29 June 2008
UNITED Nations (UN) special envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa, Elizabeth Mataka has said the high level of ignorance among the youth on HIV/AIDS should be bridged with accurate information to protect the young people from contracting and further spreading the virus that causes AIDS.
Mrs Mataka, who is also Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) executive director, said young people especially those who were not in schools were vulnerable to the pandemic because they lacked information on how best they could prevent themselves from getting the virus.
She said a recent survey among youths aged between 15-19 years revealed that only 33.6 per cent knew about the sexual transmission of the virus and rejected major misconceptions about HIV transmission.
"This only shows that our youth are lacking the vital information that could actually prevent them from contracting and further spreading HIV. In getting information and messages across to the youth, there is need for an approach which is friendly," she said.
She said many youths lacked HIV/AIDS information especially the drop-out youths in communities.
"When we talk about universal access to prevention, care and support, we include everyone and therefore I cannot over-emphasise that a system must be found to allow out-of school youths to enjoy these YFHSC facilities," she said.
She said this yesterday at Chunga High School during a launch of Youth Friendly Health Service Centres (YFHSC) in Matero constituency. Family Health Trust (FHT) supported the centres.
The four schools where the centres had been launched included Edwin Mulongoti, Kizito, Twalumba and Chunga Basic Schools. The earlier centres which were funded by ZNAN were based in Mfuwe, Monze, Katete and Lusaka FHT offices.
Global statistics showed that out of over one billion youth aged 15-24 worldwide, some 10 million were living with HIV and every day, an estimated 6,000 youths were infected with the virus.
Mrs Makata said of the 15-24 year-old young people living with HIV, 63 per cent live in sub-Saharan Africa and 21 per cent live in Asia-pacific.
She explained that the figures showed that more youths lacked accurate information and was quick to mention that peer education and youth friendly centres were the most effective methods of getting information and message on HIV/AIDS across to the young people.
"Peer education can support young people in developing positive group and making health decisions," she said.
The UN AIDS envoy urged the head teachers and those in charge of the new centres to ensure the centres were not vandalised.
Chunga High School grade nine pupil Kochiwe Banda in vote of thanks said most young people especially school-going children were affected or infected.
FHT executive director John Munsanje said the Trust was there with a sole purpose of establishing and equipping YFHSC in clinics and schools where young people would be provided with accurate information on HIV/AIDS in an effort to promote health living.
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