What is HIV and AIDS?

“HIV mainstreaming is a process of reshaping and redesigning the core sectors
of a programme to reduce people’s vulnerabilities towards HIV and help people
living with HIV to be better able to cope.”
‘Mainstreaming HIV into Tearfund’s operational
relief programmes’ (2008)
Over the years there has been much discussion and debate about HIV mainstreaming.
The definitions that numerous agencies have developed are often vague as to what
mainstreaming actually is. It is easier to describe it when you think of it in stages or as
a journey. See the diagram below:
Stage 1: HIV is a separate issue
Stage 2: Integration of HIV activities
Stage 3: Mainstreaming HIV
Section 7: What is the mainstreaming journey?
The organisation’s focus is not HIV and AIDS. HIV and
AIDS is seen as a separate issue. The organisation thinks
it is only a health issue and therefore has no impact on
their work.
The organisation is beginning to understand that HIV may
have an impact on their work in the future. They begin to
conduct one-off activities such as distributing basic HIV
and AIDS information to all staff on World AIDS Day.
However, the organisation still feels HIV is far away and
affects other people. There are no long-term changes in
the way the organisation works.
The organisation’s focus of work has not changed but HIV
and AIDS is no longer seen as a separate issue. The
organisation aims to ensure that the appropriate
knowledge, attitudes and behaviours are exhibited by
staff. Issues such as HIV and AIDS and gender are
considered throughout all its work from project design to
evaluation. The changes are long-term.
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