LoveNotes – July 2002 Issue
| SisterLove, Inc. | LoveNotes | July 2002 | ||
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LoveNotes – Premiere Issue Launched SisterLove is pleased to introduce LoveNotes, our electronic newsletter. With this eNewsletter we hope to keep our friends, supporters and colleagues informed of our work and provide reproductive and sexual health and rights news of interest to women, particularly women of color. We hope that you will enjoy our premiere issue and will come to look forward to receiving LoveNotes in your Inbox for years to come. Comments and suggestions about LoveNotes can be directed to LoveNote’s Editor, Kozetta Jane Harris, at kharris@sisterlove.org. Follow the directions provided in this email to unsubscribe or be removed from the LoveNotes mailing list. SisterLove Establishes Offices in South Africa The goal of the Global AIDS Capacity Building Initiative is to enhance local non-government organizations’ (NGOs) and community-based organizations’ (CBOs) capacity and leadership abilities to manage and promote sustainable mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) and youth-based HIV prevention activities in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Through the Initiative, SisterLove provides capacity building assistance to identified NGOs/CBOs in the Highveld district of Mpumalanga, a rural province consisting of large mining operations. Tryphinah Ngwenya and Busisiwe Baloyi join SisterLove’s International Program as the South Africa Programs Manager and South Africa Programs Assistant, respectively. They join International Programs staff based at SisterLove’s Atlanta offices: Bemnet Fantu, International Programs Assistant and Seseni Nu, International Programs Manager. Tryphinah and Busi are visiting SisterLove’s Atlanta offices June 17 – July 3rd for intensive staff orientation and training sessions. Their visit also includes opportunities to learn about HIV/AIDS and it’s impact upon women and families in the U.S. and throughout metropolitan Atlanta. According to Dázon Dixon Diallo, SisterLove’s Chief Executive Officer, SisterLove’s work in South Africa is a natural progression of it’s work to educate and advocate for women affected by HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health challenges here in the States. “Our international work has taught us that the challenges faced by women of the African Diaspora are similar to the challenges faced by women of color in the United States”. “SisterLove has much to share with and learn from our African partners and colleagues”. “Our work in Atlanta, and in other cities throughout the United States, is strengthened by what we accomplish in South Africa”. The Global AIDS Capacity Building Initiative is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Prevention: Microbicides Millions of women are getting infected with HIV because they can’t make their men use condoms. About 60% of the 14,000 people infected with HIV every day are women. Most of them get HIV from having sex with their husbands or boyfriends. Keisha is on the Pill, so she and Michael never talked about birth control. But she does think about HIV. When she asked Michael to use a condom, he said, “Don’t you trust me, baby?” Keisha worries about HIV, but not as much as she worries about losing Michael. When Jack drinks, he gets ugly. Sometimes Irene swears she’ll pack up the kids and leave. But what would they live on? Irene knows Jack sleeps around. One time she brought out a condom and Jack blew up. So she just takes her chances. Keisha and Irene feel they can’t ask their men to use condoms. They want to be safe, but they have no way to protect themselves. Some women use the female condom, a plastic pouch a woman can put in her vagina before sex. Many couples like the female condom, once they get used to it. But the outer ring of the female condom is visible when it’s in place. So it may not be a good option for a woman who needs a method she doesn’t have to discuss with her partner. Women need a method that’s safe, comfortable, inexpensive, easy to use and that no one has to know about. To meet this need, scientists are working on Microbicides will look like the other over-the-counter birth control products and medicines you get in the drug store now. They will come as creams, foams, gels and inserts. But their purpose will be to prevent infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Some may protect against both pregnancy and infection. Others will only protect against infection but won’t stop a woman from getting pregnant. Some are being tested to see if they are also safe to use in the rectum (butt) for men who have sex with men or for men and women who have anal sex. Over sixty products that might work as microbicides have been found already. Now scientists have to find out which ones are safe to use and will work the best. One of them, Carraguard™, is going into final testing this year. It is a gel made from carrageenan, a seaweed product often used as