Picture One: This Is Tuan

Picture one: This is Tuan. He’s about 22. He’s completed secondary school but hasn’t found a job he likes yet. Tuan started using drugs about a year ago, when his friend introduced him to heroin through smoking. Tuan started injecting about 6 months ago and is now using almost every day.

Picture Two: Tuan and Minh are good friends—they’ve known each other since they were boys.They started injecting at about the same time. Everyday they inject together in a shooting area nearby their houses. Tuan usually uses a new N/S as he knows that it’s very dangerous to inject with an un-clean N/S. However, sometimes when his drug hunger is too strong, he has to inject with a N/S that had previously used by his friend.

Ask the group:  Tuan is sharing N/S with Minh. Could this put him at risk of getting HIV infection?  Why do you think Tuan could be at risk?  Is Tuan’s risk any less because he knows Minh very well?

Explain to the group:  You may know somebody very well and for a long time, but one thing you can not know for sure is whether he is HIV positive.  Even one time of sharing a N/S can put you at risk for HIV infection.  Thus, never share N/S with anybody.

Picture three: One evening, Minh gets paid a bonus at work, and invites Tuan go to karaoke with him. They drink together, and Tuan meets a very pretty and young girl and they end up having sex. He doesn’t think he has to use a condom with her.

Ask the group:  Do you think that unprotected sex put Tuan at risk of getting HIV? Why do you think so?  Do you think he is any less likely to be at risk for HIV if the girl is pretty and young?  Why do you think Tuan didn’t use a condom? Do you think her beauty affected his judgement?

Explain to the group  Just one encounter of unprotected sex carries the risk of HIV infection.  Tuan cannot know whether a girl is HIV positive just by looking.

Picture four: The next day, Minh asks Tuan about the girl he met last night. When asked if he used a condom, Tuan got angry—‘Did you see how young and beautiful that girl is! If she was infected do you think I wouldn’t know?!”

Ask the group:  What do you think about Tuan’s comments? Is it possible for a beautiful girl to have HIV? Are there any other risks involved? (hint: STIs, such as gonorrhea, syphilis…)

1  Even if the girl didn’t ask, do you think it’s OK for Tuan to ask to use a condom?  Where could Tuan have got a condom at the time he met the girl?  Is it sometimes difficult for you to find condoms? What do you do?

Picture five: Tuan has a girlfriend. Her name is Nga. She now works as a tailor in a shop next to Tuan’s house. She is twenty years old, simple, quiet, and Tuan is her first love. They are together for about one year now, and sometimes have sex. Tuan doesn’t use condoms with her as he believes she’s safe.

Ask the group:  Is Tuan right when he think Nga is at lower risk for HIV?  Does Tuan put himself at risk by having sex with Nga without using a condom?  Does Tuan put Nga at risk of getting HIV infection by having sex with her without using a condom?  Should Tuan discuss his drug use with Nga?

Explain to the group:  Like Tuan, many people think they are only at risk if they go to sex workers, or share needles and syringes. Thus, they think they are safe if they have sex with regular partners they know and trust.  But sometimes, it’s not the risk a guy places himself into, but the risk that he places his girlfriend in.  It’s important to always use a condom when either partner is engaging in behavior that could put the other at risk.

Picture six: Tuan love Nga very much, and they are thinking of marriage. Tuan told his parents about their plan. They are very happy for him as they know Nga is a good girl and hope Tuan will change his life – stop using drug, for the better life.

Picture seven: Tuan and his young wife, Nga. They were married six months ago, and now live in a small house. They are looking forward to having their first child very soon as Nga is three months pregnant. However, Tuan looks worried…

Ask the group: What do you think that could make Tuan worry?

Explain to the group:  The thought that he is very soon becoming a father increases his worry. He may feel guilty because he knows by sharing N/S with others when injecting drugs he has put himself at risk, and in turns, put his wife at risk.

Many may bring up the issue of Tuan not using a condom with Nga. If they don’t, then ask  Should Tuan use a condom with Nga even if she is his wife?  Can you think of reasons why Tuan would use a condom with his wife?  If Tuan considers himself at high risk for HIV, what could he say to Nga to let her use a condom? What is she likely to say?

2 Possible answers could be birth contraception; Tuan being open with his wife; Tuan saying he’s used drugs in the past.

Picture eight: Tuan doesn’t want to live in doubt and decides to get HIV counseled and tested in the Chan Troi Moi Center that was advertised on billboards and posters he just saw on the streets.

Exlain to the group:  Chan Troi Moi Center is a place to provide totally voluntary, free, and highly confidential counseling and testing services. All services and test results are confidential and are not released to anyone other than the client.  At Chan Troi Moi Center, Tuan can meet with a professional counselor, discuss issues around his risk of HIV/AIDS, work out feelings of fear and concern related to HIV, and gets tested to know his HIV status.

Picture nine: Tuan now has a plan for his future, and is prepared for all situations.

If Tuan is HIV negative, that means he does not have HIV. At Chan Troi Moi VCT centers, he will get motivation and encouragement and knowledge to remain HIV negative in the future.

If Tuan is HIV positive, that means he will be given hope and guidance as to what he should do to take care of his health so that he can carry on with his life, continue to earn a living to support his family and take care of his family. He will also be able to know what he should do to prevent transmitting HIV to his wife.

Sum up the activity by making the following points:

 It is important to use condoms with regular partners, especially when you are an IDU.

 Even sex with beautiful women should be protected sex. One can’t tell by looking whether another is HIV positive, and sometimes your own risky behaviors can put others at risk for HIV.

 A person who inject drugs and ever shared N/S with others (even once) are at high risk of getting HIV, and thus his sexual partner could also be at risk if he doesn’t use condoms with her.

 In order to protect your loved ones from getting HIV infection, you must always use condoms with her.

Song Dep – Protect yourself, protect your family