DECEMBER 2005 — As part of World AIDS Day celebrations, FHI and the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW) conducted an awareness raising session for underprivileged women and children who work sorting through city garbage. The garbage collectors, or "zabbaleen," sort and recycle the garbage produced by Cairo's burgeoning population. In such working conditions, health problems are a serious concern, particularly infectious diseases.

The session was held at the Manshiet Nasser District Conference Center and was attended by about 250 women and their children. They work as garbage sorters and are residents of Manshiet Nasser and Ezbet El Qarn, poor urban areas located in Cairo.

The FHI Country Director conducted an interactive seminar with the attendees, presenting basic information on HIV/ AIDS. The main points covered in the presentation included:

• Causative agents of HIV/AIDS
• Life cycle and incubation period
• Susceptible individuals
• Modes of transmission
• Clinical manifestations
• Counseling and Testing
• Stigma and discrimination
• Role of condoms

FHI staff also focused on correcting common misconceptions about HIV/AIDS that exist in Egypt. These misconceptions include interpreting infection as God's punishment or the perception that AIDS is a disease of foreigners. Issues addressed also included condoms and their proper usage and needlestick injuries and how to manage them until medical assistance can be sought. Session facilitators also emphasized the contributions of women as caregivers and the benefits of counseling and testing.

FHI documents were distributed to the women, including the home-based care document, What Do You Know about AIDS and the VCT brochure.

PHOTO: Woman addressing panel. (FHI/Egypt)