AIDS education in driving schools and buses

A bus taking passengers from Battambang province to Phnom Penh on 20 September played DVD on Mr. Bean to entertain its passengers. The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation wants to insert spots on HIV and AIDS during the entertainment.

By Chhay Sophal
In an effort to raise public awareness on HIV and AIDS
and to bring the country’s AIDS prevalence down from 0.9%,
the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation has started
cooperating with both state and private driving schools.
It is also finding partners or donors to produce some
spots to be shown on public buses.

In his session on the second day of the three-day 3rd National AIDS Conference, Mr. Vann Than, official from Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, said that as part of its National Operational Plan, the ministry plans to have such projects nationwide. “Between 1,500 and 2,000 people get licenses from the driving schools every month just only in Phnom Penh capital. This is a bit huge number. It is therefore a good opportunity to raise awareness for them. If the driving students fail to answer the questions on AIDS, they cannot pass the exam to get the license,” he said. There are more than 10 driving schools in Phnom Penh, and most of them have their branches in provinces, he added.

According to Mr. Vann Than, the ministry also wants to have a project to produce spots on HIV and AIDS and the spots will be shown on buses taking passengers from Phnom Penh to provinces. “Each bus has VCD and DVD players. So the drivers can show the spots to their passengers, a big part of raising awareness on the epidemics and its effect. But such project we need partners and donors.”

There are several private public transportations and thousands of passengers travel on them daily, according to Mr. Vann Than.