Naivasha Youth Sensitized on HIV and AIDS
Efforts to combat HIV and AIDS in Naivasha got a shot in arm yesterday after more than 90 youths in the area were sensitized on the HIV scourge. The exercise that targeted those aged between 10 and 35 years was aimed at increasing uptake of HIV testing and counseling among the youth.
During the sessions, the youths were informed about HIV and AIDS, effects and how it relates to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Tuberculosis. The sensitization sessions were part of the activities implemented by NCCK under the Global Fund Round 7 project.
Speaking during the sensitization sessions, the NCCK Programme Officer for Family and Community Health, Imelda Namayi, underscored the importance of the exercise saying half of all new HIV infections occur among young people. She added that girls are at a higher risk compared to boys.
“Youth face many reproductive health challenges, which include sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion and drug and substance abuse among others”, she said. Imelda observed that these realities increase the vulnerability of the youth to HIV infection.
The core of the sensitizations was vulnerability and risk to HIV infection among the youth and the relevant behavioral change they would have to adopt so as to avoid infection or re-infection.
Facilitators in the sessions implored them to know their HIV status by visiting Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers.
Various participants who attended the session hailed the training especially on how they can protect themselves during sexual intercourse. “I have learnt that I can maintain one partner whose HIV status I am aware of”, said one of the participants.
