Photo: Tom Gwebayanga and Conan Businge (New Vision)

A HIV positive boy who has had to drop out of school due to excessive bullying on account of his status.

THE Tanzania Youth Alliance (Tayoa) has urged youths in the country to exercise patriotism in order to protect natural resources for future generations.

The call was made by the Tayoa Director, Mr Peter Masika, shortly after receiving the Gail Goodridge Award for his efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS. The Gail Goodridge Award is given to honour organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to innovation and using strategic communication for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and stigma reduction and Mr Masika has been the first person to get the award since its inception earlier this year.

Mr Masika said that the award had rekindled his spirit and zeal of fighting against the disease and sensitizing youths to protect themselves from the disease. "To be recognized in the whole continent is a great honour, I ask my fellow youths not to be desperate and instead love their country," he noted.

The Tayoa Director noted further that leaders were also supposed to be patriotic and protect the country's natural resources for the welfare of the nation so that they could be exemplary to youths. He advised youths to be conversant with issues of democracy and good governance in order to understand issues concerning their country.

The Executive Director of Tanzania Commission for Aids (Tacaids), Dr Fatma Mrisho, commended Tayoa for winning the award and urged them to maintain the spirit of fighting against the disease. She added that public education and awareness on the disease was badly needed and that the government was pleased by the presence of various organizations that are providing such service.

Gail Goodridge was a founding member of AfriComnet and an active member of the Board of Directors. When she was diagnosed with terminal illness and returned to United States from her post in Nairobi. She spent over 20 years of her life contributing towards women's empowerment and advancement in countries around the world with long term assignment in Caribbean and East Africa.