Preventive Measures Needed to Halt AIDS Spread

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A director at the community Health Centre in North Battleford says Native Communities across the country must take preventative steps to prevent the spread of AIDS.

Dennis Lambert said although there's no known cure for the HIV infection, which causes AIDS and attacks and destroys the body's immune system, there are preventative measures that can be taken.

One way is to increase the public's knowledge about AIDS. Especially the youth who are active sexually. They must be shown AIDS kills and it doesn't care who it kills", said Lambert, a founding member of Feather of Hope, an organization formed in Alberta as an AIDS- support system.

Speaking at a Feather of Hope conference in North Battleford, which had about 300 youth attend from across Saskatchewan, Lambert stressed the need for preventative measures.

She said Native people are usually "hit first" when it comes to an epidemic because history has proven "the First Nations of this country suffer first because our immune system is not as strong as Non-Native people.

" The only way to fight AIDS is by informing the public what AIDS does and offering information on preventative measures that should be followed,' Lambert said.

She said when people are sexually active and using drugs they should know measures can be taken to avoid being infected with HIV. She said Feather of Hope Plans to travel to Native communities with a mobile service to distribute information on AIDS and to speak on preventing the spread of AIDS.

"The mobile will also target high profile activities like pow-wows. It will offer information on safe sex methods such as using condoms and clean needle use. Basically our aim is at the youth who in turn can become role models and teachers for others once they've learned about AIDS and how to prevent it".

She said much of the responsibility must fall on Native communities. "Parents must become involved because it's their children who will be forming relationships one day," said Lambert, noting sexuality and substance abuse isn't talked about in the communities. "It must be brought more to the open if we are to fight against AIDS."

Lambert uses herself as an example of the "terror" of AIDS.

"Someone I know took a risk and slept with someone else without telling me. I could have contracted the HIV virus and instead of talking about it prevention, I could have been telling my own story about how I should have prevented it", she said.

Lambert said women aren't assertive enough when it comes to their partners, when statistics show that 25 percent of AIDS victims among Native people are women.

"Women must become more assertive. They should be asking questions about their partner's business trips. Women should be able to say "Do you have a condom?' "We must speak out about more," said Lambert, adding a preventative measure against contacting AIDS" boils down to trust and values between Partners".

Presently the Feather of Hope Society is gathering easy-to-understand material about AIDS for distribution in Native communities.

Feather of Hope originated in Alberta. Its founding members, Elsie Paul, David Nelson, Ken Ward, and Lambert want to see an AIDS chapter in each province. So far only Alberta and Saskatchewan have chapters.

"Ken (Ward) has helped tremendously. He has done a lot of tours across the country speaking about AIDS, drumming up support. Many people are getting involved now and over than 100 speaking engagements have been done by Feather of Hope," explained Lambert.

"Our focus is not only on youth but the parents as well because everyone is affected by AIDS in one way or another. We must prevent the spread of this deadly disease and I am positive one way to do it is by awareness, openness, and preventative measures," Lambert stressed.

A Saskatchewan Native AIDS conference is being planned for May, Lambert said youth will be the main focus of the conference but organizers are hoping for strong support from the Native communities.

"Adults and youth will be split up at the conference. Among many topics that will be discussed will be the importance of meeting needs acceptable to Native communities regarding AIDS prevention.

"Possibly after the conference kids will also be telling their parents AIDS is serious and they are too worried," Lambert hopes.