a thickener in ice cream and pudding. In the vagina, Carraguard™ gel covers the cell walls like a coat of paint and makes a temporary barrier that HIV can’t get through. Women who used Carraguard™ in safety tests found it didn’t irritate their vaginas. Now 5,000 women are volunteering for a study to see how well it prevents infection in “real world” conditions. Another product moving toward final testing is BufferGel. BufferGel works by keeping the pH balance in a woman’s vagina low even after sex. This helps disable any HIV that enters her during sex and lowers her chances of getting infected. If BufferGel passes the rest of its safety testing, it will be tested next to see how well it prevents infection. If Carraguard™, BufferGel or any of the leading products really works, we could have a microbicide in the stores within the next five years. These new microbicides aren’t available now because they are still being tested to see which ones work. This process would move faster if there were more money to do testing. Right now, only two cents out of every dollar the U.S. government spends on AIDS research goes toward finding a microbicide. Without more money, finding an effective microbicide could take a lot longer than five years. It’s time to say that condoms alone just aren’t enough. Keisha, Irene and millions of others need to have other ways to protect themselves. The time for microbicides is now. For more information about microbicides, contact the Global Campaign for Microbicides at phone: 202-454-5048 or on the internet at www.global-campaign.org. Anna Forbes is a writer, teacher and community organizer who has been working on HIV/AIDS issues since 1985. Reprinted courtesy of www.PositiveWords.com SisterLove: Campaigning for Microbicides SisterLove has been pleased to co-sponsor public awareness and educational events with the AIDS Survival Project, an Atlanta-based HIV/AIDS service organization, as well as events of the Georgia Campaign. A committee of SisterLove volunteers, comprised mainly of Masters in Public Health students from Emory University, was established to research African American women’s knowledge of and concerns about microbicides and their potential for maintaining reproductive health. An assessment tool intended to quantify African American women’s knowledge of and interest in microbicides and microbicide research has since been developed by this Committee. Dazon Dixon Diallo explains that SisterLove “recognizes the importance of being involved (in the Campaign) because of cultural and social challenges related to supporting women wanting to assert their right to discreetly protect themselves against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases”. Questions about SisterLove’s Microbicides Committee and our involvment in the Global and Georgia Campaigns can be directed to Seseni Nu (snu@sisterlove.org) of SisterLove, Inc. Questions about the Georgia Campaign for Microbicides can be directed to Campaign Co-Chair, Terri Wilder (tlwilder@mindspring.com). Questions about the Global Campaign for Microbicides can be directed to the Global Campaign’s US Coordinator, Anna Forbes (aforbes@critpath.org). Expanding Your Spirit: Finding the Blessing Sitting frustrated, in Turner Field’s Orange Parking Lot, awaiting the tow truck to tow away my van, I asked myself, what good can I glean from this situation? After all, I just had a new fuel pump put in last week, I thought this van was fixed! I did not want to search, but that still small voice within, invoked me to find a spiritual blessing in the midst of my physical hardship. It immediately came to me! I’d forgotten the power of my words. All week I’d complained about not having the quiet time to write. The children were on Spring Break, the grandchildren were coming over daily, the phone wouldn’t stop ringing…there was never enough time. I had to make a decision while awaiting the tow truck. Remain frustrated, or take advantage of the tranquility that comes when the phone or doorbell isn’t ringing. The atmosphere in the van was perfectly conducive for writing! The adverse circumstance allotted me the necessary time and space to write to you, my dear sisters. It is often extremely difficult to find the blessings in the midst of hardships. But, that does not mean that the blessings aren’t there. When our hardships are larger than life, we tend to look for larger than life blessings in return. We often overlook the small power-packed blessings. For it is within the small that we are allowed to take it “one day at a time.” So as you arise to tomorrow, look for the blessing that lies therein. For it has been predestined just for you. I bid you Peace. SisterLove’s New Atlanta Offices The new offices, located just a few blocks from the previous location on Cascade Avenue, provide almost double the amount of floor space, more light and, perhaps best of all, staff no longer have to share desks! It was important to SisterLove to remain in the West End, close to the historically black colleges and universities that comprise the Atlanta University Center (AUC), and in close vicinity to programs and services committed to meeting the needs of African American families affected by HIV/AIDS. SisterLove’s mailing address and telephone numbers were not changed as a result of the move. