Lack of Awaressness on HIV/AIDS still hounds sex workers

by Ronald Jabal

In an age where AIDS seems to be in the consciousness of every Filipino, lack of appropriate information remains to be a problem, ironically, among those who are most vulnerable to this serious health risk. And this vital information should be a major heads up to campaign planners devising strategies on HIV/AIDS.

In a recent FGD conducted by an NGO in Zamboanga City, majority of the respondents disclose that they still do no know how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS "because they don't know about the infection".

They said they do not know if individuals are infected because "hindi nila alam ang HIV/ADS at hindi nakikita sa katawan ng tao".

Some of them blame the information materials being distributed, stressing the materials no longer have "impact" among target groups. These materials are apparently merely being thrown away as they lack the "visuals". They continue to demand "fear" tactic to help most vulnerable groups understand the consequences of getting this virus.

But others admitted that they know the risks and yet they continue to engage in unprotected sex thereby exposing them further to possibility of contracting the disease. The reason: reduced sensation; clients insist on not using condoms; and self-confidence that they are safe anyways. More than anything else, for some, the issue is attitudinal.

To help arrest the growing problem, the FGD participants had these to say:

• Capitalize on life stories of people living with HIV/AIDS and videotape them whenever possible
• Strengthen information dissemination through TV
• Do away with fliers; use flip chart during interpersonal sessions
• Visuals visuals visuals
• Scare away
• Casual conversation is best in information sharing (no more lectures)
• Involve mayor and barangay officials in info drive
• Distribute IEC materials and coupled with educational conversation

Interestingly, participants are heavy users of TV and are less likely to read newspapers. Men who have sex with men are more Internet savvy preferring to stay online most of the times to look for sex.