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Myths about HIV/AIDS still abound – YCG Programme Coordinator
YCG’s Germaine Watson
“You cannot contract HIV/AIDS if you are an alcoholic,” was one of myths that Voluntary Counsellors and Testers of Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) had to dispel recently during an outreach in Wakenaam, Region Two.
According to YCG’s Programme Coordinator, Germaine Watson, it is a situation of much concern when several persons in a single community are not fully aware of the fact about the dreaded HIV/AIDS.
He explained that YCG, a Non-Governmental Organisation, had decided to engage the programme in Wakenaam as part of its HIV/AIDS prevention quarterly outreach in Regions Two and Three.
The team that visited the area, Watson said, did not only include Voluntary Counsellors and Testers but also peer educators who were tasked with mobilising residents so that they could know their status.
However, it was discovered during the mobilising exercise that several of the older residents directed the peer educators to the youths of the community as they were under the impression that they were more at risk.
During sensitisation efforts, residents had highlighted the belief that they could become infected if they utilised certain medication from the hospital.
According to Watson some of the residents said that they are fearful of taking medications such as cough syrup and any red colour liquid from hospitals because, in their minds, such liquids could be contaminated with HIV.
And then there was the erroneous concept that persons who consume alcohol cannot be infected with the virus. Although alarmed to learn that such beliefs even exist, Watson said that that no effort was spared to ensure that the correct facts about the disease were disseminated to the residents.
Watson said that given the fact that the team was able to reach the residents at their comfort level, they were open to the new and accurate information, thus several opted to be counselled and tested.
YCG recently teamed up with the Government of Guyana/International Labour Organisation/United States Department of Labour (GOG/ILO/USDOL) workplace programme and has been working closely with National Project Coordinator, Sean Wilson.
The collaboration has allowed YCG to engage in long-term activities such as community outreaches.
As part of the outreach initiative, YCG was able to target the Guyana Bauxite Company at Aroaima where it was realised that there was a dire need for even more awareness on HIV/AIDS than was anticipated.
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