HIV/AIDS

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“Young People are at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted Diseases. The onlyl way to change the course of HIV epidemic is to stop young people getting infected".

PREVENTION

With no cure or vaccine in sight for the last 20 years, Prevention as a social vaccine is a very important area to focus on in preventing the further spread of HIV/AIDS. The vast majority of people do not have HIV/AIDS and we can still do much to ensure that they stay safe. Though Uganda’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has drop from 30% to 6% this does not mean relaxation in interventions to scale down the prevalence rate.

The Director Africa Youth Ministries educationg former rebel abductees on how to avoid HIV infections at Gusco in Gulu

Africa Youth Ministries Uganda is one of a few Child & Youth focused Faith Based Ngo’s in Uganda involved in HIV/AIDS education focusing on young people ages 12-25 years. Our risk reduction program is designed to equip young people in Primary & Secondary Schools with more information on HIV/AIDS to make informed and responsible choices on their lives. This program also is also designed to educate out of school youth about the dangers of contracting HIV and how to avoid it.

There are many different things we do to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS:

· Educate young people to understand how HIV/AIDS is spread and what we can do to protect ourselves. UNAIDS 2004 Epidemic report indicate young people ages 15-24 years old account for nearly half of the new HIV infections Worldwide. They are the largest youth generation in history and need a protective environment, access to health & support services if they are to play their role in combating the epidemic.

Africa Youth Ministries teens attending a true love waits bash at Kitante Primary school

· We encourage young people to change their sexual behaviors by “ABSTAINING” from premarital sex & by encouraging young married people to be faithful to their partners as the only possible way to avoid HIV infections. Africa Youth Ministries Uganda is currently distributing to students Customized scholastic materials e.g. books & pens with a message (ABSTAIN FROM PREMARITAL SEX”

Intergrating peace building with HIV/AIDS prevention. Africa Youth Ministries educating former Abductees at Gusco in Gulu about HIV/AIDS. Gusco is a rehabilitation center for former abducted children by the "Lord's Resistence Army" rebels.

· Making everyone aware of the plight of those living with HIV/AIDS and their families, and work hard to promote openness and compassion to break down the stigma and silence surrounding HIV/AIDS and further support AIDS Orphans
· Encourage voluntary testing for all people to know their status. For those negative to begin living responsible lives to avoid the HIV infection and to encourage positive people to begin ARV medication and live a positive life.

EDUCATION IS KEY

Research finds that sex education and counseling do not encourage promiscuity among young people. Failure to educate them, in fact, may be a death sentence.

· Recent surveys in 17 countries on three continents found that more than half the adolescents surveyed could not name a single method of protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS.
· In sub-Saharan Africa, half the teenage girls surveyed did not realize that a healthy-looking person might be living with HIV/AIDS.2
· Many young people do not see HIV/ AIDS as a personal threat. Almost twothirds of sexually active girls 15 to 19 in Haiti told researchers they ran no risk of infection.
· Surveys show that even a few years of added schooling translate into more frequent condom use.

Education in decision-making and negotiation skills, especially from peers, helps teens to protect themselves from unwanted sexual relationships, exploitation and violence, and to ensure use of condoms when they are sexually active.

Africa Youth Ministries Uganda sponsored Teens at Uganda Youth Conference 2005. An annual Conference organized by Uganda Youth Forum, a Youth Focused Ngo Patroned by the First Lady of Uganda Mrs. Janet Museveni

Above are members of 4-reign, a group of young gospel artists sponsored by Africa Youth Ministries Uganda. They presented to the conference participants songs on Abstinence from premarital sex.

You can help in educating Young people about HIV/AIDS and how to avoid it, support AIDS Orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS with your financial donation, to donate click. And with material resources on HIV/AIDS Prevention, reproductive health, sexual abstinence, adolescent pregnancy prevention, and Care & support of people living with AIDS (PLWHA).