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African round-up
KENYA
More than 1,000 farmers in the country’s Eastern Province stand to gain from the decision by a leading beer manufacturer to start using locally-grown sorghum as a substitute for imported barley. East African Breweries Limited has pledged to buy all the sorghum that will be produced in this semi-arid region, giving the local community a welcome respite from the poverty and unemployment caused by failed crops and poor farming methods. Rising prices of barley, mainly grown in Europe and America, and increased shipping costs have forced beer companies in Africa to look at cheaper alternatives. The white ‘gaddam’ sorghum is being seen as a solution – not just as a raw material for beer-making, but also as a source of nutritious food.
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
Efforts to control malaria in this country are beginning to off, raising hopes of achieving the UN Millennium Development Goal. The small island state is one of nine other countries where the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and medicines has driven malaria cases closer to elimination; a further nine countries are in the pre-elimination phase – where less than 5% of suspected malaria cases are confirmed to be so. In Sao Tome and Principe, deaths of children aged five and under have declined by 53%; in the island of Zanzibar, child mortality has declined by 57%, and in Zambia, by 35%. If this trend continues, many African countries will be able to achieve a two-thirds reduction in child mortality by 2015, in line with the Millennium Development Goal.
NIGERIA
A Nigerian state has enacted a by-law that makes it an offence for parents not to send their daughters to school. In a bid to promote girl education and to ensure women play a bigger role in the development of Nigeria, the state council said all girls can now expect to receive education on the same level asboys. The council has promised free learning materials to female students at secondary schools and bursaries to those studying in pos-secondary institutions.
SOUTH AFRICA
The government is training extra health workers to screen visitors arriving in the country during the soccer World Cup. The extra workers are part of preparations for the tournament, scheduled for June and July; the preparations include importation of 4.3 million doses of swine vaccine. Health workers will check the vaccination status of visitors landing at the country’s air, land and sea-ports and also inspect any foodstuffs they bring with them. Visitors to the World Cup are being urged to check their vaccination status before starting their journey to South Africa.
UGANDA
A human rights organisation has asked court to ban polygamy on the basis that being married to more than one wife undermines the wellbeing of women, making them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections. Mr Patrick Ndira, an official of the Mifumi (U) Ltd, said polygamy “also causes hemorrhage of resources that would otherwise be expended on the wife in the home, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution.” In a petition field in the high court, Mifumi has called for the Marriage Act, the Marriage and Divorce of Mohammedans Act, and the Customary Marriages Registrations Act amended because he claims they all have loopholes that allow men to marry more than one wife, while restricting women to one man. It claims the current laws are against the principle of equality and women’s human rights.
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Dear Uncle Charles
I gave oral sex to a guy that lasted a few minutes. Did I just put myself at risk of getting HIV?
Teresa, Greenwich
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John Amaechi
The Mambo Interview: Leaping for success
MAMBO: What has been the main driving force behind your incredible rise from a disadvantaged life in working class Stockport to international fame and wealth?
JOHN: Failure - or the fear of failure, to be more precise. I am a person who gets very upset each time I fail at something. As a kid, I faced many challenges. We weren’t rich and my mum had to work extremely hard to put food on the table for me and my sisters. I was determined to do something for my life, but many were a time when I failed to achieve what I set out to achieve. Fortunately, I’d an incredible capacity for coming back after failure. Failure isn’t necessarily a bad thing; anybody who’s successful has probably failed a multiple of times.
MAMBO: You did not come out as a gay until much later on, after you’d retired from American basketball. Why is that?
JOHN: Anyone who is familiar with America will know that it is, by a large, a very religious country. In my view, the more religious a people are, the more homophobic they are likely to be. It’d have been impossible for me to live openly as a gay young man and continue playing basketball in the manner and level I was playing. I wanted people, including my fans, to see me for what I was, not for my sexual preference.
MAMBO: Since you came out, have you suffered any homophobic attacks?
JOHN: Yes, mostly via email. There’s a lot of homophobia in the UK, although I say it’s not as bad as in America. Here, homophobia is most prevalent in sports. For example, Sol Campbell, who is not gay, is often the victim of homophobic chants by fans. The late John Fashanu was continually harassed for his sexuality. Sadly, not enough is being done to tackle homophobia in UK sports.
MAMBO: And how do you handle homophobic attacks?
JOHN: By not responding. If it is not physically targeted at me, I’ll ignore it. That way, I do not give the perpetrators the dignity of my response.
MAMBO: Africans are among the most homophobic population groups. Any ideas about how such they can be persuaded to be more tolerant?
JOHN: Black communities community find it hard to accept that some people are different. As a psychologist, I think the best solution is for people to talk more openly and frankly about homosexuality. Education is the key.
