Women with HIV, Aids get rights education

Women for Fair Development (Wofad) says women with the HIV virus need to be trained on education on sexual reproductive health rights for them claim their rights when victimised.

Wofad executive director Linnah Matanya said last week during a training session in Blantyre that her organisation targeted women because they are at high risk when it comes to sex

“We want them to know their rights and where to go when victimised. This training follows a baseline survey conducted in Nkhotakota and Blantyre in 2012, which revealed that sexual rights of women are violated,” said.

Wofad has 5 000 women with HIV that are under its three-year sexual reproductive health rights project funded by Tilitonse Fund.

Some of the sexual rights include having consensual sexual relations, deciding when to have children, pursuing a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life, choosing a partner, getting sexuality education and respect for bodily integrity.

Emma Pote, 53, who lives in Chirimba, Blantyre, said since she joined Wofad in 2007, her life has improved because as a group, the women meet and share experiences.

Wofad, which was established in 2005, works towards ending discrimination of women based on gender and HIV status by strengthening their socio-economic status.