Shall we meet in the field? AIDS Agency

Occupy public parks with culture and inform young people about HIV/AIDS prevention. This was the goal of the Working Group on Youth Activism (GT Jovem) in Gestos, which last Thursday (29) held the event “Prevention for Youth: Do We Agree in the Square?” which was held at 5:00 pm. In Parque Urbano. From Macaxeira (Northern District of Recife). The event promoted a talk show on joint prevention, with the right to music programming with Som na Rural and DJ Catarina Dee Jah, as well as a thematic show at the park’s water tank. Information brochures and protective supplies – such as lubricating gel and condoms – were distributed on site.

“We were here three years ago, and we also bring the information; but this time we have presented a very important agenda, which is to talk about joint prevention, something we need to get more information every day and get to know the news; after all, prevention is there so that we can Take care of ourselves,” commented Youth GT activist Vitória Chateubriand, who has been a member of the group for about four years.

Combined prevention is a set of measures and methods available to prevent transmission of HIV and/or infection. Together, these methods and actions make up the so-called “joint prevention mandala”, which works in an integrated and interdependent manner.

Gestos Institutional Programs Coordinator, Jô Meneses, explains that this “was a youth-focused activity, because we know that they are the most infected with HIV”. Currently, the capital of Pernambuco is among the four cities in the metropolitan area with the highest number of HIV infections. In Recife alone, from January to June 2021, 134 cases of AIDS were reported, as well as 390 cases of HIV infection, 298 cases among men and 92 cases in women and girls over 13 years old.

This data reinforces the historical interest of civil society organizations working in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country: Young people and adolescents need qualified information about common HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. For Roberta Correia, one of the nurses at Espaço Saúde e Sexualidade da Gestos, information is the best resource for breaking the chain of HIV infection. “First comes the awareness and information this group promotes, on how to prevent and also test yourself, because one way to interrupt this cycle is to test yourself and know your serostatus to start treatment afterwards,” comments the health professional.

Jô Meneses continues: “We brought this activity to the park, because it is a place frequented by young people a lot”, in addition, we also seek to leave the spaces where this kind of dialogue usually takes place. We wanted to get closer to other young people so that they have greater access to information.” For activist Filipe Paraízo, who is also a member of Young GT, the activity has fostered important exchanges to spread reliable information. He comments: “Doing things like this is always very positive, because we are in Ultimately we realize that outdoors help us look at other realities, and that way, we can connect with people and learn as well.”

Thursday’s action was the result of a project supported by Fundo Positivo. In addition to the event in Parque da Macaxeira, another edition will also take place in Praça da Várzea (West region of Recife) and is scheduled for December 1, World AIDS Day.

source: Gestures