Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise By Ali Hakimi, International Federation Information Officer in Kabul

According to the latest update from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the current number of HIV and AIDS infected people in Afghanistan is four times bigger compared to last year's figures. In total, 266 confirmed cases were reported in Afghanistan alone. This significant increase of infected people confirms that the disease is spreading very fast.

Low levels of community awareness and the existence of over 19,000 injecting drug users (UNODC) are some of the main reasons which provide a suitable base for the disease to spread very fast. Poverty, superstitious traditional beliefs and the coming back of thousands of returnees, are other potential factors which cannot not be ignored.

Several explosions in the few past months confirm that Kabul is not a safe place any more. But this does not prevent the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) volunteers and Youth Peer Educators (YPE) from celebrating the World AIDS Day in their city.

On Saturday, the first day of December, nearly 70 YPE from the ARCS gathered in Shahre-e-Naw Park in central Kabul, to express once again their commitment to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS. The presence of school girls was noticeable.

"We as YPE have three objectives; solidarity with world wide people, reminiscence of people living with HIV virus and advocacy of those people infected with the virus," said Mitra Dehyar, an ARCS/ YPE.

Although the weather was cold and rainy, Mitra and her friends were quite serious to continue with their rally. Mohammad Nasim, another YPE was happy that he had a small but impressive role in this big ceremony.

"I am proud that I took part in this rally and I am so happy that my people are able to celebrate these kinds of events;" he continued, "our main aims are awareness and commitment to work. I want to tell those people who are living with HIV virus that they are not alone. We are their friends and we are determined in our work."

Inside the park, a play was enacted with the subject of no stigma and no discrimination. It was about a family whose wife gets infected with HIV virus. Her husband becomes really angry about this and kicks her out of the house and tries to send her back to her father's house. On the way to her father's house, they have a discussion, and the husband blames her for the illness. Their discussion attracts other people and all of them start speaking about the disease though none of them have any idea about it. Eventually a man carrying some posters regarding HIV and AIDS crosses them and asks them the reason for their discussion. Then he explains, to them about HIV and AIDS, about how it gets transferred from one person to another. and what people can do about it. Finally the husband understands that his wife was not at fault if she was infected with the virus, and that he can live with her for the rest of their lives, without any problem, if they follow safety procedures like use of condoms.

In another occasion, three weeks before the ARCS volunteers organised the HIV and AIDS campaign in Kabul, 150 youth peer educators participated in a campaign which covered 300 barbers and beauty salons in Kabul. The ARCS / HIV and AIDS department is going to conduct another campaign a few weeks later to fulfil its programme.

"We are not only educating barber shop owners about sanitation methods which prevent the HIV virus from spreading, we are also distributing a kit which consists of a chlorine bottle, a piece of soap and a pack of blade. Then we explained to then as to how they can use them and for what purpose" said Ghulam Rasool Ahadi, one of the ARCS volunteers.

The ARCS/ HIV and AIDS department alongside with other organizations such as MoPH and United Nations agencies with the support of the International Federation is implementing a variety of programmes, to improve community awareness regarding HIV, AIDS and STDs. According to Dr. Fatima Nasir, ARCS/ HIV and AIDS coordinator, a total of 180 YPE were trained in different districts of Kabul city, 750 school teachers were sensitized and 300 staff of the ARCS headquarters were enlightened.

"Fortunately we managed to have a base line survey regarding HIV and AIDS in 27 high schools in Kabul, in which more than 19600 students were covered," she continued. "We have a plan to expand our programme to other provinces in Afghanistan. For the first step, Herat in western Afghanistan is selected."

"The World AIDS day, 2007, will strengthen commitment at different levels for fighting the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The prevention efforts will be well grounded by having a good policy support and working environment. The events have reiterated the solidarity to reduce stigma and discrimination against those infected and affected with the virus and contributed to combat the HIV epidemic in the country," said Pitambar Aryal, International Federation health delegate.

"The involvement of young people in prevention efforts has made a significant difference in generating awareness about HIV and AIDS epidemic. The life skills based youth peer education on adolescent sexual reproductive health conducted by the ARCS and the International Federation has also had a great impact in imparting knowledge and skills among adolescent youth and building safe practices among them," he added.