AEGiS-14IAC: People living with HIV use their personal experiences to urge young people to take precautions against STDs and HIV/AIDS.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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People living with HIV use their personal experiences to urge young people to take precautions against STDs and HIV/AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. D11102)

Dokla AK
Espoir Vie-Togo, Lome, Togo

ISSUES: Research has shown that 99% of students are aware of how people contract HIV and of the methods of prevention. Despite this, the rate of infection continues to rise.

DESCRIPTION: Train the 'pairs educateurs' (pupils chosen to raise awareness amongst their peers about the issues concerning HIV/AIDS. Invite HIV-positive people into schools to talk openly about what it means to be a person living with HIV/AIDS. Do role plays with the students about the risks of contracting HIV. Sell condoms/femidoms in the schools.

ISSUES: Around 13,000 students have already been taught about HIV/AIDS: the risks and the methods of prevention in 14 schools in Lome. A further 3,500 students have been educated in 2 schools in Kpalime. Creation of 3 HIV Test Centres (2 in Lome, 1 in Kpalime) where people can be both tested for HIV and treated for other STDs. More than half of the 160 'pairs educateurs' have voluntarily taken a HIV test. The IPS (International Population Service) pilot project has produced visible results which have had a significant impact on school pupils. This project is a vital step in communicating to young people the need to change their behaviour in order to prevent the spread of STDs and HIV/AIDS.

RECOMMENDATIONS: In this the second year of the project, another centre is being created in Sokode. The creation of such centres in different regions of the country would ensure that the crucial education on the issues concerning HIV/AIDS reaches all areas of the population.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Condoms, Students, Schools, utilizationKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,hivseropositivity,condoms,students,schools,utilization

020707
D11102

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.