What is an “Activista?”

In Mozambique Activistas are the people working on the frontlines of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  These activists, focus on providing education and support for those in their community that are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.  Although activistas receive training in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, they are not professional health care workers or counselors.  They are merely concerned and dedicated community members, who volunteer their time, along with their heart, in responding to the national crisis that is HIV/AIDS here.

Activistas spend the majority of their time out in the community doing what is called “home-based visits/care”.  This is when the activista goes to the home of an HIV positive person to see how they are doing.  The main purpose of these visits to make sure that the person is regularly taking their HIV meds.  If the person is not taking their ARVs then the activistas does their best to encourage them to get back on their ARVs.  Adherence to ARVs, that is regularly taking HIV meds once you are on them is extremely important to the health and wellbeing of HIV positive people.  There are several reasons as to why someone might not be taking their HIV meds as they are extremely difficult to take, with many side effects that can interrupt the daily lives of those that are taking them. 

Even though the main reason for the home visits is to ensure treatment adherence, once at the home the activistas provide counsel and support to the person and their family members.  They answer questions and encourage them to lead more healthy lives. 

These visits, conducted by activistas, just ordinary community members, some HIV positive some not, is seems to be a very successful intervention tool, especially in a country that has a lack of “professional” healthcare workers.  It reminds me a lot of what gay men did for each other in the early days of HIV/AIDS in the States.  Just like those gay men in New York during the early days of AIDS, who were activistas themselves, the activistas in Mozambique today are playing an essential role in the lives of those in their community that are positive.  I very much look forward to working with these activistas in my time here, as their impact runs deeper than can be measured.