Panama's Girl Scouts observe World AIDS Day

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"Siempre lista" also translates as "don't get infected with HIV"
photos by José F. Ponce

Anyone can get infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, and in Panama we have a relatively high rate of infection. One of our rural indigenous cultures has a tradition of polygamy, a lot of nominally Catholic men are not too monogamous, prostitution is legal here and teenagers will be teenagers, so forget about the stereotypes of who gets AIDS. A lot of Panamanians get AIDS.

Panama's Girl Scouts, the Muchachas Guias, have for some years now been teaching girls about the danger of HIV and how to avoid being infected with it. As part of this work they held a day of educational activities for the girls and for scout leader on the occasion of World HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

See, the Muchachas Guias motto "siempre lista" is often rendered into English as "be prepared," but it can be translated in a number of different ways. One of these, as far as Panama's Girl Scouts are concerned, is for girls not to get blind-sided by AIDS.

The American Embassy also pitched in for the occasion

Yes, they told the kids that abstinence is a good way to avoid AIDS, but they also provided frank, state of the science advice about the medical facts of the matter

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