World AIDS Day 2008 preparation: ‘Shattered Hopes and Dreams’ launched

Aug 21, 2008 News

– UNAIDS Rep criticizes message it portrays to

youths

As part of the activities and events planned for World AIDS Day, which will be observed on December 1st, 2008, a thirty (30) minutes movie titled, “Shattered Hopes and Dreams” was launched yesterday at the International Convention Center in Liliendaal on the East Coast of Demerara.

The film was directed by Gem Madhoo-Naciemento and the cast comprised students who are all currently on a work study programme at the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS).

The movie portrayed a brilliant student, who was academically successful at school, but as a result of peer pressure, got involved in a relationship with a young man and later found out that she was HIV positive.
The theme of the movie advocated abstinence until marriage.

However, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Guyana and Suriname, Dr. Ruben del Prado disagreed with this message touting it as unrealistic since the reality is that young people do engage in sexual intercourse before marriage.

He posited that the emphasis should have been placed on protection, which he noted was not displayed in the film.

Dr. Del Prado reminded that marriage does not protect against HIV.
“All countries need to develop context – specific, national preventive strategies, not the off the shelf slogans, dreamt up by doctors, religious fundamentalists, moralists and wishful thinkers who craft prevention policies based on the assumptions that adolescents are not sexually active…and if they are…that they can be persuaded to practice abstinence without failure…the facts, however, overwhelmingly contradict these assumptions and multiple studies show that in many marriages only one of the two partners is HIV positive, while the other one is not,” Dr. Prado said.

He noted that approximately 2.5 million people globally become newly infected with HIV each year, while 3 million are now receiving antiretroviral therapy.

“The truth is that this pandemic will never be defeated without effective prevention. And to be precise, no single prevention strategy will be sufficient. We need combined prevention.

And we need to rethink our approach to evaluating prevention and honestly addressing what works and what does not work”, he noted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony urged youths who are equipped with the knowledge of HIV/AIDS to properly apply it.

He noted that there is increased awareness of the pandemic in the public domain, but youths still refuse to translate it into behavioral change.

Dr. Anthony pointed to the use of edutainment in getting young people more involved in spreading positive messages about the virus and in this regard disclosed that his ministry has invited fifty (50) young people from Caribbean countries for CARIFESTA X, who will be involved in a number of edutainment activities.

One of such will be an edutainment symposium. Minister Anthony noted that this will be the first in the region where Caribbean youths will be brought together.

The 50 youths are also expected to perform at the youth village for CARIFESTA X at the National Park.
Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in delivering the feature address, acknowledged that Guyana cannot prevent HIV, but noted that for those who are living with the virus, the country can afford them the opportunity of living positive and productive lives.

“We must make it very clear that HIV is not the end of the world. And for people living with HIV, we must give them hope. Guyana is not prepared to succumb to HIV…we will take care of those who are living with HIV and we will do all in our power to prevent new HIV infections. For us in Guyana, even one new infection is unacceptable,” Dr. Ramsammy said.

As part of the observance for World AIDS Day 2008, Guyana will once again be holding a National Day of Testing, which will be on November 16th.

This year, the Ministry of Health has targeted 10,000 persons to be tested. In 2007, the ministry had targeted 2,500 persons for testing. This target was exceeded as approximately 5,000 persons got tested.

Minister Ramsammy disclosed that this year, in order to achieve its target, the Health Ministry will place special focus on all the Members of Parliament. He believes that the leaders must be actively involved in organizing their communities in getting tested.

“Come out in your communities and mobilize your community and lead by example and take the test on the National Day of Testing. We want our leaders to show that they are in solidarity with us. Stand up and be counted… get tested, lead by example,” the Health Minister urged.

He also made a special appeal to business owners, trade unions, Faith Based Organizations and Churches to be actively involved. “We cannot save souls unless we save lives,” Ramsammy said.