Tuesday, July 01, 2008 Oledan: High risk By Radzini Oledan
ANYONE is vulnerable to Aids -- and almost everyone is vulnerable, unless they know how to protect themselves.
There is an increase in sexually transmitted and HIV infection cases monitored by non-government groups Talikala and Iwag, including those recorded by the Davao City Reproductive Health and Wellness Center of the City Health Office.
This shows that people either are not learning the message about the dangers of HIV or are unable or unwilling to act on it.
Many people are dangerously ignorant about the virus, with current surveys showing alarmingly low levels of awareness and understanding about HIV among many groups.
Education can help to overcome such ignorance, and thereby prevent HIV infections from occurring.
This can be seen as consisting of two processes: firstly, giving people information about HIV and AIDS, such as how they are transmitted and how people can protect themselves from infection.
Secondly, teaching people how to put this information to use and act on it practically--how to suggest and practice safer sex.
Too often, Aids education is seen as being something that should only be targeted at people who are not infected with HIV in order to prevent them from becoming infected.
When Aids education with HIV-positive people is considered at all it is frequently seen only in terms of preventing new infections by teaching HIV+ people about the importance of not passing on the virus.
But it is not only sex workers, intravenous drug users, or gay men who become infected with STI, HIV, and Aids.
Sometimes Aids education is about giving people information that they will remember on a long-term basis, about how to protect themselves, the difference between HIV and Aids, and helping to reduce discrimination. On other occasions, an education strategy might intend to have a more immediate effect and target people when they are most likely to take part in risky behavior.
It can be presented in many ways and put across by many forms of media. Some people can be best reached via newspapers and magazines, while street theatre may also be effective.
The bottom line -- Aids education needs to embrace culturally appropriate and relevant media.
This means that education ought to be aimed at all parts of the community, not only those groups who are seen as being particularly high-risk.
The people who are most urgently in need of HIV education are those who think they are not at risk. Email comments to roledan@gmail.com.
