Women and Aids Support Network Director, Priscilla Misihairabwi WASN, Women and Aids Support Network was established in June, 1989 after members found a need for a more gender sensitive perspective of AIDS prevention activities in Zimbabwe. Women, in early prevention messages were presented as sources of infection i.e. responsible men were being infected by dangerous women. Objectives: WASN's main objectives are to collect and disseminate information on how HIV and AIDS specifically affect women. They network amongst other organisations who are willing to discuss such issues and can provide support to these women. WASN works closely with families on the education and understanding of AIDS and its effects on family members. Women who have limited access to health information are the easiest targets of the disease. Most women contract HIV/AIDS through heterosexual sex with-in marriages. Wives who often have no choice become victims of AIDS. As of January 1994, there were an estimated nine million women worldwide infected with HIV, of these an estimated 6,5 million were living in Sub Saharan Africa. WASN works with a variety of other Non-Governmental Organisations within Zimbabwe. It was noted during a study undertaken by WASN and the International Committee Research on Women (ICRW), that most NGO' s preferred to target the family unit, youths, the general public or communities. Organisations that focus on women's needs are asked to justify this and are challenged to educate and include men in their interventions. The following are limitations of existing AIDS prevention strategies. These global and local prevention strategies consist primarily of the three interrelated tactics:- Encourage people to reduce their number of sexual partners (For most women, monogamy is a largely irrelevant strategy because they are already monofamous.) Promoting the widespread use of condoms - condoms are a technology that women may influence, but ultimately do not control. There are a variety of powerful forces, social, economic, cultural and emotional that limit women's ability to negotiate successfully on their behalf. Treating concurrent sexually transmitted illness in populations at risk of HIV. From studies done, very few women have access to medical treatment. Any individual who supports the above aims and objectives and has a genuine interest in the Network may become a member on completing a WASN membership form. To gain further information on Women and Aids Support Network, their offices are at 138 Harare Street and Speke. Telephone: 736451. Author not available, Profile on Organizations-WASN. Vol. 7, Zimbabwe Women's Resource Centre and Network Journal, 04-01-1995, pp 17.