Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - February 19, 2007
Ali Hakimi
The group is working to draw public attention to the International Federation's anti-discrimination campaign and the government's message that while there may be no cure for AIDS, there are ways to prevent it.
"From the first of March 2006, we started a preventive programme in educational institutes with a particular focus on life skills-based peer education all over Afghanistan," Dr. Rahmatullah Bashar Yar, the deputy secretary general for health affairs at the ARCS, recently said during a ceremony to mark World AIDS Day in Kabul.
"The main goal of the programme is to contribute to the reduction of the HIV/AIDS problem in Afghanistan through strengthened local response, community-based prevention and anti-stigmatization activities," he explained.
It is estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 people were living with HIV in Afghanistan last year, although government figures from December 2005 showed 61 confirmed cases of HIV or AIDS in the country.
What's more, according to the United Nations, there were around 19,000 intravenous drug users - and potential HIV virus carriers - in Afghanistan in 2005.
Despite these alarming figures, the Red Crescent is undeterred in its efforts to make a difference in the community.
"Changing the traditional behaviours and customs of the public is not as easy as it seems. We should not expect the way of life in Afghanistan to change overnight, so we should be patient and proceed with our training step by step," said Dr. Fatima Nasir, the ARCS HIV/AIDS programme officer.
"Distributing posters, peer education and preparing TV and radio programmes about HIV/AIDS are some of the steps that can prepare society for change," she added.
Her comments were reflected in the actions of the ARCS volunteers as they recently marched through the snow in front of the Ministry of Public Health in an effort to show their commitment and willingness to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in their country.
"I feel very happy today because I think that I have a really important role in raising awareness and educating my people about HIV/AIDS," said Narges Mosavi, one of the community-based first aid volunteers who took part in the rally.
In November 2006, volunteers also conducted Afghanistan's third HIV/AIDS campaign aimed at raising awareness within the community about the disease, and focusing on eliminating stigma and discrimination against people who are infected by the virus.
The volunteers did this through distributing posters around Kabul. Nearly 40 volunteers, both male and female, took part in the campaign. The posters, which were created by the Ministry and the Global Fund, explain what HIV is, how it can be transmitted, and ways to curb its spread. The campaign, which also showed that HIV cannot be contracted through sharing food, clothes or cutlery, was particularly focused on young people.
The posters were distributed along with others featuring the International Federation's seven standard anti-discrimination messages, which include, come closer, talk to me, touch me, shake my hand, kiss me, hug me and play with me.
"This campaign was initiated to celebrate World AIDS Day and has two purposes. The first is to alert the public about the HIV virus and the threat that it may offer, and the second is humanitarian behaviour with infected patients," said Dr. Abdullah Joyenda, the deputy secretary general for youth and volunteers affairs at ARCS.
The campaign was conducted in various districts throughout Kabul, with the volunteers entering barber shops and beauty parlours, enlightening shop owners on ways in which to prevent the HIV virus from spreading.
"We have to use the blades only once and after using the blade, we should wash our hands with antiseptic materials," said Vahid Mohammad Shir, owner of a barber shop in Kote Sangi, one of the crowded districts in Kabul. "Although it is expensive for us to use the blade just once, we have to be careful about our health and that of our customers," he added.
"Though I had an idea about what the HIV virus was before, after talking to some youth volunteers today, I am more aware and I think it is important that a barber should clean his scissors and combs after they are used," said Qader Mokhtari, a regular customer at Vahid's shop.
"I personally like to go to a clean barber any time that I need to shave. I think that it is vital that the barbers I go to in the future follow the cleanliness techniques demonstrated by the youth volunteers today, otherwise I would not patronize the shop again," he added.
The volunteers stressed that barbers should wash their hands with soap and clean water after each shaving and put their scissors and combs in chlorine solution before using them for the next shaving, and only use blades once.
In addition to the youth campaign spearheaded by ARCS, the Ministry of Public Health has also established HIV/AIDS counselling centers in Kabul, Herat, Mazar, Jalalabad and the central jail in the capital.
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