Sofia-Pleven, February 14, 2018
BFPA traditionally supports different events which mark Feb 14 – the day of people in love and of wine. This is a good day also to talk about prevention, especially with the mood of forthcoming spring and rejuvenation. Valentine gifts go traditionally well with a condom and a health-related message. That is why on Valentine’s day in Pleven our partners – the young people from the Association of medical students held a campaign in the city centre and the shopping malls. They presented a selection of BFPA’s informational materials together with Sexwell condoms as a part of our Condom with a cause/Use your head campaign. Everyone had the opportunity to take a photo in a special big Valentine photo-frame.
Along with such traditional, yet joyful events at different locations all over the country, BFPA proudly presents the second article from the series, elaborated in cooperation with the “Hope against AIDS” foundation in the AIDS Press blog. The first article came out on an important date for prevention of HIV prevalence – December 1st. It’s logical to continue with the second article on another important date. The subject is more than fundamental – the narrative concerns the 37-year-long history of AIDS in Bulgaria and is about the communication deficiencies and how they affect the correct understanding and dissemination of information which leads to misunderstanding and problems.
The story began in the 80’s of the past century and has already lost a lot of its characters but that does not stop us from remembering, re-telling and mainly analyzing the successes, mistakes and problems. How do we speak or write on the topic of HIV? Which words do we use? Why? We speak of HIV and AIDS but we haven’t properly translated in Bulgarian the name of the virus. When things are not called by their proper names, mistakes and misunderstandings occur. We lack a “legitimate” name for the virus which causes AIDS. Supposedly, at the first encounter with the virus it ought to have been properly named so that people and institutions understand and accept the name. Should it have been the Bulgarian equivalent of VIH (Virus of Immunodeficiency in Humans) or the Bulgarian equivalent of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)? It does not matter anymore….
We hope we attracted your attention with the beginning of the story. It gets more and more interesting. You can follow it here in Bulgarian.
