{Whilst the Rwandan government has made tremendous efforts in narrowing the knowledge gap about HIV and fast tracking of new HIV infections in its citizens, more efforts need to be invested in behavior change communications to deeply embrace the ABC concept to super match the cultural norms and values as measures for cubing down its prevalence rate. }
Although, government strategies, plans and policies have backed up open communications around HIV prevention and its components particularly on the consistent and correct condom use; Media and some opinion leaders especially those in the cycle of influence have played little role to consistently raise awareness about this, particularly through their forums, or else writing and broadcasting contents about the ABC concept as influential channels.
Probably, some media practitioners and these leaders like other citizens; they too, are not well grounded into the concept and thus lack knowledgeable, and exposure to such communications.
In fact, most of them are or may feel shy teaching or learning about the importance, and the correct and consistent condom use in public. On the other hand, some may still be considering this culturally improper, yet not in my view. To me, this is just an issue of mind set. Rwanda needs a health generation free from HIV and this can only happen through open communication & normalizing the third core element in HIV prevention in the ABC concept.
Whereas, culture and society are inseparable values for a healthy nation, Rwanda’s success towards cubing down the virus has to be clearly demonstrated in a compelling practical manner by foregoing the cultural package in their entirety when it comes to specific circumstances or epidemics such as HIV and/or other diseases.
Though, most people think it’s obvious and presume to have the knowhow of this (consistent & correct condom use), many might on the contrary be proved wrong given the opportunity to demonstrate the proper application. That’s why constant teachings or open communications need to be strengthened to leverage such thinking and nullify the hypothesis held by many.
Necessarily, open talks about condom use as one of the HIV preventive measure; facilitate individuals to overcome their fear to test for their status, buy, and use condoms. Individuals get rid of their fear to talk about this with their families, peers and siblings without implying sexuality or immorality of any kind but rather a needful package/message to know.
With this, I believe, Rwandans can keep AIDS at bay, if at all; we all embrace open communications about condom use, especially its consistency and correct use, to our partners, peers, and families. Lack of such open communication may render increased spread of HIV, and thus pressure on the national budgets for a sick nation. This should not be seen as sexuality but as a positive cultural evolution with an ultimate goal of keeping the nation safe and secure.
To achieve and to reinforce positive behavior change, it is important to affirm risk reduction strategies such as open communications and public condom demonstrations which should be done by everyone especially media and opinion leaders.
Open communications aim at providing information and support to enable people to make informed choices rather than giving advice.
Definitely, providing information about safer sex in open cannot remove all degrees of ambiguity from the messages but plays a vital role in providing the right messages for people to understand. Although, the word “safer” implies that a level of safety can be achieved, absolute guarantees do not exist but its better this way.
Therefore, I call upon everyone including main stream media to publish contents about open communications about consistent and correct condom use to reduce anxieties that inhibit some people’s ability to adopt or maintain such risk-reducing practices. It’s not all about the public surrounding you, it’s all about your life, play safe and live safer by not getting shy to using condoms if you ever go out of yourself.
{{ {Butera John R. Mugabe
Corporate Communications Manager/SFH
Email: rbutera@yahoo.com} }}
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