Drama to be used to fight HIV

By PISAI GUMAR
THE directors of performing arts theatre groups in nine Morobe districts are building technical and management capacity to make the HIV/AIDS go-rural drive from 2011 to 2015 a reality.
Eleven performing art theatre directors are writing plays that advocate a multitude of cross-cutting social issues.
Funded by the Morobe provincial AIDS council and facilitated by Sam Sommy and Richard Gura at the Kama room, Phils Motel in Eriku yesterday, the purpose was to revive theatre groups.
And this time, they want to align them to respond to issues such as the fight against the HIV/AIDS.
Under the leadership of former professional mime and comedy artist Justin Sommy and actor Poi Ameke, the group discussed strengths and weaknesses and means of collaborating with relevant organisations to drive the awareness in the rural communities.
To build their capacity, the directors re-looked at their basic theatre skills, how to develop scripts and theatre intervention, use the skills to disseminate HIV information and prevention, theatre management and administration, research, monitoring and evaluation, behaviour change and gender equity and being a leader and a role model on HIV/AIDS prevention.
While dramatising, messages from the Bible will be used.
The leaders will compile data and profile in preparation for a proposed Morobe HIV/AIDS theatre arts expo next year.