Training for reducing vulnerability to AIDS infection

Anirudha Alam

HIV/AIDS has been multiplying human misery across the world. It obstructs development efforts. The infected become a burden on their country. In Bangladesh, Haiti, India, and Nepal - no more than half of the women population has heard of AIDS. Out of ignorance, people indulge in risky behaviour, increasing the risk of infection. A comprehensive awareness drive can ensure better protection from infection.

Trafficking and gender violence increase the risks of AIDS infection as do dowry, early marriage and polygamy. According to a research done by Bangladesh Extension Education Services (BEES), poverty, illiteracy, food insecurity, lack of healthcare, and disempowerment of women can be contributing factors in the spread of HIV infection. Addressing these social issues requires integrated training programmes to suit the needs. Life skills training for the underprivileged should ensure that the message is conveyed to the target groups in the way they understand it. They should be encouraged to participate in training programmes for prevention of HIV/AIDS. What is more is that there should be enough efforts to provide timely life-skills training to prevent infection.

Social mobilisation is important to make HIV/AIDS prevention training programmes effective. It makes the programmes cost effective and helps achieve the desired outcome. Social mobilisation stimulates the people in a community to participate in reproductive health awareness. It can strengthen the programme by generating interest among the participants. Utilisation of local resources would make the prevention programme more effective.

Case studies would motivate the trainees on how to gain from the life-skills training programmes to overcome social disparities. HIV positive person could be invited to training sessions as resource persons to share their experience. Advocacy sessions would be useful for the training programmes. Doctors, teachers, marriage registrars, social workers, community-based organisation leaders, local government representatives and other influential persons can be local policy makers. The HIV prevention programme will gain from their involvement. They should be properly oriented on the social issues to contribute to prevent the spread of HIV infection and reduce the vulnerability of the people in local communities.

The vulnerable people could be turned into potential human resources by raising their awareness on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. Motivation and awareness would develop their coping ability to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. According to a research on reproductive health literacy done by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallayan Foundation in 2008 both in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh, awareness of AIDS is, by and large, lower among rural men and women than among urban men and women.

Awareness of AIDS is poorer among men and women with little or no schooling and training than those with more schooling and training. That is why, there is an urgent need to improve the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the disadvantaged community people especially in rural areas. In this regard, behaviour change communication (BCC) should be brought about through integrated training activities. BCC can encourage the core groups in a community to leave their bad practices and gather and update knowledge and information needed to prevent HIV/AIDS.

The writer, a deputy director, Bangladesh Extension Education Services, can be reached at e-mail: anirudhaalam@yahoo.com

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