Health is in your hands, say community groups

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Kristy Wallace

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Jane Wangari Karago, African and Caribbean HIV prevention strategy worker for Somerset West Community Health Centre, helped promote HIV

Kristy Wallace, Metroland

Jane Wangari Karago, African and Caribbean HIV prevention strategy worker for Somerset West Community Health Centre, helped promote HIV

EMC news -Jane Wangari Karago wants to help promote HIV/AIDS prevention and education in a way that's creative and entertaining. And close at hand.

That's why local public health advocates held a forum called Health in Our Hands at the Ottawa Public Library's main branch about HIV and AIDS -particularly in the African and Caribbean population.

"It's a priority population because this population comes from endemic countries," said Wangari Karago, who is an African and Caribbean HIV prevention strategy worker for Somerset West Community Health Centre. "And because it's Black History Month, we're coming together and doing an event that will address HIV prevention. We make our stuff colourful and interesting, so people can reach out to the information."

The Somerset West Community Health Centre hosted the forum along with Ottawa Public Health, AIDS Committee of Ottawa and Somerset West Community Health Centre.

From condoms wrapped in eye-catching packages to entertainment and food, Wangari Karago aimed for engagement with the public.

She also wanted to include Planned Parenthood Ottawa's Insight Theatre program in the evening.

The theatre program is created by youth, and is for youth and deals with sexual reproductive health.

Nadine Thornhill from Planned Parenthood said Insight Theatre wanted to get involved in Health in Our Hands because it's an entertaining and engaging way to educate people on HIV and AIDS.

"I grew up in the '80s, and there was a lot of fear-based education around HIV/AIDS," Thornhill said. "While it's great to have pamphlets, it doesn't put a human face on AIDS so it becomes a jumble of stats and it seems sort of detached.

"Having things like theatre and using drama makes things more human and interactive. It calms people's nerves."

Mike Cecilio, an ethnocultural resource co-ordinator for the AIDS Committee of Ottawa, added that there are ways to engage youth in a more enjoying way, like theatre.

"That's not to say previous ways weren't working or aren't working," he said. "But there are ways we can engage youth in a more fun and frank kind of way."

An information booth was also set up at the event where participants could take a look at how to prevent HIV/AIDS spread, and also resources that are available to them for more information.

Wangari Karago held up condoms, wrapped in a little box that had a series of international flags on the cover.

"Inside you'll find instructions of how to use a condom, and information on where to get tested," she said. "We want to make sure we make it as attractive as possible, so people can reach out."

kristy.wallace@metroland.com