RETROGAIDS (Reverse Stereotypes and Stigmas against HIV/AIDS)

HIV/AIDS has been one of the most destructive global epidemic-causing diseases in the world. At the end of 2019, UNAIDS stated that Indonesia is the 3rd country with the most HIV cases in the Asia Pacific. According to UNAIDS, some people with HIV experience social discrimination and rejection regarding their sexual and reproductive health. In commemoration of World AIDS Day, SCORA CIMSA UGM held an event called RETROGAIDS, Reverse Stereotypes and Stigmas against HIV/AIDS.

RETROGAIDS is addressed  to educate and increase public awareness about basic knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS as well as break the stigmas towards people with HIV/AIDS. We conducted a series of activities that includes training, ground campaign, air campaign, and webinars. Furthermore, donations are conducted to distribute vitamin supplements for stunted children with HIV/AIDS.

The RETROGAIDS series starts with LPET (Local Peer Educator Training), held on December 3, 2021, which aims for first and second year SCORA CIMSA UGM members who are part of the organizing committee. This pre-project training elucidates the topic of “Basic Peer Education” by PETRA CIMSA UGM and “HIV and Other STIs” by Putri Khatulistiwa from UNALA.

Following the training, SCORA CIMSA UGM’s long-awaited offline ground campaign was held on December 5, 2021 along the street of Malioboro, Yogyakarta. The participants, who are CIMSA UGM members, educate pedestrians by conducting a social experiment regarding HIV & AIDS as a pre-test, followed by a ‘myth and facts pop quiz’ as a post-test.

On 10–12 December 2021, an air campaign titled RETROGRAM was conducted, garnering more than 200 volunteers from across Indonesia. In this event, volunteers share infographics and reaction videos through their social media, including Instagram and Twitter. A talk show featuring an HIV survivor was also done  through a WhatsApp group on the last day.

RETROGAIDS: The Webinar was held on December 18, 2021, featuring dr. Nurwestu Rusetiyanti, M.Kes, Sp.KK from PERDOSKI and Aldi Maulana Fallaq from Jaringan Indonesia Positif as the speakers. This webinar, which garnered more than 400 participants, facilitated free SKP IDI e-certificates for everyone involved. Aside from that, fundraising was held to give supplemental vitamins to malnourished and stunted children with AIDS.

In collaboration with PERDOSKI and AMSA UGM, SCORA CIMSA UGM also held a poster and TikTok Competition in which 63 people participated, followed by a webinar with PERDOSKI & AMSA-UGM held on December 27, 2021 gathering 190 participants in total.