news – HIV stigmafighter

Engage to end HIV stigma

26 December 2025hivstigmafighter

My lovely people, how are you? Do you miss me as much as I miss you?

We are at the end of the year, and what a year it has been! Compared to last year, we have accomplished so much. Around this time in 2024, I was not well as I had an unplanned surgery and ended the year in pain, in the hospital. Thank God, this year has been very productive.

I have collaborated with different organizations in Europe, and in Burundi I proudly celebrated World AIDS Day with my Gihanga community during the 6th edition of the Gihanga Talent Show. The winners of the sketch competition came from a small town called Cabiza, a place with a high concentration of people living with HIV and home to vulnerable groups such as sex workers and people who use drugs. Cabiza is also a diverse community with refugees from Congo, and people from Rwanda and Tanzania.

Together with Irene Kundubumwe from Inyambo Stars, we spent these last days of the year with this community to engage on HIV and prevention. Irene, an experienced HIV educator, explained about HIV and AIDS, how infection might occur, how to prevent it and how to seek assistance when needed. People of all ages – youth, adults and the elderly – were attending the sessions organised.

There were many interesting questions, showing how much this information was needed and appreciated. Community members also shared challenges they face, such as alcohol abuse – many people admitted that when they drink heavily, they lose control and do not think about HIV risks during sex. Also, Janviere, an elderly woman, recalled receiving HIV education when she was young, including how to use female condoms. She requested access to female condoms again to protect women and girls.

Together, we addressed myths about HIV and condom use, and Irene took time to answer all questions. As for me, I spoke about healthy living, growing up positively, and fighting HIV stigma through talent. A healthy person can make a great contribution to their family and country. I highlighted how stigma causes pain and isolation for people living with HIV. But if we work together and support each other, stigma will melt away. People will no longer fear HIV testing, they will start treatment, and they will live healthy, productive lives.

As Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” We still dream of a world free of HIV stigma. To achieve this, we must educate everyone in our communities without leaving a single soul behind.

Cabiza TV Group made a great contribution through theatre and comedy before and after the program. I am proud they are part of our Inyambo Stars club culture. If anyone needs peer educators who use their talents through theatre and comedy, they are amazing entertainers – get in touch with them!

We would like to thank the Cabiza Chef de Colline (community administrative representative) for supporting this activity and the Cabiza community for responding positively to our program.

Stigma will end if we all work together. HIV and AIDS will end if stigma is destroyed.

Let’s kick HIV stigma out as we enter 2026!

Peace,

Eliane

Mandela Day, Adriana’s Way – art for change

18 July 202518 July 2025hivstigmafighter

Nelson Mandela once said “Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening.” This is the heartbeat of Stories of Hope, an initiative launched in 2021 and dedicated to all courageous Heroes of Hope sharing their talent to break HIV stigma and discrimination.

In a world where silence fuels stigma, many Heroes of Hope choose art as their megaphone. They step into the spotlight not for fame, but to give a voice to those muted by shame and discrimination. Through dance, photography, poetry, painting, and performance, they transform their lived experience into expressions that resonate, agitate, and heal.

It is therefore with great honor that today, on Mandely Day 2025, we proudly share the portrait of a great friend and talent Adriana Bertini, a Brazilian artist and activist renowned for her decades long HIV activism through provocative art. Through her art she is able to build experiences and capture what matters in our HIV community, showing her commitment to fight HIV stigma. Read Adriana’s story here.

In many places in the world, where people living with HIV face stigma and discrimination, Heroes of Hope use their creativity to humanize the realities of people living with HIV. Art such as Adriana’s couture art contributes to creating safe spaces in our HIV community where dignity is restored and fear of stigma is replaced with connection.

So today, let’s express ourselves as if everyone is listening! Let’s admire the provocative works of Adriana, whose art has long defied HIV stigma, and honour a vision where expression becomes activism and art becomes hope. This is Mandela Day, Adriana’s way.

Happy Mandela Day! Peace,

Eliane

LGBTQI+ health matters: A journey of advocacy and action

30 May 202518 July 2025hivstigmafighter

Dear HIV community, how have you been?

I was honoured to speak at the second European LGBTQI+ Health Conference in Brussels—a vibrant gathering of activists, healthcare professionals, researchers, community organizations, and affected individuals from across Europe. The event was filled with incredible discussions, inspiring stories, and groundbreaking initiatives. Here are some impressions, hope you like them!

Addressing stigma through community-led harm reduction initiatives

During this session, my contribution focused on broad spectrum harm reduction Initiatives in the LGBTQI+ context. I shared my personal journey overcoming HIV stigma, highlighting how our talents may transform us into community icons. As one of the initiators of local grassroots initiatives driven by migrants living with HIV, I spoke about the impact of sharing lived experiences and empowering local HIV communities. I also shared my experience as a PrEP advocate and volunteer, working with local organizations such as PrEPNu to ensure access to PrEP as an essential preventive tool.

