The NGO Uwaki-Maniema, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), organized this weekend a concertation meeting on gender and human rights.
This strategic meeting brought together civil and military provincial authorities, institutional actors, representatives of civil society, as well as key populations often marginalized in public health policies.
These key populations include sex professionals, injectable drug users, transgender people and men with sex with other men. The main objective of this initiative is to actively integrate them into the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, diseases that continue to heavily affect vulnerable groups.
For several participants from these communities, this meeting marks a significant advance in terms of inclusion and social recognition.
« We were a category of people rejected by the company. But thanks to Uwaki, today we are considered. The authorities give us weight and courage to live like the others. We are now committed to being dedicated to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS », Testifies Déogratias Matala, member of one of the communities concerned.
The meeting enabled participants to make concrete commitments: to be tested regularly, adopt responsible behavior, and educate their peers.
« Before, we were not awake. We lived without becoming aware of the risks. Today, thanks to Uwaki, we understood. We will protect ourselves and raise awareness of slowing down the spread of HIV ”says Judith Matala, vice-president of an association of sex professionals.
Targeted actions and a support program
According to Maître Didier Ilunga, coordinator in charge of gender and human rights within Uwaki, this activity aims to correct a long negligence.
« These categories have long been forgotten in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, they still bring together pockets of vulnerability that must be integrated into our awareness, screening and care efforts, in particular via the JCCM program that we deploy in the province He explains.
This initiative was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Global Fund, a partner of the efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
