AIDS: the present and the future

In order to achieve health behavior change, there needs to be at least three things: knowledge, tools, and motivation. Although the government and private organizations have already done a varying amounts of work toward reducing HIV transmission and treating AIDS patients, many people still lack the motivation to change their health behavior.

During my AIDS in China course today, Director Humphrey Wou, who produces documentaries on the AIDS situation in China, noted the growing generation of apathetic individuals. Now that medication is more widely available and AIDS is not an immediate death sentence, people are developing the attitude that HIV/AIDS is simply a secondary issue.

A present and important problem for rural AIDS patients is the lack of nutrition. Most rural farmers consume noodles on a daily basis; although this is a rich source of energy, noodles alone lack the nutrition needed to elevate these individuals' CD4 counts. When asked why they do not purchase protein-rich foods, farmers say that they do not have enough money. The money that they have saved will be spent on brick purchases. These bricks (to them) are invaluable because they will be used to contruct houses that they will pass on to future generations. In some villages, you may see walls and walls of bricks, all waiting to be used for housing construction. Hence, they are unwilling to spend the 2RMB needed to purchase the protein-rich pound of tofu.

In his effort to empower community members and to establish sustainable projects, Director Wou helped fund a soymilk project in a rural village in Southern China. The villagers grow their own soybeans, make their own soymilk, and distribute it to those individuals with AIDS. Another example among his list of innovative projects is a sewing class for migrant female workers. In addition to teaching these females how to sew and make a living off of sewing, teachers distribute HIV/AIDS educational materials and educate them about the importance of protecting themselves and their families through public health knowledge. These females, furthermore, are able and willing to pass this information to their customers.

Even if you have no interest in HIV/AIDS, the key things to take from this entry is that, in undertaking any community project, one must first understand the community culture and varying plethora of perceptions. Secondly, community members should be empowered and a part of any project an outside group establishes right from the beginning. Finally, foresight, long-term planning, and sustainability should never be forgotten.