Partying safely in Antigua
22 August 2008
“What was very striking was the number of individuals that returned night after night, asking us if ‘the people with the condoms and bags came yet’. Some were interested in the pouches while others wanted the condoms and information. A surprising phenomenon was the number of people asking for female condoms.”
Alverna Innes, Directorate of Gender Affairs, Antigua and Barbuda
At this year’s Antigua carnival, the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Alliance reached more than one fifth of the island’s population with its Think Safe, Act Smart! campaign. From 25 July to 3 August 2008, a carnival bus took the campaign’s messages to the streets and partygoers were provided with pouches of HIV information that doubled up as useful bags for holding keys, money and condoms. Over the course of the carnival, more than 45,000 condoms and 10,000 information booklets were distributed. 2,000 leaflets on sexual assault and rape were developed and shared.
Despite carnival being a time for fun and spontaneity, it is also a time for increased sexual activity, high-risk behaviour and sexual and gender-based violence. The Caribbean HIV/AIDS Alliance’s Eastern Caribbean Community Action Project developed the intensive campaign because large public events can be an effective way of reaching people in the Caribbean, where small populations are spread over a number of islands.
The pouches were popular with the public and events organisers alike, and were seen as an essential part of the carnival package. The carnival bus allowed the community animators (who carry out intensive one-on-one outreach work) to access carnival hotspots alongside visits to their regular outreach venues, such as strip-clubs and brothels. Decorated with messages such as ‘Know your status, get tested!’, the bus drove around for hours, participating in parades and gatherings and giving out condoms, leaflets and booklets along the way. Students and professors from a local medical college joined in to support the more experienced animators.
Antigua’s network of people living with HIV also played an essential role, turning their offices into a mini-packing factory for the campaign. The joint purpose and buzz around the campaign really strengthened the relationship between the network and the Alliance.
One of the surprise findings from the campaign was the high demand for female condoms on the island. More information on this along with other lessons learned and challenges is in a more detailed document about the campaign: Think Safe, Act Smart! campaign helps keep Antigua safe for carnival.
The Caribbean HIV/AIDS Alliance will continue with the campaign at forthcoming music events, festivals and carnivals.
