Minibus Drivers Fight HIV/AIDS in Guyana
November 2003
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Colorful, free-wheeling minibuses,
blasting music as they connect Guyana’s cities,
have also been spreading intolerance for those infected
with HIV/AIDS. Now they are being enlisted in Guyana’s
first media campaign to neutralize the stigma of infection.
The campaign is funded by USAID’s Guyana mission.
As part of the effort, researchers studying attitudes
and behavior toward the infected and ill found that
some minibus operators openly discriminated against
passengers
they suspect have HIV/AIDS.
Such attitudes keep people
from informing themselves, getting tested for HIV infection,
or seeking care and support.
Many riders feared close
contact with the HIV-positive and AIDS sufferers, who
are considered “loose” in character and culpable
for their illnesses.
“Stigma and discrimination
toward people living with HIV and AIDS prevent crucial
behavior change from happening,” said Bill Slater,
HIV/AIDS technical advisor at the mission. Many Guyanese
youth admire minibus operators and drivers for their
flashy clothes, ready cash, and taste in contemporary
music. As such, they have played a leading role in a
culture of “talk” promoting stigma and
discrimination, and their attitudes and behavior affect
those living
with HIV/AIDS.
Campaign planners hope to change the
way minibus drivers, conductors, riders, and others
think
and talk about HIV/AIDS.
They are being taught to foster
respect and compassion for the HIV-positive and AIDS
sufferers.
“Minibus
drivers have begun playing a key role in the response
and are reaching new audiences in new ways,” said
Slater.
A core of trained drivers and operators are
at the fore of the campaign. The demand
from drivers to be involved has far exceeded expectations.
Television, radio and print ads, posters, banners,
and stickers convey the message: “Give Respect!
Get Respect! Big up [sup-port] people living with HIV/AIDS.” Drivers
and operators also promote the message in person in
minibus parks popular with sociable street idlers.
Family Health International played a key role
strengthening local organizations and implementing
the media campaign with the mission.
The NGOs promote
public
and private discussion of stigma and discrimination
while stimulating general awareness through concerts,
theater
events, and a walkathon.
Project partners have included
community and faith-based organizations, Guyana’s
National AIDS Program Secretariat, the National AIDS
Committee, the Ministry of Health, the Peace Corps,
the Japanese government, and UNAIDS.
The activities
fall under the Guyana HIV/AIDS Youth Project, begun
by the Agency in 1999 to combat
the spread of the virus and other sexually transmitted
infections and get community-based organizations
involved.
Access the November
2003 edition of FrontLines [PDF, 3.6MB]
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