17 Oct 2018

 USAID communications advisor, Sara Sullivan and producer of Have It All documentary describes it as a powerful tool to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS issues.

In an interview after the screening of the documentary in Molepolole recently, Sullivan said the documentary, which was produced to address the issue of stigma about HIV, would change the lives of many in the country, especially the youth.

She said as videos disseminate information faster than print media, the information in the documentary would reach people fast and play a vital role in encouraging them to adopt lifestyle changes through knowing their status and coming out in the open about them.

She emphasised that in most instances, the youth were reluctant to test for HIV hence making them their target audience, particularly because people in their age group enjoyed watching films more.

Sullivan revealed that the production of the documentary, which is about five Batswana living openly and well on HIV treatment, started in November 2017 by the United States Embassy, and that it was first premiered in Gaborone in May this year.

She mentioned that as the documentary was filmed in Molepolole and Gaborone, they found it fit to make their second stop in Molepolole before touring the country, citing that three of the actors including 71-year-old Stanley Monageng were from Molepolole.

She added that the documentary had been received well by Batswana as they had been supportive of it.

It has started to play a vital role in changing the lives of some people as now they want to talk openly about their status.

Sullivan revealed that as they would be touring the country to screen the documentary, they would be accompanied by the five actors so that people could interact with them and learn more about HIV/AIDS related issues.

In addition, she mentioned that they were producing a DVD of the documentary, which would be given to schools, teams, clubs and different organisations.

For her part, an actress in the documentary, 24-year-old Masedi Kewamodimo, who hails from Kgagodi, disclosed her HIV status on radio.

She said she also talked openly about her status on television in the different countries that she visited to discuss issues related to HIV/AIDS.

She said when she was told about the documentary, she found it as an opportunity to get people to know her and learn more from her as well as to know how she was surviving while living with HIV.

She revealed that as she was born with HIV, she wanted to contribute to efforts to fight the epidemic hence her decision to be part of the documentary’s production which was her way of helping save the lives of many.

One of the documentary viewers, Gofenyamang Wetshootsile expressed his gratitude for the documentary, saying it was educational.

He said it was important for people to know their status and be open about it so that they could get support from their families and communities. ENDS