You are here:

Direct message to those at risk

Father René Rey, project co-ordinator of the mobile health unit at Fundación EUDES [CAFOD]

Fundación EUDES is a church-based organisation, providing care and support to vulnerable groups living with HIV and AIDS in Colombia

At the end of 2005 around 1.6 million people were living with HIV in Latin America. However in light of the more severe situation in Africa and new epidemics emerging in Asia and Eastern Europe, the HIV situation in Latin America is often overlooked.

In recognition of the need to respond to this growing problem, Fundación EUDES works hard to raise awareness and tackles the stigma, discrimination and denial associated with HIV and AIDS.

Worrying developments

We can’t wait inside our institutions for the people to come us. We have to go out and be with the people

Father René Rey, Fundación EUDES

There has been a rapid increase in HIV infection in Colombia as a result of forced displacement caused by armed conflict, sexual violence, absolute poverty, sex work, intravenous drug use and lack of access to health care.

More than 52,000 cases of HIV and AIDS have been reported but it is estimated that the real figures are much higher, around 171,000. A worrying development is the increase number of women being infected with HIV and AIDS.

Three times a week the mobile health clinic from Fundación EUDES visits four different areas of Bogotá, providing free health checks and information about HIV and AIDS, as well as counselling and testing for people living on the street and sex workers.

This ensures that the HIV prevention message is taken directly to the people at risk, and the group also works with the customers and owners of the brothels.

“We can’t wait inside our institutions for the people to come us. We have to go out and be with the people and that’s what the mobile unit does,” explains Father René Rey, project co-ordinator of the mobile health unit at Fundación EUDES.

“As in many Latin American countries, HIV awareness is low while stigma and discrimination is high. We need to deal with the root causes of the problem,” adds Father René.

Fundación EUDES is responding to a problem which has been largely neglected by the Colombian government and the international community.

Its conviction that the work of the church is to reach marginalised communities is truly inspiring, and an ongoing challenge is to address the root causes of HIV and AIDS such as poverty, injustice and violence in Colombia.

(Left to right) Richard Cockle, John Corney, Lizzie Cranfield, and Gavin Baxter celebrate together after finishing the Great North Run 2005 [CAFOD]

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

Direct message to those at risk

Worrying developments