WORLD AIDS DAY: NGO Holds Sensitization Programme For Kaduna Youths

Group photograph of youths with staff of the Hope for Village Child  foundation

With the global society celebrating every 1^st day of the month of December annually World AIDS Day, a Non-Governmental Organisation; the Hope for the Village Child Foundation, located in Kaduna state has again, reached out to youths in Chukun Local Government Council and its adjoining LGAs and communities, by organizing a One Day Sensitization Programme for youths.

Tagged; “Ending HIV/AIDS, Community to Community”, as the theme of the event, participants from Chukun, Igabi, Kaduna South, including adjoining communities gathered to receive sensitization and enlightenment tips of the causes and ways of managing and eradicating the dreaded killer disease, HIV/AIDS especially in communities in the suburbs and rural areas of the state.

Cross section of the participating youths

In a welcome address to the youths, Mrs. Elizabeth Hassan, Head of Department of the health section of the Foundation, told the gathering that one of the key ingredients of eradicating the scourge is the sharing of quality information as that is the most effective way of saving lives.

Cross section of participating youths

“We are all aware that this is an epidemic which we must all fight together to eradicate. It has no age or gender limitations”, she stated.

Enjoining the youths to be ‘Ambassadors of the Foundation’, Mrs. Hassan urged them to share the right information they glean from the sensitization programme and, where in doubt, to call on any of the officials of the Hope for the Village Child Foundation, HVCF for further clarifications as their doors remain open, 24/7 to the youths.

According to the HOD, “Let us get it to the level that each  of our communities get this very all important information as, with continued sensitization of ourselves on how to avoid, prevent the further spread of this disease”.

“Sharing of sharp objects, drugs abuse through the sue of injections, mother to child transmission, blood infusion are some of the ways this epidemic can spread but, if we are able to abide with some of the warnings and directives, especially counseling, the society, particularly our communities will be better off”, Elizabeth Hassan stated.

Tasked on the issue of mother-to-child transmission of the disease, Mrs. Hassan said this can be prevented through proper prompt attendance of quality ante-natal checks and good health management of nursing mothers who are victims of the dreaded killer disease; HIV/AIDS.

“Attending proper ante-natal checks and a good health regime will safeguard an unborn child whose mother has tested positive to HIV/AIDS with such child testing negative at birth. It is paramount that on discovery of having tested positive, such mothers should follow up with proper ante-natal checks, adherence to medical advice including taking of prescribed drugs and medications as directed by physician”, she explained.

Mrs. Elizabeth revealed that so many female victims of the disease who adhered to medical advice, have successfully, given birth to their children who are not positive to the disease.

Advising that there is need for people to be careful about having many sexual partners, which can also result to the spread of the HIV/AIDS scourge, she also disclosed that the federal government has made it possible that the spread of the disease is drastically reduced across the country.

Mrs. Elizabeth warned against stigmatization of persons who have become victims and appealed that there is the need to show love to such persons as the mere fact that somebody is a victim does not in any way, imply that handshakes, hugging or the use of same toilets, would cause the spread of the disease.

The Hope for the Village Child Foundation, HVCF has, with its vision and mission statement, ‘Liberated Rural Communities’ and is working assiduously with rural communities to promote a life of dignity and justice for all, especially children in rural areas in a committed, caring, respectful, effective, transparent and accountable manner.