PERSONAL STORIES
''You have to get over the fear''

by Néfer Muñoz*

The following personal stories reflect the opinions of the generation that has grown up in a world marked by HIV/AIDS. With some differences, these six young Latin Americans agree that advances have been made in terms of sex education, but demand more information as an antidote against fear and discrimination.

''AIDS is discussed, but in terms of other countries''
Pohan Cihiu, 23-year-old Costa Rican university student.

"The campaigns to fight discrimination have not been that successful because behaviour has not been completely modified. To combat discrimination, I think more love and compassion are needed towards those living with HIV. Those who have the virus are no different than those of us who do not. I believe that young people should receive more information on AIDS starting in high school. There is actually very little information on AIDS, a question that is discussed, but in terms of other countries."

"People are still ignorant''
Karen Vélez, 22-year-old medical school student in Colombia.

"I believe the initiatives to reduce discrimination haven't been successful. People are still ignorant. Many people do not have enough education to even know that they should not discriminate. It would be good to inform the rural population more on this issue, because to me that is the sector most in need of information. If I had the chance to do so, I would carry out television and print campaigns that were more accessible to local communities. To make prevention work, I believe that people must be informed and must be careful. The AIDS situation is really sad, because it is growing more and more."

"I, at least, am taking care of myself"
Donald Mendoza, 22-year-old Nicaraguan who works as a salesman in a hardware store.

"There is enough awareness now to avoid discrimination. I also believe the campaigns against AIDS have informed the population. That is because there are many publicity spots that urge people to have safe sex. What I would do to improve the situation would be to promote more campaigns, to get people to protect themselves even more. We have to inform people in order to prevent the problem from becoming even more widespread. I think it's really bad when discrimination occurs because there are people dying of AIDS. But I have to say that after the information campaigns, many people have begun to take care of themselves. I, at least, am doing so."

"We must learn to live with people who have AIDS"
Pilar Lizama, 25-year-old Chilean publicist

"'I don't think the campaigns have been successful. You don't tend to know anyone, or you have only superficial acquaintanceships with, people who have the virus. The first thing we have to do is learn to live with people who have AIDS. And of course get rid of our fear of these people. If I had a high-level government post, I would implement a programme to monitor diseases and carry out prevention campaigns. To prevent discrimination, it is best to know all about the disease. We young people should interact more with people who have AIDS. The impression I have about the situation with this disease is that there is no clear monitoring of the number of people who have it, nor a clear outlook on what is happening."

"People with AIDS are no longer rejected"
Xiomara Marchena, 25-year-old lab technician in Costa Rica.

"I believe efforts to reduce discrimination have had some success in Costa Rica. I think that in the workplace, people with AIDS are no longer ostracized, and are more and more accepted. If I was an influential person, I would give the order that no one could be discriminated against for having HIV. By what I have heard in Costa Rica, the number of AIDS cases has increased enormously, and it seems that awareness is not growing. There is no communication between couples, and they don't protect themselves by practicing safe sex."

"There is not enough information"
Yuri Palacio, 18-year-old Salvadoran student who works in an ice cream parlour.

"Very little has been done to prevent discrimination. We should set up support groups to increase acceptance of people who have been infected with the virus. In addition, governments should create more organisations providing support, to back the fight against discrimination. I believe it is very difficult to avoid discrimination. The only alternative is to protect oneself. There is not enough educational information about AIDS".

*Article produced by IPS with the support of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) on the occasion of World AIDS Day, which is observed on Dec 1.