Brief Background
As HIV and AIDS continue to claim lives of the most productive
individuals in society and the women in particular have not been
spared of this pandemic. children too, continue to suffer silently and
their vulnerability is getting critical each day. HIV and AIDS affect
families, parents die and leave children orphaned and become
vulnerable to HIV and AIDS through early marriages, school dropout due
to financial support hence many child headed households.
The death of a husband in a family impacts seriously on wives and the
children as traditionally men in Malawi are regarded as bread winners
hence the vulnerability of women as they are prone to dependency
syndrome. Muslim women as is the case with the rest of the women in
Malawi and the world as a whole, are also subjected to a number of
gender-based violence perpetrated by their partners. Culturally it
becomes difficult for women to talk about domestic violence when they
go through such experiences.
It is from this background that Muslim Sisters Aids Network was
established in September 2008, with an aim of getting Muslim women
reorganised and begin addressing burning issues that impact
negatively on women and children, HIV and AIDS prevention and
education and promote behaviour change through strategies conducive
and Islamically friendly to them.
MUSANET was established following a successful workshop co-organised
by Mai Aisha Trust and Muslim AIDS Programme of South Africa which was
held in August, 2008.
MUSANET is a member of the Blantyre City Assembly and has since
organized some charity works and participated in the 2008 World AIDS
Day on 1st December, 2008.
Aims and Objectives
The aim is to sensitise the community, particularly women and children
on the dangers of HIV and AIDS through prevention education and
behaviour change strategies.
Objectives
• To break the culture of silence and allow women and children freely
discuss the HIV and AIDS pandemic
• To promote love, care and support to people affected and infected
with HIV and AIDS
• To reduce element of stigma and discrimination among women and the
community in general
• To promote and protect the rights and image of women in the advent
of HIV and AIDS
• To address issues of domestic violence
• To promote health-seeking behaviors among women
• To encourage women to go for HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT)
• To build capacity and promote self-esteem among women and the youth
• To create an enabling environment for women to engage in small-scale
businesses
• To campaign for elimination of Mother- to Child transmition of HIV
and AIDS virus, Nutrition and Vitamin A deficiency by encouraging the
use of health services.
• To promote home based care, orphan care, elderly and disabled care.
MUSANET aims at expanding its programmes beyond the city of Blantyre
so that it reaches out to the rural masses that are equally affected
by the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
Networking
Since its inception MUSANET is already working in partnership with
seven (7) Women groups. This is evident that MUSANET and other women
groups are ready to work together in order to address social, economic
and spiritual issues affecting their people.
Conclusion
MUSANET will appreciate receiving feedbacks, comments and opinions
from partners and stakeholders interested in our programme.
Individuals may wish to call the below numbers for more information.
Muslim Sisters Aids Network
P.O. Box 497, Blantyre
Cell: 0888789944/01848069/01848059/0888307106
Fax:01 840 560
Email :Musanet08@gmail.com
