A pivotal workshop aimed at enhancing community engagement and demand for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a key component of global HIV prevention, took place in Bhutan in July. Held over four days in Thimphu and Paro, this initiative, led by APCOM in collaboration with Save the Children Bhutan, addressed critical gaps in local understanding and community mobilization for PrEP. This workshop was made possible with support from the SKPA-2 Program, which has been instrumental in various PrEP-related initiatives in the country, and served as one of the preludes to the anticipated oral PrEP rollout, which is aimed at being launched and made accessible to key affected populations by the end of the year.
From July 11 to 16, representatives from community-led organizations – Pride Bhutan, Red Purse Network (RPN), Queer Voices of Bhutan (QVOB), and Y-Peer Bhutan – gathered for this interactive workshop. The goal was to equip communities with the skills to create community-centered and culturally sensitive PrEP campaigns. Participants were enthusiastic, with most already familiar with PrEP and its effectiveness in HIV prevention. Some noted they had been waiting a long time for PrEP to be available in Bhutan.
“I have high hopes for everyone’s positive attitude towards PrEP. I wish people in Bhutan could see PrEP as an effective drug and not associate it with character or any form of judgment,”
shared one participant during the workshop’s opening session when asked about their vision for PrEP implementation in Bhutan.
Tenzin Gyeltshen, Executive Director of Pride Bhutan, expressed his commitment to HIV prevention, stating,
“We are dedicated to offering all available options for our key populations. As part of the affected community, I believe PrEP can help maintain low HIV prevalence among LGBTQI+ persons, sex workers, and people who inject drugs.”
The activity kickstarted on July 11 in Thimphu with focus group discussions (FGDs) involving grassroots community members from three key populations: men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender women, and female sex workers. The FGDs aimed to explore participants’ perceptions of PrEP and develop effective approaches for online demand creation. These discussions were crucial, providing strategic insights for future community-driven demand activities, while also serving as a basic framework that guided all workshop activities, which officially began the next day.
On July 12, the agenda featured valuable sessions, starting with a comprehensive PrEP overview by the PrEP National Consultant, Dr. Karma Lhazeem, followed by an engaging “Debunk PrEP Myths” activity in the format of a rapid-fire game. The afternoon focused on assessing strengths, identifying needs, and setting goals for community PrEP mobilization. Given APCOM’s success with its flagship community-led online digital campaign testBKK – an initiative introduced nearly a decade ago and since adapted in various countries across Asia – there was a session highlighting its implementation and lessons learned, offering participants real-world examples of effective demand creation strategies.
The workshop moved to Paro on July 15 and 16, shifting focus to digital content creation and campaign strategies. Participants learned to establish a strong online presence, develop impactful messages, create engaging social media content, and implement sustainable monitoring mechanisms. APCOM led practical sessions on graphic design using Canva, a platform most participants were familiar with, allowing for advanced techniques in creating quality content to promote PrEP.
“Given that PrEP is new in Bhutan and how key populations access information has shifted – especially post-COVID-19 – I believe this workshop has provided valuable insights for tailoring our advocacy messages,” said Tenzin Gyeltshen. He added, “At Pride Bhutan, we’re applying the knowledge gained beyond just PrEP and look forward to more capacity-building opportunities.”
Namgay Choden, Project Coordinator for SKPA-2 Bhutan, noted,
“While the number of people accessing PrEP may be lower than expected due to current HIV service uptake trends, the availability of PrEP as an alternative HIV prevention measure is a significant achievement for Bhutan.”
By the end of the workshop, participants produced a range of materials, from social media posts to posters, tailored to key population communities. They also developed a community mobilization plan to drive PrEP demand and improve local health outcomes, collectively agreeing to use #DrukPrEP as the hashtag for PrEP implementation in Bhutan. All participants agreed that the workshop met their expectations for learning and engagement.
This workshop marked a significant milestone in bridging the gap in PrEP awareness and supporting future PrEP uptake in the “Land of Thunder Dragon.” With guidance from Save the Children Bhutan and APCOM, as well as support from the SKPA-2 Program, this initiative empowered community-led organizations to approach HIV prevention with renewed knowledge and enthusiasm. One anonymous participant expressed hope for “PrEP to contribute to zero HIV cases in Bhutan and support the global vision of ending AIDS by 2030.” This vision can only be achieved through collective efforts and effective collaborations as we move forward with this key HIV prevention tool in Bhutan.
Published on: 07-Oct-2024
About the Contributor
Nicky Suwandi (He/Him/His)
Knowledge Management & Learning
APCOM, Thailand
Nicky led the demand generation initiatives during SKPA-1, and with his current position, he is aiming to facilitate discussions and promote cross-learning in the SKPA-2 project and beyond. In addition, his work is deeply rooted in creating meaningful changes for key population communities, specifically on HIV online interventions, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and sexualized drug use or chemsex. Hailing from Indonesia, he is equipped with a degree in communication studies, and have experience working in a national network for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women, which comprises more than 80 community-based organizations and support groups across the archipelago.
