public-health – HIV stigmafighter

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

Today we are celebrating International Women’s Day with a very interesting theme: ”Accelerate Action”.

Worldwide, strong women are working hard to ensure their fundamental needs and rights are being met in their communities. Accelerating action is about their fight to remove systemic barriers and inequalities that prevent them from claiming their fundamental rights. They are united in their aim for women and girls to thrive and exercise their rights without discrimination or disadvantage. And they know it is essential to work with women from marginalized communities, including indigenous people, sex workers, and transgender people.

I am extremely proud to present three (!) remarkable women from different parts of the world who all in their unique ways contribute to empowering women and girls in their communities to improve access to HIV services and fight against HIV stigma. They show us that there are so many ways we can contribute to empowering women, whether through research, journalism, awareness raising or teaching. Let’s meet our three new Heroes of Hope!

Maahi, a transwoman living with HIV from Pakistan, is the founder of the first trans-led network of People Living with HIV in Pakistan, a brilliant teacher at a transgender school and a global advocate for the rights and well-being of transgender people living with HIV.

Claudette is an indigenous woman from the Kehewin Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. During her 30 years of living with HIV, through her work as a wisdom speaker on HIV and indigenous-focused research, she has grown into a leader in HIV action amongst indigenous women in Canada.

Harriet experienced the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS in the early 1990’s while supporting people living with HIV in Germany. Today, her lived experiences and skills as a journalist and sexologist strengthen her in her fight for the rights of sex workers.

Need I say more? All of our three icons work with so much compassion within their communities, sharing their experiences and efforts at the global stage to inspire all of us to accelerate much needed action to positively impact the lives of women and girls affected by the global HIV epidemic.

I am very glad to call them Heroes of Hope who truly contribute immensely to this year’s theme of accelerating action for women and girls. Let’s support local HIV action to continue bringing positive changes to our HIV communities!

Click on the images above to read their individual Stories or find them and other Heroes of Hope here!

Happy International Women’s Day! Peace,

Eliane