Sudan’s women NGO wins prestigious Red Ribbon award
By Julius N. Uma
June 19, 2010 (JUBA) — Widows, Orphans and People Living with HIV/AIDS (WOPHA), a community-based organization in Yei, Central Equatoria State is among the 25 winners of this year’s Red Ribbon award, which attracted 720 entries.
The prestigious award, estimated at $5,000 will be handed over to the winners later this year during the December 01, World Aids Day celebrations.
Started in 2002 by eight Sudanese women who lost their husbands to either war or HIV/Aids, WOPHA’s emphasis on positive living among those affected by the viral disease is said to have played an instrumental role in fighting stigmatization.
Notably, the Yei-based organization formed ‘Friendship Club’, a small support group which attracted new members who greatly benefited from the information about HIV/Aids, which these eight women had gained while living across the border.
In addition, WOPHA has also supported people living with the disease through the establishment of counseling groups and by providing home-based care.
However, over the last eight years, its small team has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about how HIV is transmitted, how it can be prevented, and where people can get tested and treated.
“I feel privileged to receive this award on behalf of my organization,” Ms. Grace Kadayi, WOPHA’s Executive Director said in a statement.
“We hope to use our attendance at next month’s International AIDS Conference in Vienna as an opportunity to share the experiences and challenges we face in Southern Sudanese and look at whether these are common in other contexts, she added.
To many, the $5,000 grant WOPHA received came as no surprise, considering the tremendous impact the organization has had on people living with HIV/Aids in Southern Sudan.
Perhaps that broadly explains why earlier this year, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) fronted WOPHA for the prestigious award, clearing demonstrating UN’s initiative towards seeking to recognize and celebrate outstanding community leadership and action on HIV/AIDS around the world.
Meanwhile, UNDP will reportedly support two members of the organization to participate in the forthcoming International AIDS Conference, already earmarked from July 18-23.
(ST)