The people of Sanda Magbonlonto in the northern district of Port Loko have acquired basic knowledge and skills needed for the prevention and reduction of HIV/AIDS.
This opportunity was accorded them in a recent workshop organized by the Port Loko District Council and implemented by the MARRSU Development Organization, one of the leading associations in the locality.
The two-day training workshop was supported by the National AIDS Secretariat with resources from Global Fund.
A total of 50 people including pupils, farmers and Traditional Birth Attendants participated while the dispenser at the Sadugu Health Centre, Salu Kamara, and Hawa Sowa the Maternal Child Health Aid, served as resource persons.
The locals were told that casual and unprotected sex, transfusion infected blood, contacts with body fluids such as semen and virgina discharge, and un-sterilized needles were some of the modes of transfusion of this killer disease.
According to Pa Alimamy Brima Bangura, who deputized the Paramount Chief, this workshop could not have come at a better time than now.
He said the programme was so educative that they were more than willing to cooperate with, and adhere to the advice of the organizers for as they were now willing to know their HIV status by going for voluntary counseling and testing.