For life, with love: Training tool for HIV prevention and safe migration in road construction settings and affected communities

New transportation infrastructure and the emergence of transport and economic corridors in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) have led to better connectivity and regional economic integration, the creation of new jobs, and new and complex patterns of internal and cross-border migration. These developments, however, can also have negative out-comes. One is increased vulnerability to HIV infection, particularly along transport corridors and cross-border areas. Migrants and other local populations working and living along the newly constructed roads are at higher risk, as they lack the knowledge and skills to prevent HIV infection. Because of the very mobile nature of road construction work, tools of innovative information, education, and communication (IEC) and behavior change communication (BCC) are needed to reach the construction workers and the surrounding communities. Although numerous HIV prevention IEC/BCC tools are available, very few are specifically developed for the road construction setting. In 2007, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) developed a migrant-friendly IEC/BCC tool called For Life, With Love—an HIV prevention and safe mobility video and life skills activity package. This was developed in partnership with the national health authorities and key stakeholders of five GMS countries: Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The package comes with an animated video series (eight episodes of 10 minutes each), posters, brochures, and an activities manual. Available in the national languages of each of these five countries, the package is an ”edutainment” tool intended for use by governments, development agencies, and private sector organizations to raise awareness of HIV, AIDS, and safe mobility using culturally and linguistically appropriate and  gender-responsive approaches. The customized IEC/BCC tool was developed over a 9-month period and pilot-tested at an ADB-financed road project in Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport participated in all stages of IEC/BCC development. A situation assessment was conducted to determine mobility patterns and observe work conditions and the community environment among road construction workers, managers and supervisors, truck drivers, sex workers, health care workers, and other mobility-affected populations in the project area. This information was used to develop a tailored training manual—to be used with For Life, With Love—for delivering HIV prevention and safe mobility messages to road construction workers as well as to surrounding communities and entertainment venues.