Haiti’s Five (5) Years experiences of GIPA Moving from denial to action ?

1. Haiti’s Five (5) Years experiences of GIPA Moving from denial to action ?

2. Definition • GIPA means (Greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS) • conceptual framework of GIPA • facilitating and coordinating the establishment of sustainable operational national networks of PLWHA • promotion of self-support groups • information sharing among People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). • Involvement and empowerment

3. Living with HIV/AIDS in the 1990’s • Contribution de l’artiste Jean Réné Jérôme au montage du film “VIV ak SIDA” • For the first time AIDS had a face and a Voice • Thousand copies distributed • AIDS Awareness creation

4. Support Group of POZ+1998

5. How this was taken place in Haiti ? • Starting the first support group named POZ+ • Recruit PLWHA with friends or relatives • Meeting once a month • Shares information and testimonies • Learnt skills and knowledge on HIV/AIDS • Participate in mobilization activities • Dialogue with leaders • Commitment to combat stigma and discrimination # Attendees at the support Groups meeting

6. Where do the sparkles come from? « Le terrain n’est pas facile. Cependant notre volonté est ferme de lutter nous aussi à coté des autres. Cette phase de recrutement devra sûrement nous conduire bientôt à une grande rencontre élargie afin de démarrer de façon pratique notre réseau. D ’autres expériences à travers d ’autres conférences internationales nous aideront à mieux assister et encadrer nos siens. » Jean Jonas Deriveau (POZ+)

7. How GIPA developed in Haiti ? • The GIPA movement established in 3 Phase • Initiative phase • Implementation phase ( GIPA) supported by UNVs • Extension and replication phase.

8. Characteristics and lessons learnedPhase 1 • Low profile participant • Interaction with others limited • Shows interest in learning more • No access to drugs • Sense of solidarity between members • Commitment to combat S&D • Breaking the silence

9. Characteristics and lessons learnedPhase 2 • More visibility among PLWA at the international levels • More contacts and interaction with providers and leaders • Status of NUNV • Access to treatment and solidarity international • Sense of contributing to the programme • Benefits social recognition economical support • Community acceptance • Empowerment ( skills)

10. Characteristics and lessons learnedPhase 3 • More empowerment and involvement • Emergence of more PLWA • Access to treatment and ARVs • Strengthening of UNV association • More visibility • Access to work • All forms of Solidarity with PLWA who disclosed publicly • More support from the international agencies

11. What’s work • It gives PLWA more direction and power to involve and participate in the programme • Opportunity to advocate and to combat S&D • Access to resources national and international • International visibility • Could be in the frontline as additional resources to promote safe and preventative behaviour • Influence Leaders at all level ( Church, political figures, congressman) • Brings support to infected and affected

12. What doesn’t work • Activism Vs Advocacy • Volunteers GIPA and hidden HIV status • Conflict of interest • Ethical issues related to drugs access for GIPA coordinators and not for others members in the networks • PLWA not represented at higher political level • Can do everything because ones is PLWA • Needs of coordination between different networks

13. Conclusion • Involvement of PLWAS in the frontline of the Haiti AIDS National program suggesting that even in the context of an environment of strong S&D empowerment of PLWHA can result in hope, reduction of fears and development of social support to contain the HIV/AIDS epidemic • Given the actual number of PLWHA, around 260,000 and the fact they are at greater risks of transmitting HIV and STI, more programmatic interventions and more funding are needed to scaling up these initiatives in all caribbean countries