MAMBO: What’d be your advice to a young gay African who is struggling with his sexuality?
JOHN: One of the biggest problems facing young people who are gay is that they pay too much attention to protecting their image and have a fear of what other people might say. Often, this is because they have witnessed the way gay men are treated. This can prevent a young man from looking after his sexual health, to the extent that he may choose not to use condoms during sex. For such a person, the opportunity for sex is rare, and when one presents itself, he may take it without paying due attention to things like safer sex and condom use. My advice to young people would be, your body is more important than your image. Accept your sexuality and be frank about it. You do not have to tell everybody; you can find an individual with whom you connect; they’re likely to help you deal with many issues. Also, there are support groups that can help you to better deal with your sexuality.
Let's talk about sex
How many of us talk about sexual health with our partner? Not very many, according to a recent survey commissioned by the government. Yes, people in the UK may do lots of sex, but very few of us are willing to engage in conversations about issues related to sex - and this may be putting our health at risk.
Conducted by research company Onepoll (www.onepoll.com), the survey found 31% of adults in the UK never discuss sexual health issues with their partners, and more than a quarter are too embarrassed to ask the questions they would really like to. Also, one in six people questioned were not aware that some sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes and genital warts, cannot be cured using antibiotics, while 11% believed having sex when standing up cannot lead to pregnancy.
An earlier sex survey of Africans paints a similar picture. Conducted by SIGMA research, the survey found 36% of Africans questioned either did not know how to or indicated a lack of confidence in their ability to talk bout sexual health with a new partner (source: BASS Line 2007 Survey; Assessing the sexual HIV prevention needs of African people in England; SIGMA Research; 2008).
Knowing the risks
Not asking questions about sexual health may lead to unnecessary risk-taking during sex, particularly if a condom is not used. Infections that can be picked up or passed on include:
- Gonorrhoea;
- Syphilis;
- Chlamydia;
- Herpes;
- Genital warts;
- Hepatitis B;
- HIV
The risk of getting or passing on a sexually transmitted infection increases with the number of sex partners we have. Many of us come from a cultural background where having multiple partnerships are widely accepted (South African President Jacob Zuma has three wives!). In the UK, it is illegal to be married to more than one wife; last year in Croydon, a man originally from Malawi was charged in court with being married to three different women at the same time. In the BASS Line 2007 survey, one in eight African men questioned said they had five or more different sex partners in the last year, as compared to one in 18 women.
Talking about sexual health
There is no single magic formula for getting your new partner to talk about their sexual health. The main thing is for both of you to be clear about the risks involved in a sexual act. Often, letting the partner know that you care for their welfare as well as yours will help make them feel more at ease.
The following are among the things you may want to talk about:
- Safer sex: Let them know why you think it is important to use a condom;
- You can begin by talking about your own sexual health first, and then go on to ask your partner about their sexual health;
- Find out about your partner’s preferred sexual techniques, bearing in mind that some styles or techniques are dangerous. You could get hurt or suffer pain, which would spoil the joy of sex for you.
Other things to think about:
- Be prepared: If you have arranged to have sex with a new partner, it is safer to have it in a place you are familiar with and feel secure in;
- Carry a condom - do not assume that your partner will bring one.
- Don’t make assumptions: Some people may assume that they are negative, while in fact they have the virus. Around one in three people with HIV in the UK are unaware they are infected;
- Your partner may have taken the HIV test some months ago, but if in the interim period they engaged in unsafe sex, they could have picked up the virus;
- In the UK, people who are aware they have HIV can now be prosecuted if they have unprotected sex with someone which leads to infection, unless they can prove they told the partner well before-hand.
Condoms
Condoms remain the best protection against sexually transmitted infections. The good news is that, nowadays, it is easier to obtain condoms free of charge from some African community organisations, sexual health charities, some family doctors, family planning or sexual health clinics.
Condom myths
- Condoms are too small for African men: This is not true. Condoms are made from very flexible latex materials; they can accommodate any size of penis;
- Condoms are being donated to people in Africa primarily because the West wants to slow down population growth in the continent: Not true: Condoms save lives – by preventing the transmission of serious infections such as HIV and hepatitis. Many people in African cannot afford condoms;
- Condoms exported to Africa have been deliberately contaminated with HIV and other viruses so Africans can get diseases and die: There is no evidence this sort of thing has happened.
For more information on condom use and how to get free condoms, please visit www.doitright.uk.com. Alternatively, you can check out THT’s booklet ‘Your sexual health’ (to get a copy please call THT Direct on 0845 1221200) or call the African AIDS Helpline on 0800 0967500 or African Culture Promotions on 020 8687 0339.
