GVA News
| HOMOSEXUAL MEN SPEAK WITH PEERS ABOUT DANGERS OF AIDS |
| 23-09-2005
by Thu Giang HANOI - As darkness falls, Nguyen Hoang Minh, 35, goes downtown to meet his friends to talk about the prevention of AIDS. Petite, with long hair and a pretty face, Minh's mild, but emotive voice, has earned him the name "the Valiant Girl" among the homosexual men whom he is trying to educate about the danger of the virus. Minh is a member of the Hai Dang (Lighthouse) Club started by the domestic Non-Government Organisation SHARP four months ago with support from the Family Health International and USAID. Minh and his 23 fellow club members every night go where homosexuals gather in the capital to tell them about the HIV virus and other sexually-transmitted diseases and how to prevent them. For Minh, it is the first time he has participated in any such social activity."I like this work because I understand that I am contributing to society," he says. "I'm a man who has sex with men and it's not difficult for me to talk to others who do the same about sex and other related issues because we understand each other." Minh says it's easy for him to find those who have a masculine exterior but a feminine spirit. Others would find it more difficult because those who have gay sex do not want people to know. "We communicators have to be patient if we want to talk to them about sex, sexually-transmitted diseases and prevention," he says. Although his target includes students, workers, engineers, doctors and policemen, few are aware of how to protect themselves against AIDS. Hai Dang Club deputy chairman Nguyen Van Dung says his members know of 48 places where male lovers are sought. They visit four places: Hoan Kiem Lake, Thien Quang Lake, Quan Thanh Street massage parlours and the Long Bien inns, every week. They begin about 7pm and carry condoms and leaflets showing methods to prevent AIDS. "We persuade the men to visit the club where we sell products to prevent AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases cheaply," says Dung. "We are also going to open a health clinic for them where they will not have to conceal any infection; this will help control the spread of disease." The club holds a singing and fashion programme at its rooms in Nui Truc alley off Giang Van Minh Street every two weeks. "Our performance has attracted many people, I know many of them practise gay sex," he says. Participants at the fashion show wear T-shirts emblazoned with slogans plaited by a condoms saying Stop HIV and Safe Sexual Intercourse. Dung says he wants to show he is a worthy citizen by breaking down prejudice against those who are gay. He believes his effort will be recognised. AIDS study Preventing the male-to-male spread of AIDS in Viet Nam has to become an important part of the national strategy to defeat the virus, says Nguyen Anh Tuan of National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. The group is not included in the surveillance system because they are not thought a major community in Viet Nam, he says. There have been no reports published about the prevalence of the virus among them. This and the exclusion of homosexuals from the public health prevention effort has prompted many people to assume that gay sex is not part of the way people become infected."The lack of data and education within this population means they have little knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention and this puts them at high risk," says Tuan. A study of 600 men who practise gay sex in HCM City from April to May last year, showed that they were in three groups. These were: "Bong lo," sex with a man who looks like a woman; "bong kin" sex with a man who looks like a man and "da he" bisexuals. About 94 per cent of the study's participants were unmarried and did not live with women. More than 23 per cent had had more than three sexual partners in the past month and this could enable transmission of the virus, if the sex had not been safe. But about two thirds had used a condom in their last sexual encounter. The major reason given by those who did not use a condom was that they did not think it necessary or that they lost sensation with a condom. About one fifth had been tested HIV and almost all of them had not received pre-and post-test counselling. Seven per cent of those tested had used drugs. Staff at STD clinics must be taught to overcome ignorance and prejudice about homosexuals, says Tuan.Accessible and affordable health facilities for them is also needed. They
must also be considered as part of the sentinel surveillance system to
defeat the epidemic in Viet Nam, he says. - VNS |
