How men can make a difference in women's health

UNAIDS estimates that 50 to 60 per cent of those living with HIV/AIDS in the world are now women.

Organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat's Health Section, the workshop on 'Men Can Make a Difference in Women's Health' runs from 6 to 8 October 2004.

The workshop aims to provide a better understanding of how HIV/AIDS has different effects on women and men, and to promote greater appreciation of men's responsibility for women's health. This includes awareness of the urgent need to improve sexual responsibility among men through advocacy, information and education programmes.   

Joseph Amuzu, Chief Programme Officer for HIV/AIDS at the Secretariat, said: "In many cultures men are expected to marry younger women, have extra-marital relationships and very often resist the use of condoms. As a result, men have a high risk of contracting and spreading HIV from multiple partnering and other risky behaviour." 

UNAIDS estimates that 50 to 60 per cent of those living with HIV/AIDS in the world are now women. Mr Amuzu pointed out that women are the main carers when family or community members fall sick. They support AIDS orphans and provide strength for the most vulnerable by their efforts to raise awareness and change behaviour.  

Among the officials attending the workshop are men and women from the Commonwealth Youth Programme Africa Region, the Southern African Development Community, UNAIDS and national AIDS co-ordinating bodies in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia. 

Two similar workshops were held in Ghana while another was organised in Kenya for the East Africa region in 2003 and earlier this year. These meetings are designed to help countries develop strategies to involve men in HIV/AIDS prevention and impact reduction programmes. They also aim to mobilise communities towards encouraging behavioural change among men.