Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies - February 24, 2004
Asta Ytre in Kingston
"Free bus! Downtown û Crossroads û Half Way Tree! Free bus!" The cries were loud when the bus stopped at the station. Bus travelers were encouraged to hop on the bus for a chance to get a free ride and learn about HIV/AIDS at the same time.
Armed with posters (highlighting HIV facts, transmission methods, anti-stigma messages and encouraging people to go get tested), condoms, condom brochures, Red Cross information and, demonstration material for putting on condoms, the youth volunteers went from passenger to passenger to spread vital messages about HIV/AIDS and how to stay safe.
Once inside the bus, instead of paying the fare, the passengers received condoms and information brochures. When the bus started, so did the conversation.
"Do you know how you can get HIV? And who can get it?" the young volunteers asked. The passengers were encouraged to participate, and answered loud and clear. "Any one can get HIV! Any one who has sex is at risk!" As the trained peer educators conducted condom demonstrations from the front of the bus, the comments and the laughter increased.
Travelers were also encouraged to demonstrate how to put condoms on the demonstration materials and were given the appropriate corrections. And by the end of a long day when the bus finally pulled into the station, some several hundred people had learned more to help them have a safer Valentines Day, and a safer sex life in general.
Safer Sex Week, a national event staged by the Jamaican Ministry of Health was held during the week of 8 û 14 February. The æfree bus' was the closing activity carried out by the Jamaican Red Cross.
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