[procaare] Re: Pre-6th HCC: Taking care of caregivers (16)

[ProCAARE <procaare@healthnet.org>]

Re: Pre-6th HCC: Taking care of caregivers (16)
Men can do it too!  - Report from the 5th HCC
************

[Moderators note: This piece is a fragment of the 5th HCC Report. It points out the need
of getting a greater involvement of men as carers]

Men can do it too!

The conference has comprehensively covered issues on women, children and families;
however, the underlying gender issues that underscore so much of prevention discourse and
programming are not highlighted in the HCC agenda here. This neglects important issues
concerning women, but also the UNAIDS theme of 'Men Making a Difference' seems to barely
rate a mention as well. The chairperson, Summa Mehta, of the session 'Addressing Gender
Concerns in HIV/AIDS', clearly stated that 'gender is complex', adding that male and
female roles are determined by the different expectations of cultures and societies.
However, sometimes we have notions that do not differ between biologically and socially
determined roles, with some arguing that women are biologically determined to be carers
and that men could not take on such a role. A question from the floor suggested as much.
Such attitudes are contradicted by experiences elsewhere, such as in Thailand. While women
have generally taken on the burden of primary carers, men have also played their part.
Chanson Thaiyanto, an HIV positive woman in Northern Thailand who presented in this
session, did not appear to see gender as an issue. While admitting that women probably do
most of the caring, men are certainly involved, either as primary caregivers or in other
support roles.

The director of Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA) in Cambodia also confirmed that men
could be involved in support roles for HIV positive people. Ms Pok saw this as mainly an
outcome of the impact of the epidemic on changes in men's roles. Despite the epidemic
continuing to rage throughout the world there are many instances of men changing their
behavior as a response to the epidemic, and partly as a response to some women having a
stronger voice. It is no doubt likely that many men need the confrontation of a disaster
to reflect on their role, and make changes in their behavior. However, this should not
lead us back into the idea of a biological determinism for men that naturally inhibits
them having the capacity for caring for the ill and dying.

Ms Pok echoes other voices in the conference saying that there should be more
encouragement for men to take on a role in caring. Summa Mehta is one of those voices, but
at the policy level she feels this is not recognized, suggesting that some governments are
only beginning to acknowledge the AIDS problem, let alone the gender problem or men taking
on carer roles. Encouraging men to play a greater role in care and support is
acknowledging the extra burden, and the expectations, on women, and thus can help to ease
their burden.

--
ProCAARE is currently supporting the 6th Home and Community Care
Conference in Dakar, Senegal (December 8 - 12, 2003).
For more information: http://www.dakarvih2003.sn/

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