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If there was one word that could describe the way forward in strengthening the fight against AIDS, that word would be "change." The word could either mean altering the state of something or adding new, creative, innovative aspects to it.
Change and creative, unconventional methods are necessary in the way governments deal with the AIDS epidemic. So says Senator Mechai Viravaidhaya, Chaiperson of the Population and Community Developmet Association in Thailand, popularly known as the Condom King.
"Many governments around the world - when they take action on AIDS - do something to prevent and something to provide health care", he said. "But very little attention and resources are being put in to enable people living with AIDS to participate in daily economic life and to enhance their survival.
Discrimination continues to have tragic effects in the lives of all these people. And due to the stigma most of them cannot fully participate in economic activities and are viewed, sometimes, as even a burden to their economies and to members of the community... including in my own country,"
he added.
Because of this realisation the government of Thailand has introduced a micro-finance scheme, "Positive Partnership - Economic Empowerment Through Micro-Credit to Provide Economic Livelihood Opportunities and to Reduce Stigma."
"A large majority of them are unemployed and without savings, like in the rest of the world. And they have a terrible sense of hopelessnes, which has prohibited them from earning a living", noted Senator Viravaidhaya.
At first the programme started as a pilot project.
"We started with our own funds first, and then we went to UNAIDS and told them about this experiment. And they said, 'okay, let's do it.' So, we started lending to people living with AIDS and later expanded it to include those affected by HIV/AIDS."
Loans granted - to the value of $300 (R1 800) or 15 000 bahts in the local currency - are used to start small business opportunities, such as farming and tailoring. The grantees are expected to repay the loans at a 6% interest rate within six to 12 months. And the record of repayments shows that people living with HIV/AIDS are not a financial risk. "It's been very, very regular repayment,", said Viravaidhaya proudly.
As the money accumulates, more loans can be made to the grantees. Because of this reliability, the programme has now expanded to involve general society. "What is interesting is that once the loans are repaid and all the HIV positive people have their loans, we then lend the money to ordinary poor people in the villages. And all of the sudden they realise, 'where did this money come from?' It's from those people who are HIV positive. They are making resources available to us... They realise that the government did not give the resources. It was these people whom we misunderstood who are providing resources to us", explained Viravaidhaya.
So, anyone can access the micro-finance scheme, regardless of their HIV status. It's not mandatory for one to reveal their status when applying for a loan.
Viravaidhaya posed a challenge to governments and international lending organisations. "HIV positive people do repay their loans, and so deserve to receive credit from financial institutions. Right around the world we need to ask institutions like the World Bank and other banks to lend money to HIV positive people or help to guarantee financial assistance."
He said economic empowerment of people living with AIDS is a means to reduce stigma and discrimination and stressed that every country needs such a project because PWA's also have lives and expenses.
"Since receiving these loans HIV positive people have a whole new life - new economic status, health status, social status. And the new economic opportunity has given them a real reason to live. And if you ask them they say, 'they're going to live forever.' Therefore, I'd like to suggest very strongly that 'Positive Partnerships' is good economics and is sustainable. Once you give a loan in one area to begin the business, you don't have to give it again.
We've witnessed economic empowerment delivering people from stigma. It should be introduced everywhere. I hope donors, apart from providing money for research, will provide funds to allow people living with AIDS to have meaningful economic lives and use it to reduce stigma and discrimination
because money talks," said Senator Michai Viravaidhaya.
Thailand has since helped to export "Positive Partnerships" to neighbouring countries such as Laos and Vietnam.
In South Africa, a pioneering research initiative under Wits University's Rural AIDS and Development (RADAR) project using micro-finance is currently underway in the rural areas of Limpopo to investigate how economic empowerment can help rural women make better health choices and to negotiate safer sex.
This artcle is courtesy of Health-e News Service.
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