DMAV on the loose outside of Pune!

On Tuesday the DMAV expanded its operations outside of Pune, and its crew deployed to Kedgaon on Market Day to give shoppers, pedestrians, and merchants exposure to the DISHA HIV awareness presentations. The motto might be join the fight, but on Tuesday, DISHA brought the fight to them.

Two audience participants who joined the fight

As this was the first foray of the DMAV outside of Pune there were a few kinks, but these were ironed out and the professionalism that the team has acquired really showed through.

Problem 1: Dodgy (I’m becoming more British in my speech daily) microphones. While the amplification of the DISHA team’s voices over the ambient noises that are unavoidable in India is perhaps the greatest benefit the DMAV provides, the sound system is not immune to techno-snafus and unfortunately we ran into this. I was very impressed how seamlessly the team coped with this. As a performer one can be shaken easily by equipment malfunctions of this sort, and likewise the crowd can lose interest if a performance has hitches or complications. The team recognized the situation with the microphones as it unfolded and very professionally rotated mics, made some adjustments, and overall didn’t panic when things didn’t go absolutely smoothly. Their experience guided them through, and with flying colors at that. No one will ever accuse the DISHA team of speaking too quietly, and with or without microphones they tried their best to ensure that the message was not lost on the crowd.

I don’t mean to focus too much on the negative aspect of the day, but as there were so few negatives, I thought I might get it out of the way first.

Overall the scorecard reads that there were three full presentations given at different locations around the bazaar. All three presentations involved the DMAV, a street play, an educational and informative lecture or session, an HIV positive speaker (an incredible asset to the mission and amazing to see her confidence grew as the day went on), and a condom demonstration and distribution. The first session at the near end of the bazaar featured 75-100 spectators and some eager participants from the audience, the second session at a motorcycle parking area at the far end after lunch featured around 80 spectators, while the third session in the heart of the bazaar had a smaller stationary crowd but featured many transients who absorbed at least some of the presentation before continuing on their way. Considering the heat, it was quite an accomplishment, and despite the fatigue, the DISHA team maintained their high level of performance throughout all three presentations and even had the energy for a laughter filled 50 km ride back to Tadiwala Rd.

The young HIV Positive speaker

Key points: A. Visibility attracts. The DMAV, the red saris, the drumming, the speakers, even the white volunteers (flypaper). Anything to get people to come and hear the message. B. Condoms, unfortunately, many people take to free handouts regardless of what they are. At the third session condoms were distributed before the demonstration. That was a mistake that we will remedy in the future. I honestly believe some of the people who held out their hands thought they were getting candy and were quite confused when it wasn’t. We need condoms to get into the right hands, they need to be in the hands of knowledgeable users, because it is of great danger if they are used improperly, because then word spreads that they don’t work, or they break easily, or anything else that is spread by word of mouth that could undermine all the good we have done in our campaign to try to break down the cultural resistance to condoms.

Quote regarding condoms from a book I’m reading called The Politics of Aids, by Peter Gill, “If the Church is really interested in seeing its followers live, it should back the use of condoms to save its own people from Aids. I am not trying to support immorality by supporting those who cannot abstain and be faithful to use condoms, but there is a need to recognize the weakness of those we are living with and therefore help them to live.” President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni 2005 address to East African Roman Catholic bishops.

After a DISHA meeting this morning the DMAV is getting even cooler…and you thought that wasn’t possible.