PEP
A condom may break or slip off, or there could be spillage of semen. If you have been exposed to HIV in this or any other manner, you can quickly go to a NHS hospital and request for PEP (or post-exposure prophylaxis). PEP involves giving antiretroviral drugs to a person who has recently had an accident or unsafe sex. The drugs kill off the HIV virus before it has entered and infected the human cell. For PEP to work, you’d need to start taking it within 24 hours of exposure. After 72 hours, PEP is unlikely to be of any help.
For more information about PEP or where you can ask for PEP, please call THT Direct on 0845 1221200 or visit www.tht.org.uk. Alternatively, visit www.nhs.uk.
Other common myths about sex
- HIV cannot be transmitted if the man withdraws just before ejaculation: HIV can also be in pre-cum (the colourless fluid that comes out of a man’s penis when he is turned on); the virus can be transmitted during sex unless a condom is used;
- Sex without a condom is more enjoyable: There is no evidence to back up this myth. It can be argued that, on the contrary, using a condom gives a couple the peace of mind that will make them enjoy sex more;
- A woman cannot become pregnant as a result of sex during her period: Contrary to popular belief, the period of ovulation may vary from month to month. It’s possible for a woman to ovulate twice over a one- or two-week period. The male sperm can survive for up to seven days. If a sperm penetrates an egg released during an early second period, pregnancy can occur;
- A woman cannot become pregnant as a result of ‘upright sex’ (having sex when standing up): The male sperm has a tail that can propel it in all directions, including upwards.
Sex toys
Nowadays, many people are choosing to use toys when having sex. Sex toys can be fun because they add to the excitement of love-making; however, they can also be a health risk, especially if shared by many people or stored in dirty places.
Looking after your sex toy
These are some of the measures you can take to ensure your sex toy remains safe for use:
- Avoid sharing your sex toy with people who are not your regular partner;
- Cover your sex toy with a condom, to reduce the risk of acquiring or passing on a sexually transmitted infection;
- Check your newly-bought sex toy for any imperfections, such as discoloration, tears, or cracks;
- Use the right lubricant. Water-based lubricants can be used with any type of sex toy.
- Regularly cleanse your sex toys, certainly before and after each time you use them.
- Store your sex toys in a cool, clean, dry place, away for pets or children. Always remove the batteries before storing.
For more information about the safe use of sex toys, please check out NAM’s book, hiv transmission & testing (2009 edition, page 47). To order a copy, please call 020 7840 0050. Also visit out http://www.sexuality.org/sextoys for more information on sex toys.
Oral sex
Oral sex involves stimulation of a partner’s sexual organs using the mouth or tongue. There are two main types of oral sex: ‘fellatio’, or sucking of the penis, and ‘cunnilingus’, the sucking or licking of the vagina.
HIV can be passed on via oral sex, although the risk is not as big as in unprotect vaginal or anal sex. The level of risk depends on the following factors:
- The presence of sores or inflammation on the mouth or throat;
- Whether the partner ejaculated in the mouth;
- Whether the person giving the oral sex brushed or flossed recently;
- How many times a person engages in oral sex;
- The amount of HIV in the saliva of the person giving the oral sex.
If you want to give or receive oral sex, it’s wise to note the following:
- Avoid brushing or flossing your teeth nearer to the time of oral sex;
- Avoid ejaculating or taking semen in the mouth;
- Use a dental dam;
- Avoid giving oral sex if you have sores or inflammation in your mot or throat.
For more information about oral sex, please refer to NAM’s booklet hiv transmission & testing (2009 edition). To order a copy, please call 020 7840 0050.
HIV: It's better to know
HIV: It's better to know
In March 2007 after returning to London from a BHIVA (British HIV/AIDS Association) conference, a staff member of Willesden-based Community Health Action Trust (CHAT) put forward a proposal to do a pilot HIV testing project. The idea was to see whether testing in the community could make more Africans want to test. By then, HIV testing services were mostly being offered at NHS establishments and at some GP surgeries.
With funding from NHS Brent, a small clinic was set up next to the charity’s offices in Moran House, High Road Willesden. Today, two years later, the ‘Better to Know Than Not to Know’ testing service has grown from strength to strength, and it is helping to scale up access by African and other Black people in and around north-west London.
The testing project was set up because studies as well as anecdotal evidence showed many Africans have particular issues regarding HIV testing. These include:
- Some people fear being seen at a genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic; people might think if they are promiscuous or may already be infected;
- Others wrongly believe that clinic staff will report them to the police, Social Services or (in the case of asylum seekers) the Home Office;
- Those with English language difficulties may they won’t be able to communicate with GUM clinic staff;
- Some Africans, including those who may have been tortured in their home country, have a fear of engaging with authorities.
CHAT’s pilot project was successful right from the start. In the first year, 90 people visited the clinic and took the test. With such an impressive start, NHS Brent decided to roll over the funding for a second year. That enabled CHAT to employ a sexual health nurse and an outreach worker. With the two additional staff, the service has been on the growth path.
