Artistes, dejays, song-writers and producers are among the people former Barbados HIV/AIDS Czar Dr Carol Jacobs believes the country should draw more heavily on to effectively spread the HIV?message.
Jacobs said contrary to the popular view that using artistes as messengers and change agents to influence behaviour could be “confusing” and that “their lifestyles may not be in accordance with prevention messages”, there were many “conscious” artistes who did not even realise that their songs, behaviours and messages could “accelerate achievement of the tipping point in reducing HIV?infections.”
She added, “Communication is the critical aspect of this dialogue and however well-meaning or indeed well-informed traditional messengers may be, they will not catch the ear or the attention of the majority of those most at risk, including the youth, whom we seek to reach,” Dr Jacobs stated as she delivered the annual Olive Trotman Memorial Lecture at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre Friday night. (GC)
