AMREF’s Director General Answers Your Questions about HIV
Prior to becoming AMREF’s Director General, Dr. Teguest Guerma was Director of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS Department. 
In this interview she talks about the impact HIV/AIDS continues to have on African communities, and the work AMREF does to prevent and better manage the pandemic.
Can you explain how HIV and AIDS is affecting African communities?
Africa is one of the hardest hit continents affected by HIV/AIDS, around 28 million people are affected by HIV/AIDS which represents more than 68% of the global HIV infection.
It seems that women suffer disproportionately from the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa - why is this?
Women are greatly affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. They are biologically vulnerable but also economically and socially vulnerable because women are usually the poorest members of society. Some may turn to sex work, and unsafe sexual behaviour when they need money and many more are also in relationships where their partner's behaviour greatly increases their chance of contracting HIV. The socio-cultural dynamics means many of these women are affected or infected even though they may have not been actively engaging in risky behaviour.
Many organizations are working to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa, what makes AMREF's approach unique?
AMREF works from within communities to improve the health of the hardest to reach and the most marginalized in Africa - the communities which are often the most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. AMREF is very different in the way of its expertise in the communities, we have had long experience with communities in Africa, we understand how they work and work together to agree on what is most effective and will lead to lasting impact.
AMREF empowers the communities it works with so that they are able to demand better health care. By developing projects directly with communities we can ensure that they really achieve what's best for the community not only in the short but also the long term.
How can the general public best help the communities AMREF works with?
By making a donation to AMREF you are helping us provide better health care for the poorest and most vulnerable people in Africa. HIV/AIDS in Africa is still a huge problem, particularly for women, and those too poor or too far from health centres to obtain medicine. Everyone has the right to good health. Support AMREF and you are giving people that right.
Learn more about World AIDS Day 2010 and AMREF's innovative HIV/AIDS programs.