According to Dr Edwin Mapara of CHAT, the success of the pilot project is down to the thoughtful way in which the service was promoted. A team of volunteers worked with the Outreach Worker to pass on information about the service, and there was press coverage in The Brent Magazine, which is published by Brent Council and distributed throughout the borough. Other publicity tools used included a website (www.knowyourstatus.co.uk), local radio stations and fly posting.
In the 12 months to May 2009, a total of 580 people visited the CHAT clinic and took the test. Out of these, 8 tested positive. Clients who test positive at the CHAT clinic are referred to Central Middlesex Hospital, although some prefer to go to another hospital.
Work with faith groups
CHAT is also working with faith groups to promote access to the HIV testing service. Pastors and other local church leaders have participated in the organisation’s Community Integrated Sexual Health Initiative (CISHI) course, from where they gained useful HIV prevention skills. The skills are helping them to promote the service to members of their congregation, and this is resulting in many referrals to visit the clinic.
Why it’s good to know
There are real advantages to knowing one’s HIV status, whether the test result is positive or negative. The main advantages include:
If you are negative:
- You will have a stronger reason to remain free of the virus;
- It might help you to decided whether to have baby;
- You will better plan for your future and that of any dependants;
- If your partner is also negative, you may not need to use condoms every time you have sex.
If you are positive:
- You will have the opportunity to discuss about treatment and support services with your doctor;
- With proper treatment, an adult aged 35 can now expect to live well into the 70s;
- You will be able to make better plans for you and your family;
- If you want to have a baby, you can discuss with your doctor what precautions to take in order to cut the HIV transmission risk to the baby;
- Information about your test result will not be given to your GP or any other person without your knowledge and permission (although a court may ask your doctor to reveal the information if required);
- Nowadays, HIV tests take much less time than before; results can come out within an hour, meaning you won’t have to spend a long time at the clinic.
For more information about CHAT’s HIV testing services, please call ACP on 020 8830 3392 Other HIV testing services available in west London include:
West London Centre for Sexual Health: text ‘WLC appt’ to 07786 201 816
African AIDS Helpline: 0800 0967500
THT Lighthouse West London: 020 7229 1258
THT Direct: 0845 1221 200.
Standing up to stigma
Standing up to stigma
HIV-related Stigma has remained a major problem ever since the onset of the epidemic two decades ago. Now, however, people living with HIV have had enough, and they have decided to confront the problem head-on. Over the past one year, a group of them have been conducting a research into levels of HIV stigma and how positive people can best overcome the problem.
Called ‘The People Living with HIV Stigma Index’, the research is a global initiative between the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), UNAIDS, The Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and The International Community of Women with HIV/AIDS (ICW. The research has been conducted in several regions of the world.
Preliminary findings of the UK arm of the research were unveiled at a ceremony that took place in the Houses of Parliament on 30th November 2009. The findings were based on the testimonies of 867 HIV positive people who responded to an in-depth questionnaire. Interviews were carried out in more than 40 locations around the country, from Aberdeen to Portsmouth, including Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Manchester and London.
Key highlights
The findings show very high levels of stigma and discrimination in the UK:
- 21% (185 of the 867 participants in the research) of people living with HIV had been verbally assaulted or harassed;
- 12% had been physically harassed because of their HIV status in the previous 12 months.
The results also highlight concerns that stigma and discrimination within some parts of the NHS are denying comprehensive and quality care for some people living with HIV and can create obstacles that impede access to care and support services:
- 146 participants (17%) report being denied health services because of their HIV status at least once in the previous 12 months;
- 18%, nearly 1 in 5 people, stated that it was clear to them that their medical records were not being kept confidential, a further 42% of participants felt uncertain that their medical records are being kept confidential.
The research also revealed the negative impact on individuals living with HIV, many of whom reported low self esteem as a consequence of stigma and discrimination, often involving feelings of guilt and blame in the previous 12 months. More positively, the research makes it clear that people living with HIV are at the forefront of confronting and overcoming devaluing attitudes, speaking out against prejudice and challenging stereotypes:
- 45 % of people living with HIV had personally confronted, challenged or educated people who were stigmatizing them
- 84 % had supported other people living with HIV.
More than 60% of the people who participated in the research said they feel they can influence positive change for the future—the same as the number of people who voted in the last election in this country.
For further information or for a copy of the full report please contact:
Paul Bell at the International Planned Parenthood Federation on 020 7939 8233 or 07799 335533 or
Lucy Stackpool-Moore at the International Planned Parenthood Federation on 020 7939 8283.
