As a Peer Educator Trainer, i have had cause to deal with young people between the ages of thirteen to eighteen. You might be surprised at what they know! The NYSC-UNICEF sponsored project, has brought the message of HIV/AIDS down to the grassroots and most importantly, to school age children. Formerly, i was skeptical of talking to these adolescents about sex, reproduction and their bodies, truth be told, i was absolutely terrified!
I am very happy and i feel fulfilled, trying to impart useful and life changing and enhancing message to young people and having them love it and participate so well. It is shocking to see how misinformed these young ones are.
I am gratified to see and notice slight attitudinal changes in these young people. I also think it is great that we are now focusing on younger people, whose characters and personalities could still be influenced. They are now trying to inculcate rationality and safety into behaviour relating to sex, reproductive health and life in general. This shows that no matter how little you think you are contributing, you are changing lives.
So, i believe that contrary to what others may beleive, the task is not as thankless as you may think! Do something! Go change a life!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
To get tested or not?
Around us as young people, a controversy rages. To get tested or not to get tested. In my experience with young people, this question has proved to be a bone of contention and as we all know, unless you are a dog, bones can be really tough to chew! So, what is it to be? I try as much as possible, to provide all necessary information, so that young people can make informed decisions because, when it comes down to the basics, its a personal decision.
Young people believe that when one is ignorant of his or her status, one can live a fulfilled, happy, healthy and though short life. On the other hand, when one gets tested and is found to be positive, your life is about over.
What i think? No matter how bitter or harsh the truth is, ignorance is much more expensive in the long run. Know your status. If positive, inculcate healthy living styles, join a support group and live vibrantly and positively. If negative, guard your status jealously and avoid risky behaviour. Either way, knowledge is power. Get tested, NOW and thank me later!
Young people believe that when one is ignorant of his or her status, one can live a fulfilled, happy, healthy and though short life. On the other hand, when one gets tested and is found to be positive, your life is about over.
What i think? No matter how bitter or harsh the truth is, ignorance is much more expensive in the long run. Know your status. If positive, inculcate healthy living styles, join a support group and live vibrantly and positively. If negative, guard your status jealously and avoid risky behaviour. Either way, knowledge is power. Get tested, NOW and thank me later!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Menace
HIV/AIDS is a preventable and treatable disease. Yet today, 6,800 people will be infected with HIV. Of the 2.5 million people infected yearly, young people account for 40 percent of new infections. Poverty, unemployment, a lack of education, sexual violence and gender inequality increase the vulnerability of young people to HIV infection.11.4 million children and adolescents have been orphaned by AIDS and are now heads of households, as we lose an entire generation of parents, teachers, workers and doctors in many regions.
Although world leaders committed that by 2005, 90% of young people would know how to protect themselves from infection, currently in the hardest hit countries, less than half of youth can correctly identify modes of HIV transmission.
Despite the debilitating effects of AIDS, young leaders are taking action in their communities to prevent the spread of the disease and to address the devastating consequences of the pandemic. In fact, evidence shows that young people are most effective at changing the risk behaviors of their peers and at shaping a better future for themselves and their families.
Although world leaders committed that by 2005, 90% of young people would know how to protect themselves from infection, currently in the hardest hit countries, less than half of youth can correctly identify modes of HIV transmission.
Despite the debilitating effects of AIDS, young leaders are taking action in their communities to prevent the spread of the disease and to address the devastating consequences of the pandemic. In fact, evidence shows that young people are most effective at changing the risk behaviors of their peers and at shaping a better future for themselves and their families.
HIV Counselling and Testing
Over the past 20 years, voluntary counselling and testing programs (VCT) have helped millions of people learn their HIV status, yet more than 80% of people living with HIV in low and middle-income countries do not know that they are infected. Efforts are urgently needed to increase the provision of HIV testing through a wider range of effective and safe options.
HIV testing is a critical entry point to life-sustaining health care services for people living with HIV and AIDS and service delivery models need to be expanded to testing in antenatal care, sexually transmitted infection clinics, in-patient wards as well as free-standing client-initiated testing centres.NACA and UNAIDS encourage Nigerians to visit VCT services .WHO encourages countries to create free VCT centres as well as to standardize and expand provider-initiated testing and counselling so that more people learn their HIV status. However, endorsement of provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling is not an endorsement of coercive or mandatory HIV testing.
in Nigeria,NACA which is an acronym for national agency for the control if aids has spread its centres in all the 36 states in Nigeria creating an opportunity for everyone to access free HIV counselling and tests.avail yourself this opportunity to be sure of your status.go for a test today.
HIV testing is a critical entry point to life-sustaining health care services for people living with HIV and AIDS and service delivery models need to be expanded to testing in antenatal care, sexually transmitted infection clinics, in-patient wards as well as free-standing client-initiated testing centres.NACA and UNAIDS encourage Nigerians to visit VCT services .WHO encourages countries to create free VCT centres as well as to standardize and expand provider-initiated testing and counselling so that more people learn their HIV status. However, endorsement of provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling is not an endorsement of coercive or mandatory HIV testing.
in Nigeria,NACA which is an acronym for national agency for the control if aids has spread its centres in all the 36 states in Nigeria creating an opportunity for everyone to access free HIV counselling and tests.avail yourself this opportunity to be sure of your status.go for a test today.
what is HIV?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system, destroying or impairing their function. In the early stages of infection, the person has no symptoms.
However, as the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the person becomes more susceptible to so-called opportunistic infections.
The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS; antiretroviral drugs can slow down the process even further.HIV is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal), transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of contaminated needles, and between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding
However, as the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the person becomes more susceptible to so-called opportunistic infections.
The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS; antiretroviral drugs can slow down the process even further.HIV is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal), transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of contaminated needles, and between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding
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