SWAK- Society for Women and AIDS in Kenya




 
   

   

Male initiative
   

Background

 Men in Kenya like men elsewhere have significant control over women sexual lives. Many use violence or psychological, economic, or social pressure to insist on sex with their partners and on their right to have many sex partners as they please. As a result, even when aware of their own vulnerability, most women have little opportunity to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Furthermore, men are placed at risk by masculine values, which discourage them from protecting themselves.
SWAK believes that focusing on men helps them to take responsibility equally for self and their sexual partners and in particular women and girls thus reducing their vulnerability to HIV. Since the year 2000, SWAK Male Initiative works with the Government, NGOs, Faith Groups, Media, and the Private sector to advocate for greater involvement of men in HIV/AIDS prevention care and support.

Objectives

- To foster greater awareness of the relationship between men’s behaviour and HIV/AIDS
- To stimulate widespread public debate on the issues of men and HIV/AIDS
- To encourage the adoption of safer sex practices by men leading to reduced risk of infection among men and women
- To increase perception of personal risk

Achievements

- Has conducted an inventory of organizations having activities focusing on men in HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support.
- Production of the Men and HIV in Kenya book which presents an analysis of the relationship between men behaviour and HIV based on the Kenyan statistics and what individuals can do reduce HIV infection and to mitigate AIDS impact.
- Government departments, NGOs/CBOs, faith groups, the private sector and other interest groups such as Men who have sex with men (MSM) have been brought together in two to discuss strategies for promoting male involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention care and support.
- Sensitization of the media personnel on “The role of media in promoting male involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention care and support”
- Has conducted policymakers meetings on “Policy interventions to enhance male participation in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support activities”

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PRIORITY AREAS
Prevention of new infections: SWAK aims to reduce new infections among women and girls by addressing the underlying gender factors putting women and girls at risk

Improvement of the quality of life of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS:
There are two important strategies for improving the quality of life of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS: provision of treatment and care services and protection of their human rights.

Mitigation of the social impact of HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS has profound negative impact on all aspects of the community. The capacity of communities to cope with the rapid increase of orphans and child-headed families is overstretched.

SWAK capacity development:
SWAK’s capacity gaps have been identified in the previous sections. SWAK has identified the specific capacity building initiatives that will be undertaken to address the challenges identified.
 

SWAK highly appreciates contributions and donations from all donors and partners.

You can donate to SWAK for mobilising women and girls to fight HIV/AIDS in Kenya.