We also heard from Ismal from AIDS Action Europe, who discussed harm reduction in the chemsex context. Their organization provides training manuals and best practice guidelines for delivering health services tailored to chemsex users. They conduct trainer workshops, facilitate knowledge exchanges, and offer grants for translations and webinars, ensuring widespread accessibility of resources.

Another inspiring initiative came from Osmely José of Accion Triangulo, who uses art and cinema as educational tools through Pride Positivo. Their film screenings actively combat stigma, and they’ve developed an innovative concept—the PAE pill—as a symbol of HIV destigmatization, based on real-life experiences of stigma in healthcare and community settings.

PrEP access & prevention strategies

One of the most crucial discussions revolved around PrEP accessibility. As a volunteer at PrEPnu, I shared our digital outreach strategies, which allow people to access services through PrEPNu’s online platform. Additionally, our outreach teams engage with the LGBTQI+ community at festivals, pride walks, workshops, parties, saunas, and health clinics, ensuring widespread awareness. Unfortunately, PrEP is currently only available at a cost (+/- 30 euros per month) in the Netherlands, which remains a significant barrier.

Other European organizations shared their approaches:

Romania: Mihai from Checkpoint ARAS who opened six PrEP checkpoints under the Checkpoint ARAS Network. These community clinics, situated within hospitals, create safe, non-intimidating environments for key populations. PrEP is also not free in Romania.
Serbia: Duga Association, an LGBTQI+ community-led organization, launched the First Checkpoint offering free HIV testing, doctor consultations, and psychological support. This effort counteracts stigma, geographic barriers, and fragmented services that often discourage people—especially those outside big cities—from seeking care. While PrEP is available in Belgrade pharmacies, it costs €43 per month, making accessibility difficult.

Do you remember the Barcelona checkpoints I visited last year? All these initiatives really create a momentum around PrEP in Europe. I sincerely hope that one day we will see these community-led checkpoints in the Netherlands as well, they are really complementary to the great work already done by PrEPNu! So let us keep fighting for PrEP diversity!

HIV dragtivism

Throughout the conference I had already been highlighting how through creative activism, including HIV dragtivism, we are able to challenge political and healthcare perceptions, pushing for inclusive policies.

Somewhat unplanned, but always ready, I was asked to perform as Eric the Dragking. So on the closing night, participants were able to experience Eric the Dragking stomping HIV stigma alongside them—a symbolic and empowering moment that energized many attendees. In fact, numerous organizations expressed enthusiasm about inviting Eric to their countries to further break HIV stigma and raise PrEP awareness!

The urgent need for global action

While UNAIDS and numerous organizations continue advocating to end HIV and AIDS by 2030, the reality remains troubling: prevention tools exist, yet communities still struggle for access due to political hurdles and greedy pharmaceutical interests. Health is a human right, yet so many LGBTQI+ individuals lack the protections they deserve. So is this target still realistic and how will we reach it? I am convinced that conferences such as these contribute by creating the much-needed space for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and empowerment. Let’s hope the Netherlands HIV community is listening to their European neighbours!

Let’s hear a few powerful reflections I collected from fellow participants:

> “In times of increasing polarization and prejudice against LGBTQI+ people, institutions, healthcare providers, advocates, and scholars must unite to promote health for all. This conference catalyzed new efforts, bringing together passionate individuals from across Europe and beyond. Let’s work together to foster well-being for everyone!” > — Tabea Hassler, Researcher at the University of Zurich

> “It was incredible to network with so many changemakers improving LGBTQI+ health across Europe. The passion, enthusiasm, and energy of attendees were truly inspiring, and I have no doubt that real action and collaborations will emerge from this event.” > — John Gilmore, University College Dublin

> “The 2nd European Conference on LGBTIQ+ Community Health definitely brought together the best LGBTIQ+ thinkers and practitioners from across Europe at such a crucial time as this, to form new alliances, strengthen our vision, and refine our collective focus.”> —Dr Harvey Kennedy-Pitt

United, we will win this fight

The fight for health equity and LGBTQI+ rights is ongoing—but together, we are strong. Through collaboration, activism, and unwavering determination, we will dismantle barriers and demand accessible, stigma-free healthcare for all.

I urge you to have a look at the manifesto we drafted together during the conference: The manisfesto recognises that LGBTQI+ communities continue to face systemic inequalities, institutional violence, and barriers to essential healthcare. In the manifesto we state that we refuse to accept a system that neglects lived experience, silences community-based knowledge, and denies universal access to care. We demand the recognition of peer support as legitimate healthcare, PrEP access for all, the integration of LGBTQI+ realities in medical training, structural support for community health centers, and our rightful place in public health decision-making. Justice in healthcare is not optional – it’s a necessity. Stand with us. Sign the manifesto. Be part of the change!

Thanks Stephen Barris from Ex Aequo for organising this wonderful conference and looking forward to the next edition!

Let’s keep pushing forward. We are the working force, and our voices matter.

Peace,

Eliane