Do we still need HIV/Aids education?

Arts Focus, Raisedon Baya

HIV and Aids has been with us for over 30 years now. It is almost as old as this our country. For all the years it has been with us the scourge has left an unforgettable trail of destruction. I remember during the early days of the pandemic when education around the issue was more of scare tactics than anything else. Aids kills! Don’t misbehave or you will die! We were boldly told. After decades and decades of living side by side with HIV and Aids the talk and even campaign strategies have changed. Now the message is HIV is not a death sentence. Now we know one can live productively with it for years. How things have changed.

Since the beginning the fight against HIV and Aids has been multi-pronged. And drama has been one of the approaches to fighting the pandemic. The fight has been tiresome and draining and when we all thought we were winning, new information, especially about new infections, keeps telling us we are far from winning the battle. The battle is not over yet and what is frightening is that adolescent girls and young women (15-24) are more at risk. These account for 20% of new infections. This is according to the 2016 UNAIDS Global Aids update report.

And so there I was with hundreds other artistes attending the provincial drama competitions organised by National Aids Council in partnership with the National Arts Council at the Large City Hall. I found myself asking this question: Do we still need HIV and Aids education or not? Before I saw the statistics on new infections I almost said no, we don’t need it. However, once I got to know the number of new infections, especially among young people, I knew that there is still need for more effective HIV and Aids education in this country and beyond. In all the years and during the fight against HIV and Aids drama has always been one of the most effective tools of information dissemination.

The provincial drama competition at the Large City Hall was in line with the world aims of ending Aids by 2030. The theme of the day was “closing the taps to new infections”. In line with the 2030 agenda it is hoped that by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV should know their status and that all those who test positive 90% must receive sustained Anti-Retroviral Treatment. And of all people that receive Anti-Retroviral Therapy, 90% should have durable viral suspension. Quite a lofty dream but very achievable.

This and other information is what the dramas were meant to project. The idea behind drama for education has always been to simply the information. Simply the scientific explanations and make the common person in the streets understand what important issues are about.

Here are some reasons why drama is perhaps the best media when it comes to community education and getting closer to the common person in the street.

Drama makes things simple.

Drama can make the invisible visible.

Drama is not an individual activity.

Drama can involve the whole community.

Drama can present problems and solution at the same time.

Drama is mobile.

Drama can educate and entertain at the same time.

Drama is life.

It was very interesting then to see what the 12 groups did during the day. The stories were very interesting. Most could have been better with more information on why we need to close the taps to new infections, where the new infections were coming from and then given audiences the ideas on how to close these taps to new infections. One or two groups were on point. I was particularly impressed with Khaya Arts’ 10 minute dance and song piece. It had everything — entertainment and education.

It’s a piece that can be taken anywhere.