1800 young in Medellin sensitized to HIV: a hope

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in different places of the world is stable with tendency to the decrease, but in Colombia, in particular in Medellin the epidemic is increasing; in fact, 800 persons are diagnosed with HIV every year, most of them between 16 and 26 years of age.

The project: "1800 young sensitized towards the HIV, a hope" seeks to contribute with the prevention of this infection, aiming to decrease the number of new infections and the stigma associated to it while increasing the social acceptance of the infected individuals. This project consists of three axes: art, communication and prevention.

1. Art: The 1^st of December, the international day of fight against the HIV, was the opening of the artistic exhibition "HIV, a look through the art". This exhibition was the result of an artistic call that was made in various art departments of different schools and universities, including the Institute of fine arts of Medellin and the University of Antioquia, in particular with students of the Faculties of Art and Medicine. This artistic call was carried out along with workshops seeking a better sensitization of the artists with the specific subject of HIV. The exhibition was carried out at the showroom of the COMFENALCO library, in downtown, Medellin, a space that is usually visited by young students of different local institutions. Attached is a video of the opening exhibition.
2. Communication: There was an educational photo display that opened in September, at the research headquarters of the University of Antioquia, a space that is frequently visited by high school and young university students; in fact, more than 200 hundred students had a guided visit through this exhibition, along with sensitization talks on the subject, plus the regular daily visitors. It includes 12 photographs with a current and modern graphic concept that was oriented by HIV-1 infected persons. The exhibition has been very well taken, and the idea is to display it at several different places in 2017, including educational parks, libraries, and college museums, among others. Collages of the photo display and of different visitors comments are attached.
3. Prevention: The educational intervention has been carried out with 907 high school adolescents in 54 different didactic encounters from different institutions. Of these, 27 meetings were psychosocial oriented, emphasizing on the importance of practicing a responsible sexuality. The additional 27 encounters were carried-out with scientists, experts in the subject, who strengthened concepts on HIV, including transmission routes, prevention strategies, AIDS, among others. The discussion was oriented based on the film "Transit". The SiFuturo Foundation team and scientists from the Immunovirology Group, School of Medicine, University of Antioquia were the leaders of these meetings.Written material was design as communication pieces for these educational activities, and also to call for the art and the educational exhibition (material attached)

2017 will be a year to give continuity to this initiative that leaves a positive balance, facing the high demand that arises in the context of education. The Foundation will continue the work on HIV prevention, sensitizing as much young people as possible. Similarly, art takes the city to convey realities from other perspectives, to express human contents in an easy and comfortable way. Hoinge that the initiative "HIV a look through the art" continues to be part of the social dynamic that redefines experiences and immortalizes stories.

Links:

• HIV, a look through the art

• Artistic call (PDF)
  

Most of the infections in the world have been acquired by heterosexual relationships; in fact, 50% of the infected individuals are women.

Worldwide the number of cases of HIV are stabilized with a tendency to decrease. In contrast, in Colombia, this number is increasing, and the infection is concentrated in vulnerable populations with a general prevalence of 0.52% (1 of every 200 people), but in some regions of the country the prevalence in the more vulnerable groups can reach 24.1% (1 of every 4) in men who have sex with men; 4.54% (1 of every 22) in sexual workers and 3.8% (1 of each 26) in intravenous drug users.

You choose how it ends...

Alcohol is a depressant drug that is legal; its use decreases the conscience, the perception of risk and frequently exposes the consumer to situations that would not face unless he or she is under its influence, such as unprotected sexual relationships, even with unknown partners; something similar may occur with other legal and illegal substances. 

The addiction to alcohol or others drugs may lead the individual to practice commercial sex, for getting the money to obtain the different substances.

There is a very high risk of acquiring HIV infection by intravenous drug users for sharing needles with infected people.