MONROVIA – HIV/AIDS education is a well-proven intervention for providing information on HIV/AIDS to young people and this year’s World AIDS Day 2019 celebration, a non-profit, non-governmental organization dkt Liberia in partnership with Agents of Positive Change (AOPC) will be holding HIV/AIDS informative programs for three consecutive days starting November 29 – December 1, 2019.
The thrust of these programs is: “To promote youths in becoming great future leaders,” stated Antonio Turcott, the Country Manager of dkt Liberia.
Around the world, young people are the epicenter of the HIV epidemic; almost half of all HIV-infected people are aged 15 −24 years.The World AIDS Day, which is commemorated every 1st December, since 1988, is an international day devoted to raising awareness of the AIDS epidemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and grieving those who have died of the disease.
Since dkt Liberia official launching in September 2019, in collaboration with Sida, they have continued to support efforts of government with interventions in the Reproductive Health Sector to mitigate the alarming maternal deaths in Liberia. The three days leading to World AIDS Day will be spent on series of informative programs to help educate the most vulnerable to the virus.
Sexual and Reproductive Rights Conference
On November 29th, 2019 marking William Tubman’s Day, a national holiday in Liberia, is characterized by Liberian youths engaging in leisure activities such as taking alcohol, narcotics and having unprotected sex.
“We believe this is the best time to send the key messages of the World AIDS Day. And in order to prevent young students against the disastrous consequences of those illicit activities and to also maintain the high rate of girl’s enrolment and keeping them in schools, there will be a conference on Sexual and Reproductive Rights. We hope to gather over 200 students who will also be asked to participate in free HIV/AIDS testing at these events starting on the 29th,” Antonio Turcott added.
Beach Activities
According to Antonio Turcott, beaches are the most frequently visited places where people spend their time during holidays. And dkt Liberia anticipates testing at least a hundred people during their activities.
“We plan to celebrate the World AIDS Day with a series of activities such as conference, awareness activities, HIV/AIDS test at beaches along with free distribution of condoms and radio talk shows/interviews,” he added.
dkt Liberia, is a social marketing enterprise that promotes the sale and use of Family Planning Products and services in more than 25 Countries around the world. They are aware that many factors increase the vulnerability of young people to HIV but lack of knowledge has been identified as one of the leading factors.
“We also support HIV/AIDS and STI awareness and preventions and will be supplying quality contraceptive products on the Liberian market at affordable prices,”
“In as much, we focus through social marketing to avail quality products and services with partner clinics mostly the private, to unreached communities as well as key population in Liberia. This intervention will reshape the supply of contraceptives to aid women have choices in reproductive decisions, HIV prevention, behaviorial change communication, and support for people living with HIV/AIDS,” Antonio Turcott concluded.