Paula Braitstein

The BCPWA Treatment Information Program (BCPWA), in partnership with the Vancouver Native Health Society Positive Outlook Program (POP), has recently produced a series of low-literacy pamphlets on HIV/AIDS treatment-related issues. As far as we know, these are the first low-literacy pamphlets ever produced to explain HIV/AIDS treatment issues.

There are eleven different subjects:

• Starting HIV Drugs
• HIV Viral Load
• Immune Cells (CD4) and HIV
• HIV Drug Resistance
• 5 Ways to Better Health
• Women and HIV
• Pregnancy and HIV
• Working Together—Doctors and Patients
• Hepatitis C
• Hep C, HIV and Prison (for women)
• Hep C, HIV and Prison (for men)

These pamphlets are produced in tear-off pads. They are 8.5" x 11" in size, double-sided, and cartoon-style. Each page is one pamphlet. They are meant to be used in the context of counseling and explaining concepts—they are not meant to be simply handed to someone who is told, "Here, read this." The images and words are designed to provide memory aids to people who can’t or won’t read, so that they have a reference point back to the concepts explained during a good counseling session.

Our experience in TIP is that although HIV treatments and their issues are generally quite complex, everyone can understand something about them if the information is presented in the right way. These pamphlets are premised on the idea that everyone can understand to greater or lesser degrees what is happening with their bodies, and that they have the right to make informed decisions. They recognize that everyone can take steps to better care for themselves (e.g. "Five Ways to Better Health").

These pamphlets evolved out of work that HIV+ TIP counselors were doing at the Vancouver Native Health Society. HIV+ folks there really wanted to understand what was happening to them, and they wanted to take a more active role in their health care. We just didn’t have the educational tools to help them do that. Thanks mainly to Daniel O’Neill, a TIP counselor, who not only recognized this lack of educational resources as a critical issue but also had the knowledge and skills to do something about it, this series was conceived and developed. Staff at Native Health contributed to the design and to the selection of topics. Clients at Native Health provided feedback concerning each pamphlet’s content and accessibility. BCPWA Staff were able to obtain funding, thanks to various pharmaceutical companies, and arranged the printing and distribution.

All in all, this is a great example of a successful grassroots community effort. It shows how creativity, patience, hard work, and commitment can make a huge difference on the community landscape. At the moment, we are seeking more funding so that we can print more copies (they are in full colour, so are very expensive to print). Everyone who has been involved deserves a huge pat on the back, but I would like to especially acknowledge Dan, without whose technical and diplomatic skills, energy and commitment, this project would not have been nearly as successful. Thanks Dan!