Care and support and people living with HIV and AIDS at Holy water: An assessment at four selected sites in Addis Ababa
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The world at large, with various social and health problems is demanding remedies that would
help improve the lives of citizens. HIV/AIDS being one of the greatest challenges of this
century compels nations to respond to the situation in whatever way is possible.
This assessment is done in a way to look for alternative response mechanisms to HIV/AIDS
that could in the long run be complemented and integrated to the widely known bio-medical
approach of HIV treatments. The selected four holy water sites could show the need to search
for other cultural or alternative ways of responses being utilized by individuals to counter act
the effect of the epidemic.
By applying mainly in-depth interview and other forms of interviews, the assessment tried to
identify various issues such as attitude and experience of PLWHAs using the holy water and
other spiritual treatments as well as anti-HIV/AIDS drugs. In addition, the various needs and
problems associated with the PLWHAs and the system at the sites are assessed.
Holy water use in the form of drink and shower is the main treatment used by the PLWHAs
together with other spiritual practices. And people in most cases are in need of compromising
the spiritual practices together with the medical knowledge through counseling or other
models, which are not available, let alone to access and utilize. At the same time due to the
widespread poverty, this section of the population is also affected very much. Fulfilling basic
needs is difficult to most of them. In addition the social isolation from their families relatives and friends is very common to the majority to these communities
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Social Work