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MR HIV
POSITIVE LIVING PAGEANT
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The
Finalist |
The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS organised “Mr
HIV Positive Living”
on
April 1, 2006 at the Gaborone International Conference
Centre, in Gaborone, Botswana. this is the first pageant
of its kind which proved to be a great successful event
organised by the network.
Thongbotho Goepamang
received the title of as Mr HIV
positive living pageant The pageant was held to honour
and remember all those who have died of AIDS
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The 2006 Contestants |
as well as looking to future developments in the fight
against HIV and AIDS.
The main goal of the campaign was to
increase the participation of male involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions
through the GIEPA Principle (Grater Involvement and Empowerment of People
Living with HIV/AIDS both at grassroots and national level. The event was
organized with the financial support of NACA in collaboration with
governmental organizations, NGOs, CBOs and other stakeholders.
The objectives of the
pageant were
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To increase the
participation of men in BONEPWA activities through the support groups
from 5% to 50% by 2009 |
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To actively use Mr. HIV
Positive Living to educate and influence positive living after the Mr.
positive living pageant |
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To strengthen the
referral networks among key stakeholders (clients and service providers)
at both national and grassroots level |
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To reduce the incidence
of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS |
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To promote and enhance
the Greater involvement and Empowerment of People living with HIV/AIDS (GIEPA
Principle) |
Expected outcomes were
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Increased number of male testing
for HIV/AIDS (measured as total number of men accessing services at
various testing centers: Source National KAP studies)
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Increased number of men
accompanying their partners for couple counseling (Tebelopele,
Government, NGOs statistics) |
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Increased number of men as peer
counselors (BONEPWA and other NGOs records) |
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Increased participation of men in
support groups (BONEPWA and other NGOs records) |
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Increased knowledge on HIV/AIDS
awareness anonymously through the internet |
Strategy
BONEPWA will apply the strategy of
using a macho men model to model positive living and create awareness about
male involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
We also envisage developing a website
for the Mr. Positive Living –
www.mrpositiveliving.com.
He will be holding anonymous correspondence and e-forum discussions with the
purpose of providing more information on services available and referral
networks and programmes in place for the general public.
The reigning Mr. Positive Living will
be hosted at BONEPWA+ from where all his activities will be coordinated.
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