USAID/Guinea: Kadiatou Diallo Talks to Youth about HIV/AIDS

JULY 18, 2003

Kadiatou Diallo Talks to Youth about HIV/AIDS

After attending USAID-sponsored training on HIV/AIDS, and upon learning about the threat that HIV posed to her native Guinea, Kadiatou Diallo decided that she needed to do something urgently -- her response was to start her own initiative to reach out to nearby youth.

When Kadiatou Bobo Diallo attended an HIV/AIDS training with her colleagues, she had already heard a lot about HIV/AIDS. In fact, television messages, billboards, radio announcements and Guinea's proximity to countries with higher prevalence rates make it difficult for someone to live in Conakry, Guinea and not be aware of the epidemic.

Kadiatou Diallo

In spite of a raised awareness among the Guinean population however, most Guineans still do not have adequate access to information about HIV/AIDS and have not personalized the problem. As Kadiatou explained, "HIV/AIDS is often thought of as a sickness that concerns others." Lack of information, myths related to HIV/AIDS and cultural norms have limited information sharing among parents and their children, even among friends. "I was was interested to learn more about HIV/AIDS, but I was afraid to talk about it -- as if it was a bad word. Sex is taboo, and you can't talk about HIV/AIDS without talking about sexuality. But to mitigate the spread of the epidemic, we have to talk about it or people will continue to die."

Kadiatou works for PACEEQ, a USAID funded education program that works in six out of eight regions of Guinea to provide support to local parent-teacher associations (PTAs) as well as Local Alliances for Girls' Education. When the program launched its HIV/AIDS training for NGO partners and parents' associations, the project's staff were among the first trained. The training workshop, HIV & Development, was delivered by Africa Consultants International in partnership with local NGO Groupe Vie Saine (Safe Life Group). HIV & Development is a multi-day training module widely used throughout West Africa and designed by ACI that builds on a collective consciousness at the community level and motivates participants to respond to STI-HIV/AIDS.

"I think the PACEEQ staff learned a lot about HIV/AIDS," says Kadiatou, "and the training broke the ice and created a forum for discussion. We even talked about HIV/AIDS outside of the training sessions since many people were surprised at the statistics, especially statistics related to Guinea. By the end of the 5-day training, I felt obligated to do something."

Kadiatou's personal action plan to respond to HIV/AIDS targeted a group she thought to be most vulnerable -- youth. "I felt that I had to do something for the young people in my life. They don't understand HIV/AIDS and its impact, and they can't talk about it with their parents." Kadiatou shared her plan with her family and friends and invited their children to attend a 5-hour informal training. She talked with youth between the ages of 7 and 24, and provided them with information and a comfortable environment in which they could ask questions and talk about HIV/AIDS. "They don't have the opportunity to talk about HIV/AIDS, it was something new for them. They were a bit timid at first but they were receptive. By the end, they were very open." Kadiatou shared statistics about HIV/AIDS in Africa and in Guinea, photocopied and distributed HIV/AIDS materials from her training, demonstrated how to use a condom, and talked about life skills such as the importance of making good decisions.

Kadiatou and her colleagues holding candles in memory those who have passed away

During an HIV/AIDS training session at USAID partner World Education, Kadiatou Diallo and her colleagues burned candles in remembrance.

Kadiatou has become an HIV/AIDS resource person in her family and community. She is regularly sought out by both young and old to respond to questions related to HIV/AIDS and guides them to other available resources when she is unable to provide information. "I continue to talk informally with youth and women. It's not always easy to address HIV/AIDS, but we must; we have to at least try. I feel that it's my responsibility to encourage others to protect themselves."

*PACEEQ: Participation Communautaire a l'Education de Base pour l'Equité et la Qualité or Community Participation for Equality and Quality in Basic Education.

Story and photos by Katie Martocci, World Education