People living with HIV/AIDS organise in Ecuador
04 October 2005
A project between the Ecuadorian Coalition of people living with HIV/AIDS (CEPVVS) and Kimirina, the Alliance’s linking organisation in Ecuador, which aims to create a safe environment for people living with HIV/AIDS to meet, has got off to a strong start. The project has created safe spaces for meetings and get-togethers as well as setting up office space and providing access to legal advice. The project, part of the Alliance's Frontiers Prevention Project, also works to achieve the Coalitions’ objectives of improving the living standards of people living with HIV/AIDS and reducing stigma and discrimination in Ecuador.
People living with HIV/AIDS in Ecuador face intense stigma and discrimination at all levels of society. This makes it difficult to work effectively to halt the advance of the epidemic and reduce its impact. Given this environment, people living with HIV/AIDS need to be well organised in order to achieve integrated treatment and improvements.
Santiago Jaramillo, General Secretary of CEPVVS, said that with support from Kimirina and the Alliance, people living with HIV/AIDS in Ecuador are showing the national and international community that they are capable of working for themselves and contributing to the HIV/AIDS response. He said, “Actions like these strategic alliances, joint and coordinated work of both public and private entities and NGOs must continue. It is the only way to improve the quality of life of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ecuador and to contribute to the sustained and harmonised development of the country.”
The Coalition was formed in May 2003 by organisations of people living with HIV/AIDS after the First National Encounter of people living with HIV/AIDS, supported by Kimirina and the Alliance. The registration of the Coalition is now in progress.
