This program uses a hand-based mnemonic to teach five points - hope, identity, transmission, marriage, fidelity and family, and community– that correspond to HIV prevention and treatment information.
Here Bolo addresses the need for HIV education in Mali. Although HIV prevalence in Mali is low (1.7%), many Malians do not believe in HIV. Consequently, few get tested, so HIV prevalence in Mali may be higher than what is currently reported. Our solution is Here Bolo, an HIV peer education program that uses a mnemonic based on the fingers of the hand to teach five points - hope, identity, transmission, marriage, fidelity and family, and community to the Malian population.
Here Bolo provides HIV education to the Sikoro community by performing in festivals and traveling door-to-door in Sikoro. Beginning in the summer of 2007, Here Bolo will also offer optional door-to-door HIV testing.
Here Bolo benefits the Sikoro community by providing education, reducing stigma and increasing the number of people being tested and seeking treatment. It also provides peer educators with paid employment and great respected in the community.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