Walsall's community-based HIV testing
A new dimension to HIV Testing
For many Africans living in the Midlands, it’s often not easy to find a place where you can get a sexual health check-up, but one project is taking services closer to the people, in what could have important lessons for community-based initiatives to improve sexual health in African communities. In Walsall, a partnership between the local NHS trust and Terrence Higgins Trust have led to the launch of a rapid HIV testing service – in a church!
From last October, the congregation at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, North Street, Walsall have been given the opportunity to have themselves and their friends screened for HIV infection. The service is being delivered within the church premises because of two reasons: For convenience (members do not have to travel to the hospital to get tested), and secondly, because it is easier for members to get support from each other, should there be a need for it.
Even though African communities have been disproportionately affected by HIV, the rate of HIV testing remains low, and government as well as voluntary sector organisations have been looking for ways of persuading people to visit the clinic. This is because of the real and significant benefits for early testing. A person whose infection has been diagnosed early will have the following benefits:
- The opportunity to discuss with the doctor about starting medication;
- The opportunity to access support services such as counselling and emotional support;
- The opportunity to plan for themselves and relatives;
- The opportunity to join a support group of service users.
The Seventh Day Adventist church has congregation that includes people African people. Many of these are recently –settled migrants who are still not very confident about requesting for and taking up essential services.
Once every week, staff from the Department of Genitourinary Medicine at the Walsall Manor Hospital provides a rapid HIV test using buccal swabs. Results of the tests are usually available in 30 minutes. Those who test positive have their result confirmed by conventional tests at the Manor Hospital.
The testing service will run for a few months. If it proves to be popular, a proposal will be presented to the Walsall Primary Care Trust for on-going funding. Dr Joseph Arumainayagam, lead consultant in HIV and GU Medicine at the Walsall Manor Hospital said “this project has given us an ideal opportunity to diagnose those infected with HIV early so that we can prevent those being diagnosed late with the condition with associated high morbidity and mortality and also prevent onward transmission of HIV”.
For more details about this clinic, please contact Dr Joseph Arumainayagam at the Walsall Gum clinic on 01922633341.
Negotiating safer sex
Negotiating safer sex: It’s about making choices
Sex is such a private and subjective matter that it’d be presumptiuous of me to think I can fully analyse other people’s ability to negotiate safer sex. I can say, however, that in order for us to understand why many African women have difficulty negotiating safer sex, we need to look at our culture and traditional practices, and at how much things have changed, or need to change, in this era of HIV.
Is it a given that African women are vulnerable to HIV because of culture and tradition? In today’s dynamic world, has the African woman’s thinking and behaviour remained static, or has she made some progress in taking control of her sexual life? I challenge the stereotype of African women as being helpless, hopeless and powerless, because I know different. Also, I want to challenge the stereotype that the African man is promiscuous and spreads diseases, because I know that most of our men are loving, caring, and responsible.
This is not to say that we do not need change, because we do. And if so, do we continue with our existing cultures, or should we reinvent something completely new? If the desired change is to happen, perhaps we should take a joint responsibility and accept that we all - health promoters, care-givers, educators and health auhtorities - need to climb on the bandwagon of change.
It’s not easy to change established cultural beliefs and practices. The reason why a woman will have sex largely depends on whether she is having sex for pleasure, for procreation, or in expectation of a material benefit. For many women, being able to produce children is synonymous with womanhood, and if this is the priority, ‘safer sex’ may become a lesser priority.
Many women also produce children in order to cement a relationship; again in this scenario, the issue of condom use can take a back seat. Even where procreation is not the primary objective, a woman’s basic need to be accepted or wanted may outweigh any considerations for safer sex, not because she is not empowered but because she wants to ‘belong’. In any case, a relationship is for life, and for many women ask themselves: ‘how many times shall I continue negotiating safer sex?’
Finally, the expectation of a material benefit – whether in money or money’s worth – can influence a woman’s ability to negotiate safer sex. Often, it boils down to her capacity to choose between long-term good sexual health and short-term benefit.
For people living with HIV, disclosure can be a very difficult thing to do. Balancing the need for intimacy and the real risk of being rejected is like walking on a tight-rope. An HIV diagnosis can kill intimacy or affect a relationship, whether or not disclosure has taken place. That said, disclosure plays a necessary role in negotiating safer sex, and we should encourage it.
Negotiating safer sex requires confidence, trust and some degree of intimacy between the people involved. When you have confidence in yourself, you will disclose things about yourself that you ordinarily wouldn’t, and this is not a bad thing to bring into your relationship.
Urban Africa—Submit your Photos of Home!
As a part of the Urban Africa exhibition at the Design Museum, there's a space online for you to showcase your photographs of Your Urban Africa! on Flickr.com!
The Truth About TB
Get involved with World TB Day (24 March 2010) and tuberculosis awareness!
