responses that aim to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on societies, families and individuals.
Staying healthy when living with HIV
The first important aspect in reducing the impact of HIV infection is to keep people infected with HIV healthy as long as possible. This can be done through: ARV treatment, a healthy diet, and treatment for infections. Sometimes it may be necessary to expand health care services, increase access to counselling and testing facilities, and increase access to care and treatment. The impact of AIDS can also be reduced by making use of relatively inexpensive malaria and tuberculosis control programmes as well as the diagnosis and treatment of sexual transmitted diseases (Stillwagon, 2005).
Protecting income and living standards
Not only are the poor most often the ones affected by HIV/AIDS, living with HIV is also very expensive. People often lose their jobs or work less hours through illness. Many services also have to be paid for. Welfare programmes and cash transfer schemes are therefore a widespread response to the epidemic. Examples are: food subsidies, child and orphan support, public employment schemes, state pension systems and micro-financing. In the future, responses like these will become even more important.
Care and support for orphans and vulnerable children
As the epidemic grows, millions of children are already or will become orphans. Many more will be affected by HIV/AIDS in one way or another. In 2004, UNICEF/UNAIDS developed the following strategy as an answer to the serious problems children are faced with;
- Provide economic, psychosocial and other support to strengthen the capacity of families
- Mobilise and support community-based responses (community-based care is preferable to long-term placement in institutions such as orphanages)
- Ensure access to essential services, especially for this group
- Ensure national child protection through improved policies and legislation
- Raise awareness to create a supportive environment for children and families affected by HIV
One of STOP AIDS NOW!'s development projects is dedicated to orphans and vulnerable children. Within the section 'Our Work' you will find more information on the project and the OVC issue in general.
Preserving health sector capacity
In many countries the healthcare sector is under threat, not only because of HIV and AIDS, but also due to many other problems. One of them is the so-called ‘brain drain’ — doctors and nurses going to work in industrialised countries. Sub-Saharan Africa has less than one-tenth of Europe’s health professionals per capita. To reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS, low- and middle-income countries with an epidemic will have to train healthcare workers. Besides training, governments must look into the causes of the brain drain, such as salary levels and other working conditions. In the future, there should be more programmes to stimulate knowledge exchange between health workers. And there is an urgent need for funding to improve healthcare services.
Education
Research studies show that children who attend a school programme are less likely to get infected with HIV. Both primary and secondary school systems provide an ideal opportunity to address HIV. A number of responses have been created by the international community, for example the Education for All – Fast Track Initiative launched in 2002. The main goals of this initiative are to ensure qualitative primary education for all.
World of work
HIV/AIDS can have a disastrous effect on the economic situation in countries where the epidemic is prevalent. The provision of care and treatment in the workplace saves not only lives, but also maintains the company’s production. A shift can now be seen from developing specific HIV-related programmes to the integration of activities within the workplace that can reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS for employees in the short and long term. These so-called mainstreaming projects look promising.
Action against stigma and discrimination
Stigma and discrimination is part of the daily lives of very many people living with HIV. Most interventions that address these issues among the general public have been implemented and evaluated in industrialised countries. More research is required to study the effects of these programmes, especially in countries in the global South. Progressive legislation is needed to tackle acts of discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.
