AEGiS-14IAC: Knowledge and commitments for actions.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Knowledge and commitments for actions.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. G12496)

Garcia de Paredes N
government, Panama, Panama

ISSUE: A person with no backgrounds or education in HIV/AIDS became an activist, then a Central America advisor and later the National AIDS Program Coordinator in Panama.

DESCRIPTION: My life changed in 1994 when my former husband was diagnosis with AIDS. I have no idea what this mean, so I started an Internet search where found not only medical information, I also many information about activism actions around the world. In 1997 I began a struggle in Panama focus to get Antiretroviral treatment to Panamanian with AIDS. I founded a NGO call PROBIDSIDA and ask the International Activist Community to support the lawsuit I was about to begin. It took two years and finally PROBIDSIDA won. In 1999 I moved to work in a Central America project call PASCA to develop the information dissemination strategy and the advocacy strategy for the NGO sector, coordinate PASCA's local support to the National AIDS Control Program, the implementation of a training program for workers in the industries at highest risk in conjunction with Panama's Social Security Office an the unions representing the workers. Provide support to selected NGOs in the area of institutional strengthening, conduct a needs assessment and identification of technical assistance. In 2000, I was asked to join the new Panamanian government at the Ministry of Health where AIDS was invisible. During this two years I accomplish goals such as regulating the AIDS Law, National AIDS Program was created, National AIDS Council were formed, and access to treatment to Ministry of Health patients.

ISSUES: This has being a long journey in such a short time. It was advocacy teamwork, it couldn't be done without the support of PLWAs, International Agencies, activist, health workers, family, government, NGOs and society.

RECOMMENDATIONS: To fight against AIDS requires lot of information, commitment and actions. Many people have information but actions can't be made. Commitment is the key to make it happen.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Knowledge, HIV Infections, Health Education, Sex Education, Voluntary Health Agencies, Health, School Health Services, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, World Health Organization, Community Health Aides, Central America, Panama, Human

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