HIV/AIDS Policies, Activism, and Anthropology: A talk with Richard Parker

Abstract

RICHARD GUY PARKER ISA NORTH-AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, researcher and professor. Always sensitive to the social and political implications of AIDS in the social body, was one of the central actors for the implementation of what became known as the Brazilian response to the HIV/AIDS. Graduate and Doctor in Anthropology by the California University, author and organizer of a number of books, articles, anthologies, conferences, bulletins, among other publications, is one of the indispensable authors for a critical and engaged analysis of the paths leading to the conceiving of public policies, since the process of planning them to their execution. We seized the opportunity of his presence in the VIII Brazilian Congress in Social and Human Sciences in Health, of the Brazilian Association of Collective Health (ABRASCO), between the 26th and the 30th of September 2019, in João Pessoa/PB, to talk about his path in the field, and to discuss his perceptions on the political and epidemiologic scene of AIDS nowadays. The interview took place on September 28th 2019, in the Federal University of Paraíba, by researchers of the Group of Research in Health, Society and Culture (GRUPESSC). It was a part of the activities of the research project 'Fases e Faces do HIV/AIDS na Paraíba', developed by GRUPESSC between 2018 and 2020, aiming to investigate the incorporation of the pharmacological technologies of HIV prevention in the State of Paraíba. Parker was a teacher of the Institute of Social Medicine of the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) for almost 20 years, and is Full Emeritus professor of Columbia University. Currently, acts as a visiting professor in the Institute of Studies of Collective Health of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IESC/UFRJ) and since 1998 presides the Brazilian Interdisciplinary Association of AIDS, ABIA in this institution, was besides important political actors, that contributed to the fight for the rights of people who live and coexist with HIV/AIDS. ABIA is one of the main NGO/AIDS of Brazil that act in the monitoring of public health policies on HIV/AIDS. Besides contributing to the enhancement of the governmental efforts and to the debate on the epidemic, has been a potent instrument for the democratization of information on combat, control, prevention and treatment strategies 1 .