APC and Guyana National AIDS Program Secretariat Launch HIV-focused Public Service Announcements

September 26, 2018
Screenshot of PSAs

A series of HIV-focused public service announcements (PSAs) were launched in September by the Advancing Partners & Communities (APC) project, in partnership with the Guyana National AIDS Program Secretariat (NAPS). The PSAs are aimed at raising public awareness of the benefits of knowing one’s HIV status, the importance of accessing treatment if one is HIV positive, and the benefits of adhering to treatment. The high-quality digitally animated PSAs are currently being broadcast and shared across Guyana.

The PSAs, funded by USAID and the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, were developed for television and radio by a working group comprising local writer Mosa Telford, local actors, NAPS representatives, community-based organizations, APC, and experts from JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc.

A Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) press release said that “the launch of these PSAs signal the commitment of the MOPH and APC to re-sensitize the population on the ongoing campaign for the prevention and control of the spread of HIV.”

At the launch, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud said that the MOPH was pleased to collaborate with APC on such an important initiative. He added that in recent times there had not been many HIV-related campaigns and that, “It’s good that we are back on the trail.”