TB Alert has just launched a new awareness website, The Truth About TB, supported by the Department of Health. Tuberculosis remains a crucial health issue, with over 8,000 people in the UK developing the illness each year. “With World TB Day coming up on the 24th of March, it’s a great time to increase awareness about TB,” says Elias Phiri, Head of Awareness Programmes at TB Alert.
Unprotected sex
Dear Auntie Fola,
I attended a workshop where somebody said it is possible for someone to have unprotected sex with a positive person – and not get infected. How’s this possible? I always thought you get the virus the moment you use a condom when having sex with a positive person.
Focus on community HIV testing
Whenever Paula Muzirikani was approached by an outreach worker and asked about taking an HIV test, she would say: "I'll go - when I get the time" - until one day she fell seriously ill and had to be admitted at Charing Cross Hospital. A serious fever and sore throat left her bed-ridden for four days. On the fifth day, she felt well enough to phone the outreach worker. "I wish I'd taken your advice and visited the clinic. I'm calling from the hospital; I have been badly off for a few days and, guess what, I've taken the test from here. I'm positive!"
African roundup - December
BURKINA FASO
Victims of female circumcision (also know as ‘female genital mutilation’) are looking forward to the opening of ‘Pleasure Hospital’, West Africa’s first clinic for reconstructing clitorises damaged as a result of the ritual. Called ‘Pleasure Hospital’ the clinic is being built with a US$ 50,000 grant donated by US non-profit agency Clitoraid. It will offer free surgery to circumcised girls and women in West Africa, a region where FGM is widely practised. Demand for the service is so high that Clitoraid has placed a limit on the waiting list at 100.
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Positive living - Pamela Kaseke-Mushore
The days following a positive HIV test can be one of the most difficult periods in a person’s life. All the stress, fears and worries over personal health can really destroy the spirit. But one person who refused to give up hope is Pamela Kaseke-Mushore, founder of the Fountain of Life support group for people living with or affected by HIV. In this article, she talks about her life after her positive diagnosis, as well as her ambition to find help, not just for herself but also for others in a similar situation.
The search goes on
HIV prevention methods: The search goes on
On 1st December, the world will be united in marking World AIDS Day in memory of the millions of people who have died of AIDS. With its theme of ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’, World AIDS Day 2009 also reminds us of the need to stop the epidemic from spreading further. In this article, Toju Cline-Cole writes about the search for microbicides, products which, along with vaccines, could one day hold the key to stopping the spread of HIV in high risk populations.
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Divorce: what's going on?
It used to be that when African couples married, they stayed married ‘for life’. But that is no longer true of Africans in the UK. Nowadays, we are seeing more and more marriages and relationships break up.
How to stay healthy
By Gus Cairns
Editor, HIV Treatment Update, NAM
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African men finally break the silence
By Durani Rapozo
Services Adviser,
George House Trust
Your shout - Breaking the taboo
For a long time, the common view among health promoters has been that African Muslims are a ‘hard to reach’ community - so hard-to-reach that not much sexual health work has been done with them. In this article, Sheikh Mohamed Bashir explains the reasons why very little has happened with the African Muslim communities in the UK, and offers tips on
addressing the situation.
Your Heathcare, Your GPs, Your Say
Positively Women, on behalf of NHS Kensington and Chelsea and NHS Westminster, are undertaking a review into how people living with HIV access GPs and primary healthcare.
A series of discussion groups and one-to-one interviews are being held to find out people’s experiences and views of HIV healthcare and GPs. They are keen to hear from the following groups of people living with HIV who are currently under-represented in the review:
Your opinions are needed!
Terrence Higgins Trust is currently in need of your opinions! If you are within one of the below age-groups, please click on the respective survey link below to participate.
A group from the Young Leaders project are producing an information booklet on relationships and are looking for input from 13-19 year olds from across the country. A brief survey is being posted online so that teenagers can pass on their views.
Swine flu
What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory illness caused by the Type A flu (H1N1) virus. The current influenza pandemic (commonly known as ‘swine flu’) in countries around the world has been caused by a new version (strain) of the virus named as Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by World Health Organization (WHO).
Swine flu is spread in the same way as ordinary colds and flu. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.
Ask Fola
This is your place to ask me questions about your problems. Just type your question as a blog comment and check back for my advice. I hope to get your answers out within the week.
Ask Charles
Please use this space to ask me questions by making comments in the blog. Remember that the blog's public so keep things general if you don't want people to work out who you are. I'll try and get back to you within a week.
