[NAFOPHANU] NAFOPHANU newsletter contribution

[gulu district forum plhas]

Hi Betty,
Good evening Betty this is Joshua Komakech from Gulu District Forum of people living with HIV and AIDS Network.Here is my personal contibution for the newsletter; it is based on scalling up HIV prevention programs among youth in Northern Uganda- Practical. Approaches that have been ear marked by Komakech Joshua to be useful for prevention of HIV and AIDS.
 

Scaling up HIV prevention programs among youth in Northern Uganda- Practical 
 
Approaches that have been ear marked by Komakech Joshua to be useful for prevention of HIV and AIDS
 
 
 
GAPS/CHALLENGES

Unclear messages on prevention of HIV and other STDS for youth i.e.         condom use where by certain groups like youth in school are denied information on condom use not even higher/ secondary schools.(Policy gap)
Circumcision also caused confusion for the youth since females are left without alternative 
Stigma is high among youth, fear surrounding disclosure and the silence about HIV status leading to further spread
Negative attitude among the young positive 13 to 17 years about their HIV positive status causing the desire to enjoy sooner since to them life is thought to be shorter with HIV among young people
Limited life skills education among youth out of school
Limited awareness about infection among the young group like ages 10 to 15. Many youth are getting HIV infection through thinking that the age group mentioned is free from HIV un aware that they could have been infected even at birth
High levels of vulnerability to defilement and sexual exploitation of the youth by older population most especially for the girls
Limited youth friendly service centers in community hence many youth find it un appealing to move back from camps to their original villages with fear of missing the camp based and town based services.
 
 
Suggested Strategies

Provide clear alternative means of protection for the youth i.e. condom use, abstaining and faithfulness if married through dialogue in youth forums
Anti stigma messages printed on materials that attract attention of youth like capes, handkerchiefs, bungles, budges, internet, magazines and T. shirts for distribution to the youth to help them live open lives
Assisting the young HIV positive group to live positively through life skill education and continuous counseling of both the children and their parents
More out reaches to schools to provide information on HIV and AIDS especially how one could get infected even at birth through reading materials and related story telling without the assumption that all of them already have the information
Support the youth to be assertive through life skill education and sensitization on rights of women and children to reduce sexual exploitation and defilement
Support creation of youth corners within community based health facilities to help youth to freely seek for medical services and support the existing community based youth centers to assist in providing meaningful psychosocial support  with other materials like video sets, playing kits, readable like straight talk, young talk, condoms, art and craft materials 
Supporting youth to know their HIV status before engaging in sexual practices/ relationships through mobilization and advocating for availability of the services
 
 
  


      
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