Central youths get vital training on HIV AIDS

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

OUT of School-leaver youth from the Central Province successfully completed a seven day course on HIV AIDS education and awareness at Kwikila Town in the Rigo District last week.

Called the National HIV AIDS Prevention, and Sexuality Education for Out of School-leavers, the course’s target population is out of school-leavers, those that have completed grade 8, 10, and 12.

Coordinator for National HIV AID Youth Response for the el PNG Youth Alliance on HIV AIDS, Andrew Tabel, said that the training was funded by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and facilitated by the National Aids Council Secretariat through the Central Provincial AIDS Council (Central PAC).

“The training is all about HIV Awareness, and the infection rate now in the country among the young population is high, so the training is an intervention approach to minimise the spread of AIDS infection,” Tabel said.

“Facilitating partners to this program is Central PAC, and PNG Youth Alliance on HIV AIDS, who tailor programs targeted at youths.”

“Main idea of the training is to focus on building the capacity of young people, especially knowledge skills, rights, gender responsibility, and equity- not only targeting HIV but other underlying and contributing factors also.”

Which he said were all contributing factors to the prevalence of the disease in PNG society today.

A total of 27 participants, from all four districts in the province took part, and were selected based on facilitating organisations in the various districts through Central PAC.

“Other workshops were conducted in provinces like the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Enga, and Morobe Province, last year and before that,” Tabel said.

All participants have got certification, and activities in their local communities will be supported through the Provincial Aids Council.”

He added that similar training workshops would be conducted when funding is available with donor partners in collaboration with the NACS.