CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL DAY: PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, KNOWLEDGE AND FIGHT AGAINST PREJUDICE INVOLVING HIV / AIDS

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: The Candlelight Memorial Day campaign started in 1983 and takes place all around the globe with the same goal: to honor people who fought and still fights against AIDS and to share knowledge about the disease - prevention and clinical manifestations. The campaign is a health promotion action aimed at spreading knowledge about the prevention of HIV infection. It is an opportunity to meet students from the University to discuss a matter of great importance , as well as enable them theoretically to answer people’s questions and at the same time honor those who fight and fought the disease thus allowing the fight against prejudice. METHODOLOGY: Candles and a red ribbon (symbol for the fight against AIDS) were put on the ground at a public square in Goiânia, Brazil. Through encouraging the practice of preventive measures and spreading knowledge to the passers-by and other students on site, there is health promotion. Informative leaflets and male and female condoms were given away and doubts were solved. There were two campaigns for two consecutive years promoted by the local committee of IFMSA at the Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: AIDS/HIV is a disease of high incidence and prevalence, which justifies the continuing need to address the issue of the campaign. It was perceived that there was a great interest among the population regarding the campaign, since many do not know the meaning of the symbols used and, therefore, were attracted by the symbolism and later informed about the disease.