Sudanese Women Action Network SWAN

1
Sudanese Women Action Network (SWAN)

• HIV/AIDS Challenges and Problems Faced by
  Sudanese Women in Diaspora
• Phoebe Yona

2
Migration and HIV both have a huge impact on
families

• Hundreds of thousands of women forced to flee in
  the 1990s
• Many young women and girls forced into
  unprotected sex for survival - money, food, etc
• Children and grandparents often head families
  after loss of parents
• Young women forced to marry early, increasing HIV
  risk
• Migration forces separation of families - women
  and me live apart for long periods

3
Stigma and discrimination are major problems in
addressing HIV/AIDS among Sudanese migrants

• Cultural/traditional taboo about speaking about
  sex/ HIV/AIDS
• For many refugees, fear of repatriation prevents
  HIV testing, disclosure or care seeking
• Families often reject family members diagnosed
  with HIV
• Discrimination in employment is very real

4
Health care and ARV access

• Poor or non-existent health care/VCT facilities
  in both southern Sudan and in refugee camps
• ARV access is difficult
• Often involves walking long distances
• Limited availability in refugee camps
• Too expensive/ refugees often forced to pay more
  than local citizens

5
Steps to address the issues

• Government and NGOS must expand VCT and treatment
  facilities -- in both southern Sudan and in
  displaced peoples camps
• Much more and better education and awareness
  effort for the refugee community
• Train refugee women as counselors and home care
  providers
• Exchange programme to bring openly HIV people
  into southern Sudan for education, to fight
  stigma, and to show positive living