Volunteers embark on AIDS campaign
Apr 09, 2003
OVER 100 A’ Level students and university graduates have volunteered to create awareness on HIV/AIDS in Ugandan schools.
By Cynthia Nankumba
OVER 100 A’ Level students and university graduates have volunteered to create awareness on HIV/AIDS in Ugandan schools.
The volunteers, aged between 18 and 25, were recruited under the Student Partnership Worldwide volunteer (SPW) network.
SPW is a non-governmental organisation that aims at creating awareness on HIV/AIDS in schools and at the grassroots.
The volunteers have worked in Mbale, Sironko, Jinja and Kamuli districts, some of the areas believed to be most affected by the scourge.
Namirembe Bitamazire, the state minister for primary education, urged more volunteers to come up, saying the Government had financial constraints.
This was during the launching of the network’s next phase of activities recently.
SPW’s spokesperson Joana Ntalo said the volunteers undergo a four-week intensive training in classroom techniques and adolescent sexual reproductive health issues.
She said the organisation works with students because they are energetic and can easily raise awareness among fellow youth who have been affected by the disease.
The volunteers are also trained to create awareness in other health-related issues and the environment.
SPW operates along the guidelines of the ministries of health and education to revitalise schools’ health programmes, especially in rural areas.
It is aided by Barclays Bank Uganda, the National Environment Management Authority, Sheraton Hotel and trustees in Britain.
SPW was established owing to the inadequate and inappropriate information about the causes and spread of communicable diseases in Uganda.
It has worked in over 100 schools, established more than 200 health clubs and facilitated 40 community events.
OVER 100 A’ Level students and university graduates have volunteered to create awareness on HIV/AIDS in Ugandan schools.
The volunteers, aged between 18 and 25, were recruited under the Student Partnership Worldwide volunteer (SPW) network.
SPW is a non-governmental organisation that aims at creating awareness on HIV/AIDS in schools and at the grassroots.
The volunteers have worked in Mbale, Sironko, Jinja and Kamuli districts, some of the areas believed to be most affected by the scourge.
Namirembe Bitamazire, the state minister for primary education, urged more volunteers to come up, saying the Government had financial constraints.
This was during the launching of the network’s next phase of activities recently.
SPW’s spokesperson Joana Ntalo said the volunteers undergo a four-week intensive training in classroom techniques and adolescent sexual reproductive health issues.
She said the organisation works with students because they are energetic and can easily raise awareness among fellow youth who have been affected by the disease.
The volunteers are also trained to create awareness in other health-related issues and the environment.
SPW operates along the guidelines of the ministries of health and education to revitalise schools’ health programmes, especially in rural areas.
It is aided by Barclays Bank Uganda, the National Environment Management Authority, Sheraton Hotel and trustees in Britain.
SPW was established owing to the inadequate and inappropriate information about the causes and spread of communicable diseases in Uganda.
It has worked in over 100 schools, established more than 200 health clubs and facilitated 40 community events.