By: Haruna Kuyateh
The ActionAid International – The Gambia (AAITG) and Ministry of Youths and Sports (MoYS) rolled out their first leg nationwide sensitisation on HIV infection among youths and young people in Lower and Upper Nuimi, Jokadou, Central and Upper Badibou and Sabach Sanjal in North Bank Region.
The sensitization and training program was meant to help youths to be HIV Ambassadors in their respective communities and provide platform to discuss HIV, encourage voluntary counselling and testing.
The program overall funded by Global Fund Program Continuation on HIV targets 1500 young people of 48 districts across the country and with overall funding of D2, 049, 710.
Speaking in Njaba Kunda in NBR, Bai Cham Global Fund Project Manager, ActionAid International the Gambia underscored the significance of partnering with the Ministry of Youths and Sports to create more public awareness on HIV infection among young people in all districts across the country.
He said the overall objective provides relevant information on HIV and other sexual transmitted infections and their reciprocal causes and consequences to each other.
He noted that research has shown that young people are more vulnerable to contract STI and HIV and is alarming rate based on Multi Indicator Cluster studies MICS 2018. He noted that human rights based approach to development is a slogan that advocate for decentralizing development projects and programs aim at improving lives and livelihood of people’s.
The partnership would empower the youth with adequate knowledge and skills to continue preventing them from HIV and promote positive health seeking behaviours in fighting against HIV and AIDS.
Young people and HIV/AIDS engagement sensitisation for youths
MICS 2018 UNICEF 2018 show young people are at risk of contracting HIV
Decreasing the number of sexual partners and increasing access to and utilisation of comprehensive HIV prevention services, including prevention education and increasing access to condoms are essential for sexually active young people.
Musa Mbye Director at the Department of Youths and Sports described the partnership with ActionAid International the Gambia as very important in reaching out to youths in the respective districts, in providing them with sexual and reproductive health information and including HIV.
He challenges youths to be goodwill ambassadors to Action Aid International the Gambia and Ministry of Youths and Sports to adopt positive health seeking behaviour to combat HIV.
Director Mbye said Africa Youth Chapter define youths age bracket between 15 to 35 years and noted that the department of youths and Sports would continue to engage other bilateral and multilateral partners to support in capacity development and finance to exploit potential and skills.
Many people made reasonable remarks at the sensitization and training program this include Sherifo Mboge NYC Program Officer for NBR, Basaikou Kanteh district chairperson also double as Child Fund Facilitator of Njaba Kunda, Fatoumata Keita of Chamen in Central Badibou.
The topics covered included Violence Against Women and its linkages with HIV& AIDS, Global and National HIV and AIDS Situation 2016, National HIV and AIDS message, Sexual Transmitted Infections, HIV& AIDS infection prevention and high risk groups, HIV and AIDS Prevention and control ACT, Addressing Stigma and Discrimination in the National HIV and AIDS response, Human Rights Based Approach to Development, positive living and strategies to reduce new HIV and AIDS infections among key population.