Presentation from Deirdre Ni Cheallaigh at the slef-stigma roundtable convened by ReShape on 23/06/2015

1. www.trocaire.org
We are the change: dealing with HIV
related self-stigma in Zimbabwe
Deirdre Ní Cheallaigh

2. Background
• Trócaire HIV programme
• Zimbabwe National
Network of PLHIV
• Impact Research
International
• PLHIV Stigma Index
• Nadine Ferris France
formative research
OHH
• Royal College of
Surgeons in Ireland
• Trócaire HIV and
Gender team
• Inquiry based stress
reduction: the work of
Byron Katie
• Byron Katie
International
Foundation

3. Vision and Goal
Vision
A Zimbabwean
community of men
and women living
with HIV free of self-
stigma
Goal
To empower and
equip men and
women living with
HIV to tackle their
self-stigma

4. Objectives
1. To reduce levels of self-stigma in Zimbabwe
2. To successfully adapt and scale-up Inquiry-based Stress
Reduction (IBSR): The Work of Bryon Katie throughout PLHA
support groups in Zimbabwe
3. To develop a cadre of people living with HIV highly trained
as facilitators of IBSR: The Work
4. To advocate and raise awareness of self-stigma and the
need to address the gap in programming within this area of
the national response
5. To advocate internationally, using the Zimbabwean
experience, for this method as a recognised response
strategy to self-stigma for PLHIV

5. Programme Model
Phase I
2012-2013
• Research
• Programme
design and
delivery
• Local
adaptation,
• Advocacy
Phase II
2014
• Building
Capacity for
local
facilitators
• Localising
facilitators
programme
• Advocacy
Phase III
2015-2016
• Research
• Local
Programme
delivery
• Zimbabwean
Facilitators
supported
• Advocacy

6. The Methodology
IBSR: The Work of Byron Katie

8. What others think
What others think

9. How HIV limits me

10. Treatment
Treatment

11. My HIV story

12. My Body and HIV

13. Sex since HIV
- She can’t get close to me
- I need to be careful
- I will transfer the disease
- I can’t satisfy him
- My sex life is gone
-It’s not fair on others to have sex
- …
Sex since HIV

14. Shame and guilt
•The thing I’m most
ashamed of is…
- I infected my daughter with HIV
- I lied to my partner about my status
- I have an ugly body
- ...
•And that means that…

15. Fears around disclosure

16. Death
- I will be in constant pain
- I’m losing the battle with my health
- It can attack me at any time
- I will die slowly, piece by piece
- I need more time
-I will die in pain
- They will miss me
- I will miss them
- It will all be over
- I will be punished in the next world
- I have to fix everything before I go

17. God

18. Who I Truly Am

19. Certification
• 340 hour + process for certification
 12 week self stigma and HIV course
 training of facilitators course
 9-day school
 1-4-1 sessions
 thematic workshop
 Helpline/drop in
• 400 hour + process for certification and trainer of the
Work and HIV
 As above & supported delivery of self stigma course

20. Phase 3 and Beyond
• Delivery of 12 week course by Zimbabwean facilitators
• Final self-stigma curriculum produced
• Graduation of ‘Zimbabwean Certified Facilitators of the Work
for HIV’ and ‘Zimbabwean Certified Facilitators & Trainers of
the Work for HIV’, November 2015
• Resource Centre and base available for TCWZ and Facilitators
• Nine/seven-day School for the Work in Zimbabwe 2016
• Ongoing self-stigma and HIV courses offered through Connect
• Scale up
• Ongoing support to clients
• Reaching new groups – Prisons and Support Group Members
• Zim Capacity to support other countries

21. Advocacy
•National AIDS Strategy
•Irish Aid Annual Lecture
•Conferences
•Round tables
•Stigma Index Phase II
•etc

22. Partners
TCWZ
ZNNP+
Connect
The Work
for Change
Trócaire
Others i.e.
SAfAIDS,
UNAIDS
etc
Management Committee:
ZNNP+ (TCWZ), Trócaire,
Connect

23. We are the Change
https://vimeo.com/112904832

25. www.trocaire.org
Trócaire is the official overseas development
agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland.