Over 4,000 young people in Bonthe district are beneficiaries of an HIV/AIDS prevention and protection, education programme.
The residents of Banta Mokelleh chiefdom and Bonthe Island recently benefited from, a face to face, focus group discussions in educational institutions, recreational centres as well as community public market places.
Seventeen communities were targeted with those age 15 and above who are described as high risk of contracting the virus because of their social activities. Thirty-eight young people were selected from the 17 communities and were trained as peer educators to undertake the face to face focus group discussions in the various communities targeting their peers.
Fishermen, fishmongers, petty traders, bike riders including other unions were also part of the HIV education and voluntary testing, in order for them to know their status.
The meetings were done in collaboration with the National Aids Secretariat (NAS) the Centre for the Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA). According to Programme Manager, CCYA, Abdul Karim Samura, several hundred young people willingly turned up at all the various community sensitization and were very appreciative of the education, which they described as timely, noting that Bonthe is a fishing community and at high risk to risky behaviors, especially among young people.
Fisherman, Solomon Freeman expressed delight as he received his supply of condoms from the organizers of the HIV awareness education, noting that Bonthe Island is very remote and such preventive materials are not easy to come by.
Samura added that schools were also part of targeted group and most of the school administration welcomed the HIV education, which was an eye opener to many young people who had little knowledge about other ways of contracting the virus, apart from sexual intercourse.
Cordelia Rogers, a senior secondary pupil in one of the secondary schools, said, “The lack of education is responsible for stigma, but frequent education among young people will further create the awareness that HIV is real, and knowing your status will reduce the spread of the disease and stigma”.
AC/28/11/1
By Ade Campbell
Wednesday November 29, 2017.
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