Health for Kids

Haitian youth have little access to messages that would help them adopt safe sexual practices. Only 32% of households have access to electricity and this limits their access to radio and television stations. Furthermore, peer support activities are limited primarily to large towns and efforts to reach rural youth have lagged. There is a need to develop innovative approaches not only to better inform youth about HIV and other sexually transmitted illnesses, but also to extend support networks that will help youth adopt and maintain safe sexual practices.

The hip hop caravan mentioned in the Vert Espoir project will have two messages: personal health and health of the environment. The health message will focus on the two million Haitians between 10 and 24 years of age who are not being served by the very limited national health services. Practical information on youth health will highlight the HIV/AIDS issue. Traveling with the caravan will be a mobile AIDS testing clinic for optional on-site tests with immediate results, coupled with on-site counseling.

Over the course of one year, 100,000 youth will be reached directly and 500,000 youth indirectly through this mobile behavior change communication campaign. Of these, 10,000 will be recruited to become permanent peer-to-peer educators. In addition, it is anticipated that 6000 youth will be tested against HIV and an additional 10,000 will be referred for testing.