'Dance against HIV' in Curaçao on World AIDS Day

‘Dance against HIV’, an initiative of the Curaçao HIV/Aids Network (CHN), was held on World AIDS Day in Curaçao.

The concept of the event is based on the ‘Dance for Life’, an event which originated in the Netherlands but has since spread to many other countries.

CHN is an HIV prevention initiative of individuals and organizations in Curaçao. The Curaçao Red Cross, overseas branch of the Netherlands Red Cross,  is a pioneer of the network with two representatives on the committee. The main aim is to organize HIV prevention events for young people with the idea that togetherness brings strength.

Some of the events organised by CHN during the year include: a secondary school HIV poster competition with six of the 50 posters submitted being chosen for a 2008 calendar;
An information flyer in the four spoken languages of the island; and a HIV documentary festival for secondary schools in cooperation with Theatre Luna Blou. Dance against HIV was their final event for 2007.

Last year’s first-ever ‘Dance against HIV’ in an open-air venue was cancelled due to heavy rainfall. This year organisers hosted the event in a covered location but the rains still came and affected attendance.

At the venue, information booths by different organizations working in HIV and reproductive health were set up to distribute items including brochures and free male and female condoms, and give condom demonstrations. The Health Department ‘s Health Bus was also parked on the compound. Entertainment was planned for different age groups from children to teenagers and adults.

An interesting feature was the ‘Pimp your tee-shirt’ contest. The entrance fee was a special designed tee-shirt and persons were invited to write a good prevention statement and make something special with their shirts.

Inspite of heavy advertising in the media and the distribution of flyers and posters in schools, the turnout was poor. An evaluation will be held but organisers believe other activities on the day, as well as general public tiredness about HIV, were the reasons for the low attendance.