Internet, live transmission
It’s not such a coincidence that viral technologies are some of the most effective ways of disseminating information about a virus — in this case, the human immunodeficiency virus. For World AIDS Day, photographer Niccolo Cosme with his team Design Arts Media Network (DAMN) launched a special exhibit using his Headshot Clinic concept to raise awareness about the epidemic. The project was intended primarily to take place on the Internet, specifically the social networking fabric of our generation that is Facebook.
Instead of merely pinning a red ribbon to your shirt to show support, the 85 participants of the Headshot Clinic, including The Makeup Forum artists themselves, all changed their profile pictures to their red-framed headshots on Dec. 1. It was a virtual call to arms, streaked in red. Each of us have between 500 to 2000 friends on Facebook: the exponential possibility of people around the world clicking through the photos, asking questions and leaving comments — in other words, the buzz generated is that much greater than if they had just thrown a party or benefit in a brick-and-mortar place. Although Cosme did that too, and last Monday at Fiama marked an especially significant turning point for those who attended the opening.
One of my best friends was diagnosed with HIV a few months ago, and he bravely spoke up about it that night, in spite of and against the stigma, myths and misconceptions still attached to the illness. We all really learned something that night, something real beyond the facts and figures and scare tactics and trendy ad campaigns that have been filtered to us in the background of our lives for the past 20 years. We learned that it’s not just something that can happen to us, it’s something that is happening to us and we’ve got to do all we can to educate people in preventing its spread, in getting themselves tested, and in ending the prejudice against people who do have the disease.
The Philippines is lucky to have a relatively low incidence of HIV/AIDS compared with other South East Asian countries — but it is still is on the rise. In 2008, there was a total of 454 reported cases, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. The National Voluntary Blood Safety Program, which monitors blood safety for donated blood, discovered that 68 blood units tested positive. This means that there are people walking around who do not realize they are carriers. And 60 to 70 percent of HIV cases occur among heterosexuals.
Thankfully, being infected with HIV is not the death sentence it used to be. Advancements in antiretroviral drugs — which are available for free —have slowed down the spread of HIV in the body, allowing infected persons to live longer. There has even been a case in Germany where a 42-year old HIV-positive patient has tested negative after receiving (albeit very expensive) stem cell therapy over two years. Still, we must remain vigilant. We may celebrate World AIDS Day but once a year, but an infection lasts a lifetime.
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View the photos at www.headshotclinic.com.
