Albanian children and youth raise awareness and fight HIV-related stigma on World AIDS Day

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Hundreds of young people from several Albanian cities marched and rallied as part of World AIDS Day on December 1 to increase awareness around HIV and AIDS in their communities. In Lezha, around 100 youth listened to speeches and then marched with banners around the town centre wearing red ribbons on their jackets and proclaiming 'Knowledge about HIV/AIDS is a way of prevention'... At the end of the rally, more than 200 youth watched a student-produced movie called 'The Silent Killer' about a young person's struggle with AIDS. The message of the movie was 'Don't give up on the fight against HIV'. Similar rallies and marches were held in several other Albanian towns such as Dibra and Vlora. Peer Educators (PEs) initiated the organisation of an event for the first time in Dibra with the motto: 'Join Us'. They explained to their peers the importance of this day. Peer Educators and Red Cross volunteers distributed leaflets with information about HIV and AIDS and red ribbons to the community. For some people in the community, it was the first time that they heard the explanation of the 'AIDS' acronym. A grandfather said he wants to help with efforts to raise awareness in the town. 'What I learned from the activity today is that we shouldn't give up in the fight against HIV and AIDS,' said 17-year-old Marie Preçi from Lezha. 'World AIDS Day symbolises fighting this disease all around the world. We should also show solidarity with people living with HIV (PLWH) and help them to integrate in social life; not to be excluded from society.' 'I want to tell everyone to protect themselves from HIV,' said 19-year-old Marion from Lezha. 'One way to protect ourselves is to listen and learn about it, and then we should share this knowledge with others'. In Elbasan, 16 previously-trained youths trained more than 180 students on what HIV and AIDS are, how HIV is transmitted, and how it can be prevented. The students also learned how to fight the stigma related to HIV and AIDS. 'We should open our minds and hearts to our friends, who might be living with HIV,' said ninth grader Ardit from Elbasan. Official data shows that up to December 2010 in Albania there were 406 confirmed HIV and AIDS cases, among whom 15 are children. Even though Albania continues to be a low-prevalence country, the data is significant when compared to the population of Albania. On the other hand, the danger of the numbers quickly escalating is also very real, as many emigrants who might have encountered the virus abroad return to Albania with the potential of infecting others. Social stigma related to people living with HIV (PLWH) is also a significant issue in Albania. Albanian society in general remains patriarchal and conservative in many aspects and many people, particularly in rural areas, will not openly talk about socially challenging issues. However children and youth around Albania are trying to combat the stigma related to HIV and AIDS with their activities. One of the many messages of World AIDS Day from the children of Lezha was: 'Stop social problems!' including here the social problems that are related to HIV. 'We try to make people understand what HIV is and raise awareness about it,' said 17-year-old Greta Talaj, who has been a Red Cross Volunteer for three years. 'We want to make as many people aware as possible about HIV and how we can help in our fight against it.' Peer Educators from Tirana together with their teachers of middle school and high school had a class on educating the students about HIV and AIDS and how it can be prevented. They distributed awareness materials on HIV and AIDS, such as posters and banners designed by PEs from Shkodra, Lezha and Kurbin Area Development Programmes where World Vision works. 'We should help people who live with HIV,' said Dorjana, 18, from Lezha. 'HIV is not transmitted by talking, by hugging, by being near people living with HIV. We should be close to these people and be by their side as they need a lot of support from society.' 'Make part of your life a child who lives with HIV and share the joy of life with them,' concluded ninth grader Brikena from Elbasan. -Ends-