"AIDS Free Holidays" Yields Fruits

By Ernest Sumelong

Youths in Buea and it environs, more than before, responded to calls for them to do voluntary free HIV/AIDS and STIs screening tests after the "AIDS Free Holidays" programme was launched recently.

"AIDS Free Holidays" is a national programme designed to encourage youths to know their status and live responsible lives especially during the summer vacation.Peer Educators were dispatched to various villages and quarters of the town to sensitise the population on the need to know their HIV status.

Also, unlike before, when the AIDS screening test was done in hospitals, mobile vans invaded every area, monotonously singing the message. The tests were done in accessible areas in major quarters and people could easily turn up for it. Besides free AIDS screening, the mobile teams also did counselling and distributed drugs for sexually transmitted infections. Instant screening tests were done and those tested collected their results at least 30 minutes after.

"We are so happy that the response has been positive and the people have been very appreciative of our efforts. We have been working for three weeks now and the youths between 15 and 30 are responding," the supervisor of the Clerks Quarter/Great Soppo/Sandpit area, Violet Ngite, told The Post, Tuesday, August 28.

Government's endeavours to fight HIV/AIDS seem to be paying off, especially with new strategies to sensitise and cause people to take action. A few days to the end of the exercise, "we have already screened more than 3000 people and we are sure to screen even more," Ngite said.

But Ngite said it would have been better to start the programme early enough so as to give both the youths and parents time for the exercise since it is psychologically demanding, considering that it is school reopening.

"We started the programme late because were delayed by the just ended twin elections, but I hope we start earlier next year," said the Supervisor.A youth, Graham Mesode, who turned up for the screening, praised the initiative. In his opinion, it is important for youths to know their status and build their immunity system. But he said he preferred it to be more confidential so that people are freer to screen for AIDS.

For three weeks, the AIDS Free Holidays teams under the supervision of the Provincial Technical Group charged with the fight against HIV/AIDS have worked tirelessly to get people screened and counselled.