NAC Launches Behavior Change Communications Campaign to Promote Safe Sex

The National AIDS Commission (NAC) is encouraging Belizeans to be prepared and always saddle up, through the launch of its Behaviour Change Communications Campaign. The campaign was launched on Monday, to promote correct and consistent condom use, as well as available services, including Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), H.I.V. self-testing, and Hepatitis B vaccines. A release from NAC notes that the objective of the campaign is to encourage persons at substantially higher risk of acquiring H.I.V. to utilize and adhere to safer sex practices and test regularly for H.I.V. and other STIs. Cindy Jones the Communications Officer at NAC was on Open Your Eyes this morning sharing about the campaign.

Cindy Jones

Cindy Jones, Communications Director, NAC

“What makes this campaign special is that we are partnering with local influencers who we are calling our campaign ambassadors. So, we have a lot of fresh faces and we are hoping that by partnering with these influencers we will be able to amplify our messages as well as expand our reach. So that is what makes this campaign special. Another thing that I want to let everyone know that this is not something overnight. WE actually have been planning this campaign for months. We have been working with our stakeholders and CSO to develop these messages that people are seeing on the screen. Some of them have a little bit of shock factor to it. But, sometimes that we need in the community we are living in. we need to give them a little bit of shock to say you know what let me take a step back and take notice. This campaign is a comprehensive prevention approach. None of these services can be in isolation of each other. I say that because when it comes to PrEP, in order to take PrEP you need to test negative for HIV. Like Kerion mentioned, PrEP protects you from HIV but it does not protect you from other STI, so then you need to utilize a condom every time you have sex. Don’t say today I will use, but tomorrow I can get away, no.”