Uncle Charles
My friends
Dear Auntie Fola,
I am an African girl aged 16. I live in North London with my mum, two older brothers and a younger sister. My mum doesn’t like any of my friends because she says they are not from the same ‘background’. Infact she says we children will have to marry only people from my tribe (I am a Muganda from Uganda). She hates it when we bring home friends who are ‘outsiders’. My brothers are particularly upset about this, as their girlfriends are not from Uganda. How can we make mum understand that in choosing a friend, tribe or ethnic origin really should not be an issue?
Teen problems
Dear Auntie Fola,
My daughters are now in their teens - the sexually active age group. The thought that they might soon be in a relationship fills me with horror, especially when I think about all the sexually transmitted infections out there. I find it difficult to talk to them about sex and sexual health. My wife complains that I worry too much about the matter. The thing is, I feel I do not worry enough. I have thought about restricting the girls’ movements, like by imposing curfew, but I know that it will not work. What can I do?
Poor sexual health linked to beliefs and attitudes
A survey has found that African people’s beliefs and attitudes about sexual health can affect whether they are more, or less likely to get a sexually transmitted infection. BASS Line 2007 Survey also found that the sexual health needs of Africans are not being fully met.
Empowering young people for a better sexual health
By Camilla Smith
With data showing high levels of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies, the need for targeted sex and relationship education with young people has never been more urgent. Terrence Higgins Trust is delivering just that – through its ‘Young Leaders’ programme.
The Young Leaders Programme is a national sex and relationship education (SRE) project developed following a consultation process that involved collecting the views of 120 young people from different backgrounds about what kind of SRE they need, who is best placed to deliver it and how they would like to increase their knowledge and skills in this area.
Each year a board of young people (13-19 years old) is recruited in seven regions across England; it is given the task pf establishing and managing a grant programme to support SRE projects created by other young people. The regional boards are supported by a national board of 14 young people, comprising two elected members of each of the regional boards. The national board ensure a co-ordinated national approach for the whole project. Board members receive comprehensive training and work towards achieving recognised Open College Network (OCN) accreditation.
Young people aged 13-19 who live, work or study in the seven regions and belong to a youth organisation can apply to their regional board for a grant to run projects around SRE issues. Successful applicants are required to manage the project, and they are offered training to help them do a good job. So far Young Leaders have awarded £90,000 worth of grant money and supported 100 projects, reaching a diverse range of young people.
To find out how you can get involved, visit www.tht.org.uk/youknowyou
For more information about sexual health, relationships and young people, please call:
- THT Direct on 0845 1221200
- Brooks Helpline on 0800 0185023
- or visit www.ruthinking.co.uk or www.likeitis.org.uk.
Positive living - Pamela Mahaka
Everyone who has been diagnosed HIV positive has their own story about the moments before and after the test. In this article, Pamela Mahaka tells of her determination not to allow HIV to stop her from achieving her dreams
My attitude has always been that there is little to be gained from talking about how someone got the virus. It is what happens ‘after’ the infection that matters most. For my part, I’m glad I took the test. I had visited the clinic to get tested for thrush, but when I got there I decided I might as well get a general sexual health check. Interestingly, although that was only three years ago, I now do not remember much about the procedures, but I do remember the emotions, the devastation, and the initial realisation that nothing would ever be the same for me again.
In the days following the test, I realised that, although the result meant there were going to be some changes to the plans I had for the future, I was the only one who could control the changes. Luckily, I had the necessary support of family, friends and colleagues in my social group.
I always tell my friends that a positive HIV test result is a bit like falling down. When you fall, do you stay on the ground for long, or do you try and stand up? You have to carry on with life, so that when other people come to help, they can see that you want to move on. Having HIV does not necessarily mean you will not be able to lead a normal life, nor that you will not achieve the dreams you always had. You can achieve those dreams, albeit often in a different way.
As young people, we have so many things that we aspire to do. I had aspirations myself – of growing up and becoming a nurse, and then I thought I would join the Royal Navy, drive a nice car and live in a mansion somewhere in the middle of nowhere. But life doesn’t always go according to plan, does it? After abandoning my nursing ambition, I had to start all over again, so I studied Travel and Tourism. I intend to bring Travel and Tourism into the HIV sector, because having HIV doesn’t mean we have to stop travelling or enjoying ourselves! I have also trained as a youth worker, and am now volunteering with the African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) and with other voluntary organisations.
Since my diagnosis, I have become an accredited facilitator for the Positive Self-Management Programme with Living Well Programme and the Expert Patients Programme at Macmillan Cancer Support. My advice to other young people who are thinking about their sexual health is that, it is better to know your status than to not know. Walking into a clinic or requesting a sexual health screening does not mean that you are promiscuous; on the contrary, it means that you care about your health and the health of others who are close to you. So, have not fear about visiting the clinic!
