FHI/Cambodia Recognized at International AIDS Conference

AUGUST 2006 — Savy Bou, a member of FHI's global community, was honored for her work in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto this month.

A strategic behavioral communication officer for FHI/Cambodia, Bou was named one of this year's Young Investigators of the Year by the International AIDS Society, which produces the 20,000-person gathering every two years. Bou accepted the prestigious award on August 16 on behalf of herself and her co-authors for their conference abstract, "Living Again: Supporting People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) to Lead the Response to HIV."

The "Living Again" project in Cambodia's Battambang Province brought rural volunteers who are living with HIV/AIDS together for six months to script and then perform in an interactive educational video. "Living Again" – one of the few products in Cambodia developed by PLHA for PLHA – portrays real-life situations that present topics about health and positive living to a largely illiterate audience. The video supports the work of leaders of support groups for PLHA and serves as a strong advocacy tool.

The 45-minute film "grew naturally out of our observation that PLHA teach each other how to take care of their health," says Bou. "Having PLHA themselves act in the film helps viewers overcome their fearfulness and be more open about their own HIV-positive status, reducing shame and stigma."

A core group of volunteers formed a committee to coordinate video production, reviewing and revising the script, choosing actors, handling logistics and providing technical support to the film crew. Twenty-seven HIV-positive adults and ten children living in families affected by HIV performed in the film, which consists of nine five-minute spots that focus on different health and psychosocial issues.

"So far, audiences tell us that the film is not only informative but empowering and encourages them to actively improve their health and quality of life," says Bou. "PLHA, family members and caregivers all say the film gives them real hope for the future."

Support group leaders for PLHA, peer educators, and staff at district referral hospitals receive training on using the film to stimulate discussion during support group meetings. A facilitator's handbook provides discussion questions and key facts for each of the nine spots.

Before each biennial international AIDS conference, panels of senior researchers from each conference track review all abstracts to choose the best one submitted by researchers under 35. This year, the Track E Policy panel chose the 28-year-old Bou for the award. She will receive a certificate and a $1,000 prize.

In addition to FHI, the Network of Cambodian People Living with HIV/AIDS, the Battambang Provincial Health Department, the National Center for HIV/AIDS and Dermatology, and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health provided technical assistance for the film project, which was supported by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Photo: Savy Bou (FHI/Cambodia)