By Juliana N. Mbua
Captioned “Young Girls protect your Selves against STD’s and HIV”, the fifth edition of the Aids Free Holiday Programme in Cameroon was launched in all 10 provincial headquarters of the nation. In the SouthWest Province, the event kicked-off on the occasion of the International Day of the Youth, Sunday, August 12, 2007 at the Alliance Franco-Camerounaise Centre in Buea.
The program which has been in existence for 5 years was expected to run for three weeks this year, with the aim of getting as many youths as possible involved in knowing their HIV status. The Aids Free holiday program is Organised and sponsored by Synergy Africain in partnership with PTG, the Ministry of Youths affairs, Women’s Affaires, and the Ministry of Health. Their scheme is expected to cover all regions of the national territory.
The Governor’s representative at the occasion, Mr Edwin Ngwana called on women and girls in particular to massively take active part in the Aids Free holiday program, by turning out for the screening exercise. "It is the only method by which one could be confident about his/her HIV status", he explained.
Dr. Rose Chia Fochingong, Delegate of the Provincial technological committee for the counselling of HIV and Aids drilled the participants on peer educational skills in preparation of the field work. She explained that Youths and women in particular are most vulnerable and should be more involved in such programmes.
According to Dr. Fochingong, the initiative aims for a wider coverage of the terrain this year, increasing the number of trainees from 37 as at last year to 50 in 2007. The trainees are expected to work daily from 1 to 5 pm for three weeks. The 50 peer educators are aged between 15 and 28 and have been trained for two days on positive living for persons infected or uninfected with HIV.
In Cameroon the ratio of female as compared to male infected persons tested HIV positive is about 2:1, while if the age gap were to be reduced to 15 and 30 years, the ratio will increase to 3:1. Also, equipment for the testing of other STDs have been made available at the various testing Centres and mobile vans.
The selection of the 50 youths was done in cooperation with various youth associations from the Provincial Delegation of Youth’s affairs. Miss Babara Bala, one of the 50 trainees, in an interview, expressed gratitude to the state for such programs especially during the holiday period. According to Babara, the initiative comes at the right time, and parents have a major role to play in the fight against HIV and other STDs. In her view, parents should be the first educators, and also give their children the opportunity to share their ideas and values with others. Change is a gradual process, and requires the effort of the group, that is the schools, the church and other social groups she concluded.
For evaluation purposes, the 50 trainees are expected to sensitise at list 1000 youths each, organise at least 50 peer educative talks and distribute at least 200 access cards to those they sensitise by the end of the three weeks.
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