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 10558, Atlanta, Georgia 30310. To reach us by phone call 404-753-7733. SisterLove’s Transitional Housing and Supportive Services Program office has not relocated and can continue to be reached at 404-699-9167. Ask ‘Sister Love’ I keep hearing about HIV and AIDS and I’m wondering, is it easier for my man to give it (HIV) to me or for me to give it to him? Signed, Twila (Atlanta, Georgia) Greetings Twila! I’m glad that you’ve been hearing a lot about HIV/AIDS and are wanting to learn how best to protect yourself and your partner. The first thing to keep in mind is this: “if you are having unprotected sex, you are at risk of contracting HIV”. “Unprotected sex” is defined as sexual activity that does not include safer sex practices, like using a condom during sexual intercourse. The fact that you are concerned about your level of risk is a very good thing! According to the AIDS Action Council, a woman is eight times more likely to “catch HIV” from a man than a man is likely to “catch HIV” from a woman during intercourse. For women, unlike men, a larger area of skin and tissue are exposed to their partner’s secretions during sexual intercourse. It is also true that HIV-infected semen has a higher concentration of HIV than HIV-infected secretions from a woman’s vagina. With that in mind, Sister Twila, the best way to protect yourself and your man is to wear a condom each and every time you have intercourse! One Love, .. . .. While ‘Sister Love’ is not an actual person, all questions are read and answered by a SisterLove staff person, volunteer or an individual with relevant expertise. Information contained within responses are not meant to substitute for medical advice. SisterLove strongly encourages individuals to consult with a physician, medical or health professional for all medical concerns. :: HEALTH WISDOM :: Douching has been found to increase the risk of vaginal infection because it disrupts the natural ecology of the vagina. Positive Women’s Leadership Project: Reclaiming the Conversation The Positive Women’s Leadership Project (PWLP), builds upon SisterLove’s demonstrated commitment to HIV+ women by providing women of color the training, guidance and support needed to move beyond “awareness and understanding” to “leadership and activism”. PWLP’s mission is to support the development of low income HIV+ women of color in their effort to become leaders and/or activists in the reproductive health and rights movement. Project participants will commit to an intensive training program intended to a) expand their knowledge of reproductive health concerns that are of particular importance to women of color, b) provide a deeper understanding of the reproductive health movement’s social and political history and it’s particular relevance to women of color, and c) prepare women to serve as activists in the reproductive health and rights movement. In addition to the opportunity to form mentoring relationships with community leaders and activists, Project participants will receive training in self-help theory and practice, community organizing, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, group facilitation, human rights and the reproductive health and rights movement. Low-income, HIV-positive women of color interested in this challenging and powerful opportunity are invited to contact Nyrobi Moss, Housing and Social Services Program Coordinator, at 404-699-9167. Agencies and organizations working with HIV-positive women of color are asked to contact Nyrobi regarding recruiting women for this special Project. The Positive Women’s Leadership Project is partially funded by a grant from the Ms. Foundation. |
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| LoveNotes is produced with the assistance of a committee of volunteers and is edited by Kozetta Jane Harris of SisterLove’s staff. Volunteers involved in producing this issue are: Katrina Clowers, Kinaya Jolomi Ade and Cynthia Roberson.
For more information about SisterLove, or articles appearing in this issue, contact Kozetta Jane Harris by email at kharris@sisterlove.org, by phone at 404-753-7733 or by mail at P.O. Box 10558, Atlanta, GA 30310. SisterLove is on a mission to eradicate the impact of HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health challenges upon women and their families through education, prevention, support and human rights advocacy in the United States and around the world. Founded in 1989, SisterLove is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Contact SisterLove today regarding opportunities to volunteer and to make a contribution in support of women and families affected by HIV/AIDS. “Healthy Loving is Healthy Living” |