Q & A with Kimberly Gilbert HIV/AIDS advocate

As a BCCE, she was required to teach persons in communities about Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) – an initiative that saw its roots take hold in bars, schools, community centres, homes, and churches – between 2008 and 2014. She also volunteered with the YMCATT and S Concepts doing similar advocacy work during this time.

“Currently, the nature of my advocacy has changed,” Kimberly says. She is now a Special Advisor to the Youth Advisory Group of the UNFPA, which allows her to represent youth at high-level meetings such as the Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy in the Caribbean. She also works in a community with youth who attend the Retiree Adolescent Partnership Programme (RAPP), which will extend to three more communities next year.

With such extensive experience as an advocate for marginalised peoples, Kimberly says the values she holds dear are dedication, lending a listening ear, open-mindedness and consistency.

This week, she speaks with WMN about advocacy work with special attention to the work surrounding HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention – to commemorate World AIDS Day, which was honoured on December 1.

Q What do you think is the weakest area of HIV/AIDS awareness that needs more attention from both public and governmental offices in TT?

The weakest area is transmission and prevention awareness. Some people still have the mindset that it cannot happen to them; their personal risk assessment is low. HIV & AIDS awareness needs to be a priority of the government. Where are our nation’s youth acquiring their information these days? Enough is not being done to educate them.
They should not have to go looking for information.
It should be in their face: in their schools, homes and even their religious institutions.

Q Why aren’t all schools implementing the HFLE (Health and Family Life Education) syllabus?

Why is it that only 11% of the schools [that] do implement it, teaches the sexuality component? In addition, we do not have up-to-date data. In order to make decisions for any intervention the magnitude of the problem needs to be known.

Q As an advocate, what tips can you offer the average citizen to bringing an end to HIV/AIDS discrimination?

What should and must be done on an individual level? On an individual level, we have to educate our loved ones and ourselves. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of HIV positive people and treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated. We have to know that anyone can contract HIV. Even babies - would you discriminate against an innocent baby? This requires us to talk about sex and sexuality, which unfortunately in our society is taboo. Let’s talk about sexual health.

Q What gross misconceptions about persons living with HIV/ AIDS and the disease itself do you still encounter?

How do you combat these views? The most popular misconception is that HIV positive people are promiscuous, that they look sick, they will die soon. Also, people do not know the difference between HIV and AIDS. Teaching people about the modes of HIV transmission and Anti-Retroviral Treatment open up their minds to the truth. It is amazing the things people think about HIV and AIDS twenty-something years after its discovery and when all this information is easily accessible online.

Q How has the face of advocacy evolved since you first came into it?

What is your personal vision for the future of advocacy work surrounding HIV/AIDS? The face of advocacy has changed drastically. When I got into it HIV & AIDS Advocacy, to me, was at its peak. The NACC had a well-marketed campaign called ‘What’s Your Position?’ that reached a lot of citizens. The information was in the public domain. Now, as you can see, the information is selectively published, for example, in commemoration of World AIDS Day and at Carnival time. It needs to be a conversation piece throughout the year.
For the future, advocacy work needs to ride the wave of technology. For example, almost everyone has a phone - an effective advocacy campaign can be in the form of an application (app) or text messages or even WhatsApp groups. This is actually something that I am assisting with currently with UNFPA, as we will be launching a youth SRH app very soon.

Q What resources can persons living with the disease seek in TT?

There is a list of resources available both in the public and private sectors. Some initial engagements include the Queen’s Park Counseling Centre and Clinic, South AIDS Support, the Medical Research Foundation (MRF) and the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

Q What are your words on prevention?

Do you think local prevention campaigns are sufficient or are there key areas that need focus? In my experience, prevention is at times more complex than it seems. Simply telling someone to wear a condom and teaching them how to use one is not always effective.
They may have to learn condom negotiation skills. In addition, they may have an abusive partner who does not want to use prevention methods. What do you do then? Local campaigns are a great start to get the ball rolling.
However, it only scratches the surface. What will be effective is consistent programmes that not just educate people but emphasizes behavior change. What is also of importance is where these programmes are taught. We place priority on academics. Priority should be placed on Sexual and Reproductive Health too.

Q Your words to at-risk individuals? In your experience, what advice works best to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and raise awareness?

I see everyone as being at-risk to be honest. Even people who are HIV positive, as it is unhealthy for two HIV positive people to have unprotected sex. However, to answer your question, I believe behavior change is necessary.
To achieve this, we should educate ourselves and most importantly our adolescents on sexual and reproductive health, which includes HIV & AIDS. But most importantly: love yourself, as this will motivate you to make healthy decisions.

Q Last words or thoughts?

I urge everyone to become an advocate. Everyone is a stakeholder. We may not be all infected, but we are all affected.