Youth join fight against HIV in northern Uganda
Dec 05, 2008
I tested for HIV/AIDS in 2006 at our home in Kanyagoga. I was counselled for about one hour by TASO staff,†says Gladys Aol, 12, of Kasubi Army Primary School in Gulu town.
By Chris Ocowun
I tested for HIV/AIDS in 2006 at our home in Kanyagoga. I was counselled for about one hour by TASO staff,†says Gladys Aol, 12, of Kasubi Army Primary School in Gulu town.
After testing, her mother told her to go to The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) -Gulu. “I was again counselled and tested. I was told I was HIV-positive. I broke down crying. I was then taken to a doctor who gave me some drugs,†Aol narrates.
Aol states that her friend who was also HIV-positive took her to Health Alert Uganda from where she received more counselling and later on enrolled as peer educators.
“As peer educator, we visit schools and villages where we mobilise children to go for testing. We do this through drama, giving testimonies and sensitisation,†she says.
Sarah Ajok, 26, a volunteer counsellor with Health Alert, says she tested HIV-positive in 2005 when she had gone for antenatal care at Gulu Referral Hospital. After this, she took precaution and her five children she had under prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS are HIV-negative.
As the war comes to an end, the youth are being mobilised to take the lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
About 600 HIV-positive youth have become peer educators to encourage others to go for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS.
The youth, with the help of Save the Children, have also constructed five centres where VCT is done.
“We have also formed clubs targeting the youth aged between eight and 24 years,†Kelly Komakech of Alero Primary School says after testing HIV-negative recently.
The peer educators have talked to 4,710 children in Gulu and Amuru districts about HIV and urged them to go for HIV tests.
There are 11 peer clubs for out-of-school youth and nine clubs of in-school youth in Amuru, Alero, Purongo and Atiak sub-counties in Amuru district, according to Benon Orach of Save the Children.
According to Orach, in these clubs, the peer educators get basic training on HIV tailored for the youth. He says more than 600 youth have registered with the 20 clubs.
About 1,500 children in Gulu and Amuru districts are living with HIV/AIDS, with some receiving anti-retroviral therapy.
In a bid to reduce the number of new infections, Save the Children, in partnership with Gulu Youth Centre and Health Alert Uganda, has embarked on deploying peer educators in community campaigns against HIV/AIDS.
The organisation is also implementing two HIV/AIDS projects; HIV/AIDS and Convening the Rights of Children for prevention, care and support of children living with HIV/AIDS funded by Save the Children Denmark.
The other project is Youth HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health targeting the adolescents from 10-24 years
Pamela Lanyero, the HIV/AIDS coordinator of Save the Children Uganda said every month, they visit each model centre twice. “After testing and finding HIV/AIDS positive children during outreaches, we refer them to Health Alert Uganda to get ARVs and those found negative are encouraged to join the peer clubs,†she said.
Dennis Akena, the programme officer of Gulu Youth Centre, says there is need for an HIV programme for the people living with disabilities (PWDs). He says some people believe PWDs are free from the virus.
Edmond Kertho, a regional HIV/AIDS specialist with Save the Children, says children need to be taught to abstain from sex to avoid getting HIV.
I tested for HIV/AIDS in 2006 at our home in Kanyagoga. I was counselled for about one hour by TASO staff,†says Gladys Aol, 12, of Kasubi Army Primary School in Gulu town.
After testing, her mother told her to go to The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) -Gulu. “I was again counselled and tested. I was told I was HIV-positive. I broke down crying. I was then taken to a doctor who gave me some drugs,†Aol narrates.
Aol states that her friend who was also HIV-positive took her to Health Alert Uganda from where she received more counselling and later on enrolled as peer educators.
“As peer educator, we visit schools and villages where we mobilise children to go for testing. We do this through drama, giving testimonies and sensitisation,†she says.
Sarah Ajok, 26, a volunteer counsellor with Health Alert, says she tested HIV-positive in 2005 when she had gone for antenatal care at Gulu Referral Hospital. After this, she took precaution and her five children she had under prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS are HIV-negative.
As the war comes to an end, the youth are being mobilised to take the lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
About 600 HIV-positive youth have become peer educators to encourage others to go for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS.
The youth, with the help of Save the Children, have also constructed five centres where VCT is done.
“We have also formed clubs targeting the youth aged between eight and 24 years,†Kelly Komakech of Alero Primary School says after testing HIV-negative recently.
The peer educators have talked to 4,710 children in Gulu and Amuru districts about HIV and urged them to go for HIV tests.
There are 11 peer clubs for out-of-school youth and nine clubs of in-school youth in Amuru, Alero, Purongo and Atiak sub-counties in Amuru district, according to Benon Orach of Save the Children.
According to Orach, in these clubs, the peer educators get basic training on HIV tailored for the youth. He says more than 600 youth have registered with the 20 clubs.
About 1,500 children in Gulu and Amuru districts are living with HIV/AIDS, with some receiving anti-retroviral therapy.
In a bid to reduce the number of new infections, Save the Children, in partnership with Gulu Youth Centre and Health Alert Uganda, has embarked on deploying peer educators in community campaigns against HIV/AIDS.
The organisation is also implementing two HIV/AIDS projects; HIV/AIDS and Convening the Rights of Children for prevention, care and support of children living with HIV/AIDS funded by Save the Children Denmark.
The other project is Youth HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health targeting the adolescents from 10-24 years
Pamela Lanyero, the HIV/AIDS coordinator of Save the Children Uganda said every month, they visit each model centre twice. “After testing and finding HIV/AIDS positive children during outreaches, we refer them to Health Alert Uganda to get ARVs and those found negative are encouraged to join the peer clubs,†she said.
Dennis Akena, the programme officer of Gulu Youth Centre, says there is need for an HIV programme for the people living with disabilities (PWDs). He says some people believe PWDs are free from the virus.
Edmond Kertho, a regional HIV/AIDS specialist with Save the Children, says children need to be taught to abstain from sex to avoid getting HIV.