AEGiS-06IAC: HIV-positive speakers' bureau educates the community.

6th International AIDS Conference


San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

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HIV-positive speakers' bureau educates the community.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:352 (abstract no. Th.D.907)
Arnold W, Bard M; "Being Alive", Los Angeles, CA. USA

OBJECTIVE: To share vital HIV/AIDS information with the community-at-large through trained HIV-positive speakers and to empower the speakers with respect, compassion and an understanding of self-worth.

METHODS: "Being Alive" is an organization in Los Angeles of and for people with AIDS, people with ARC and people who are HIV-positive, and their significant others. We provide peer support, outreach, advocacy, social events, roommate referrals and vital medical information to our members. Of utmost importance is the Speakers' Bureau with which we reach very diverse medical, political, academic and social agencies with imperative messages about how HIV is transmitted and how it is not. Our speakers emphasize the absolute necessity to modify risk-taking behaviors. The speakers, most of whom are diagnosed with AIDS, attend a training on the basics of HIV/AIDS and then learn communication strategies to effectively deliver their personal testimonies.

RESULTS: Positive evaluations from organizations requesting PWAs confirm the salience of HIV-infected people personalizing the AIDS epidemic. The speakers feel enriched with the experience of sharing information that will help prevent others from an exposure to HIV and disqualify fallacious myths that often stigmatize a person with AIDS.

CONCLUSIONS: PWAs bring an essential 'human element' to the AIDS epidemic when they talk directly with community members. Their personal messages elevate the quality of life, compassion and respect of all persons infected with HIV. The methods for setting up and evaluating the success of a PWA Speakers' Bureau will be discussed in this presentation.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Teaching, Social Support, AIDS-Related Complex, Family Characteristics, Los Angeles, Human, education, ICA6KWDaegis,hivinfections,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivseropositivity,teaching,socialsupport,aids-relatedcomplex,familycharacteristics,losangeles,human,education,ica6

900620
ThD907

Copyright © 1990 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.