Spreading awareness on World AIDS Day

Raising awareness about HIV

As a Peace Corps Response Volunteer with the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia's Hardap Region, Marianne had the privilege of participating in World AIDS Day activities from December 2-4, 2024. The theme, "Strengthening minds: Promoting mental health in the fight against HIV," supported efforts to promote HIV prevention, self-testing, and community connections.

Art and other activities

In collaboration with the Special Programs Directorate, Marianne and colleagues organized activities at three sites. The events focused on self-care strategies that support HIV prevention, self-testing, and community connections. To complement these activities, Marianne planned an artwork station that allowed community members to decorate cardboard fans with health promotion messages on topics such as HIV prevention, knowing your HIV status, and cervical cancer screening.

The artwork station was a huge success, with 60 fans distributed and decorated by community members. This interactive activity provided a fun and creative platform to deliver key health promotion messages, engaging both children and adults in a meaningful way. At two sites, community members could decorate fans at designated art stations, and in a third, fans were handed out with messages focused on HIV self-testing, proper condom use, and voluntary circumcision for men.

Reaching a wider audience

The AIDS Day activities coincided with Maternal and Child Health Week, which offered health passport checks, health updates, and vaccination catch-ups for community members. This synergy created a wider audience, including children and their mothers or caregivers. Health promotion messages were adapted to suit younger participants, while mothers and caregivers were also engaged in accompanying the children.

Overall, the activities were successful in fostering community participation and delivering key health messages through interactive and creative methods. It was heartwarming to see community members enjoying the artwork station and taking home their personalized fans as a reminder of the importance of HIV prevention and health promotion.