For more information about HIV, and where to test, please visit:
www.tht.org
www.aidsmap.com
www.ruthinking.co.uk
www.likeitis.org.uk
or call the following helplines:
- THT Direct on 0845 1221200
- The African AIDS Helpline on 0800 0967500
- Brooks Helpline on 0800 0185023
- Sexwise on 0800 282930
Honey
Dear Uncle Charles
The other day I came across a Ugandan newspaper report abouta woman who was caught sittingon top of a smoking pot of honey as she waited to have sex with a married cabinet minister. When I asked about the ritual, a friend explained that it was a fairly common practice in certain parts of Uganda and Sudan. Apparently, the women believe that by sitting on top of a pot of burning honey or incense, they will make sex more enjoyable for their male partner. I am amazed that this sort of thing could be going on. Aren’t there any sexual risks involved, and do you know whether it is practised by some Africans who live in the UK?
Hugh Masekela - Grandmaster of African Jazz
He has a worldwide fan base, and is widely acknowledged as the grand-master of African jazz. Now, Grammy Award winner Hugh Masekela is adding his voice to the campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and other social issues in his native South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, he was in London at the invitation of international volunteer agency VSO, where he performed to a packed Royal Albert Hall audience made up of people from different ethnic background. While in London, he granted just one press interview – to Mambo. Editor Joseph Ochieng asked the questions.
What it means to be gay in the African community
Stephane Djedje is a gay Christian living in London. He has appeared on the BBC program ‘Inside Out’, and his is one of hundreds of stories that are rarely told. At a time when gay men still face rejection from many black communities, Stephane speaks candidly to Mambo about his experiences among Evangelical Christians.
Your shout - When good health completes spiritual wellbeing
The African church is the fastest growing religious movement in the UK. At a time when Africans face greater risk from infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia, should religious leaders be doing more to promote sexual health awareness among members of their congregation?
Positive living - Tendai Ndanga
Tendai Ndanga was diagnosed with HIV in 1998. In this column, she tells MAMBO about the effect the positive result had on her, and how she has since been able to rebuild her life and self-confidence.
My experience of PEP
While the condom is currently the best barrier against HIV, doctors can also administer PEP (or post-exposure prophylaxis), a treatment designed to prevent HIV infection after the virus has entered the body. Here ‘Michael’ tells of his experience of taking PEP.
I had been in the UK only two years; I did not have many friends, then, and was frequently going into nightclubs in search of company. So it was at a nightclub that I met this girl whom I had known from way back in Zimbabwe. There was a lot to catch up on, so we talked, laughed, and drank a lot of booze. To cut a long story short, we ended up going home together and having sex - without using a condom.
Miss Malaika
The Miss Malaika UK beauty contest was held on 11th October 2008 at the New Empire Theatre in Southend. In this exclusive interview, the winner, Miss Primrose Mutsigiri tells MAMBO about her plans to use the title to help other people in the African community.
For Primrose Mutsigiri, being crowned Miss Malaika UK for 2008 was yet another achievement in a growing list of beauty awards that she has won (‘Malaika’ is a Swahili word meaning ‘Angel’). The 20 year-old university student already has an impressive collection of tiaras: she is the previous winner of the Miss Zimbabwe UK beauty contest, the Miss Africa UK and the Miss Southern Africa UK contests.
Domestic violence and women's sexual health
How I escaped from an abusive marriage
In the UK, two women are killed each week and over half of all rape cases are committed by a current or ex-partner each year. Violence in African households is common, but often not reported. In this article, ‘Ann’, an African woman talks about life with a husband who used to beat her up, until she finally got help.
Knowing your HIV status makes a big difference
In the UK, four out of ten people with HIV get tested late. By not knowing about their infection, people with HIV may unknowingly pass the virus on to other people. They also risk developing a serious illness. In this article, we read about ‘Martha Munzolo’, an African woman who delayed going for a test.
The Outreach Worker picked up the phone: ‘Hello?’
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Dear Tom
Dear Tom,
You need to understand that although you and your family are African, you now live in a different environment to where you were born. Here in the UK, parental involvement in educating teenagers about sexual health is common.
Your shout - Peer pressure and young people’s sexual health
Many young people often feel they must do the things that their friends or colleagues do. Often, this is because their friends put them under pressure. Pressure from friends (or peer pressure) can lead you into starting a sexual relationship that will put you at risk from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). How can a young person resist peer pressure? Here, a young person gives his views.
Welcome to Mambo, your website for a healthier lifestyle!
As Africans, we are very much a part of the different cultures of Britain, which means we are never really separated from the many aspects of life in Britain that affect our health. At the same time, however, many of us remain deeply-rooted in the culture from where we originally emerged. This online community has been formed around the rich mix of modern lifestyle and African traditional beliefs, practices, and customs; it encourages connections and discussion around the challenge of how we can continue living in this country without putting our health—and in particular, our sexual health—at risk.
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