Bonoua, Côte d’Ivoire – Teddy, a transgender woman, is breaking down barriers in the fight against HIV. Defying stigma, she educates her community about prevention and empowers them to embrace their identities.
“Many have lost family support,” Teddy says. “We build a safe space, free from judgment, where we can share experiences and find happiness.”
Teddy is a peer educator, leading weekly gatherings at a drop-in center. She distributes condoms, explains pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV, and even conducts home visits for those seeking privacy.
Transgender people globally face a disproportionate burden of HIV. In Côte d’Ivoire, despite progress in the fight against the virus, the HIV prevalence among transgender people is a staggering 24.7%, compared to the national average of 2.4%.
Organizations like Alliance Côte d’Ivoire are working to close this gap, supported by the Global Fund. They train outreach workers like Teddy and provide safe spaces for the LGBTQI+ community.
“Human rights are about recognizing people as people,” says Désiré Gayé, of Alliance Côte d’Ivoire. “We all have the right to health.”
The fight extends beyond healthcare. Alliance and partners train paralegals like Inza Coulibaly to educate the community about their rights and provide legal assistance. They even train police officers on LGBTQI+ rights and social workers on working with marginalized communities.
Inza has documented numerous human rights violations, but with growing awareness, more are being reported. “This discrimination will stop,” he says. “People know their rights and have the means to claim them.”
