FILM: Heroes of HIV: The Prison Educator

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humanitarian news and analysis

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FILM: Heroes of HIV: The Prison Educator

NAIROBI, 1 December 2011 (IRIN) - The latest chapter in our Heroes of HIV film series follows former prisoner Julux Alusma as he works to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS among inmates of Haiti's jails.

" In Haiti, 120,000 people are living with AIDS, of which 67,000 are women, who are always more at risk, " says Alusma. Today, Haiti has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the Caribbean, with 2.2 percent of adults estimated to be HIV positive. Young women are more than twice as likely to be infected as young men.  

In Haiti's only women's prison, Alusma trains a select group of peer educators, who in turn pass on the information to other prisoners.

IRIN Film: The Prison Educator

" When prisoners are exposed to other prisoners teaching them about HIV, they are much more willing to accept an HIV test, more willing to access medical care and more eager to take their medications and enter into treatment, " says May of Health Through Walls, an NGO.

In Haiti, stigma, discrimination, a weak health care system and extreme poverty greatly increase the impact of HIV/AIDS.

According to one of Alusma's trainees, " in Haiti, most women don't have jobs and depend on men for clothes and food. to keep that relationship they have to have sex with them. I've learnt a lot here and when I get out, I'm going to be passing on the information to my son and daughter. "

Read report online

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

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Copyright © IRIN 2011. All rights reserved. This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States. The boundaries, names and designations used on maps on

[Guest guest]

 

humanitarian news and analysis

a service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FILM: Heroes of HIV: The Prison Educator

NAIROBI, 1 December 2011 (IRIN) - The latest chapter in our Heroes of HIV film series follows former prisoner Julux Alusma as he works to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS among inmates of Haiti's jails.

" In Haiti, 120,000 people are living with AIDS, of which 67,000 are women, who are always more at risk, " says Alusma. Today, Haiti has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the Caribbean, with 2.2 percent of adults estimated to be HIV positive. Young women are more than twice as likely to be infected as young men.  

In Haiti's only women's prison, Alusma trains a select group of peer educators, who in turn pass on the information to other prisoners.

IRIN Film: The Prison Educator

" When prisoners are exposed to other prisoners teaching them about HIV, they are much more willing to accept an HIV test, more willing to access medical care and more eager to take their medications and enter into treatment, " says May of Health Through Walls, an NGO.

In Haiti, stigma, discrimination, a weak health care system and extreme poverty greatly increase the impact of HIV/AIDS.

According to one of Alusma's trainees, " in Haiti, most women don't have jobs and depend on men for clothes and food. to keep that relationship they have to have sex with them. I've learnt a lot here and when I get out, I'm going to be passing on the information to my son and daughter. "

Read report online

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Feedback  |  Terms & Conditions  |  News Feeds  |  About IRIN  |  Jobs  |  Donors

Copyright © IRIN 2011. All rights reserved. This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States. The boundaries, names and designations used on maps on