Orphans of the Storm – HIV&AIDS
Honduras has a generalized HIV epidemic, mainly due to sexual transmission. HIV prevalence is highest in specific groups, such men who have sex with men, sex workers, Garifuna and prisoners.Sadly, HIV/AIDS related diseases are the second most common cause of death in Honduras. This leads to countless orphans who are living with grandmothers or other extended family members with a limited ability to provide quality care.
Participation of people living with HIV in the national response has grown; today the president of the Country Coordination Mechanism is a woman living with HIV; health authorities are collaborating with self-supportive groups in home care and prevention; social audits are conducted by civil society organizations working on HIV and Human Rights; financial contributions from partners to civil society is three times greater than it was a few years ago.
This feature show the orphans, representing the missing generation (their dead parents) because of the HIV pandemic, Pep portrayed grandparents with their grandchildren and made portraits of people infected and affected by HIV&AIDS.
Story made for “Positive Lives” (www.positivelives.org) for the World Aids Conference in Mexico, summer 2008.