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Women important to HIV/AIDS prevention - Red Cross

    JOHANNESBURG

    The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Thursday called for women to be given more of a voice in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

    As it marks International Women's Day on 8 March, the IFRC said women made up more than half of an estimated 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS globally.

    "In sub-Saharan Africa, the knowledge that traditional support structures are collapsing has left women feeling powerless in the face of death," IFRC social welfare advisor, Jennifer Inger, said in a statement.

    The IFRC said it was currently running a "Memory Box" programme in Zimbabwe where women leave behind a "treasure chest" of information to help orphans maintain a sense of cultural continuity.

    "Although organisations such as the Federation carry out large-scale HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, more work is needed to lessen women's vulnerability to the disease," IFRC HIV/AIDS coordinator for Southern Africa, Bongai Mundeta, said.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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