By ALEX PITHUA

The Chairperson for People Living With HIV/AIDS Forum in Zombo district, Chanudwoga Collins, has issued a message warning parents to protect the young positives as they return home for holiday.

In an exclusive interview with our journalist Chanudwoga, cautioned against recklessness such as attending night disco, and allowing unwanted visits by young girls to relatives which may expose them to social life leading to sexual intercourse.

He observed that, by being responsible for young positives, the community will be protecting the young people from contracting diseases like syphilis, UTI or even HIV/AIDS reinfection which would damage their life.

“I am giving a message to the parent that pupils and students are back from school safely let each parent be concerned were his or her child is going, attending night disco, uninformed visit should not be allowed to avoid them from contracting diseases like syphilis, HIV/AIDS which would damage their life.”

Collins canudwoga, the chairperson of Forum for people living with HIV/AIDS in Zombo District.

He appealed to HIV positive clients to keep on observing taking antiretroviral (ARVs) and adhere to routine collecting of their (ARVs) drugs from the various facilities assuring that in Zombo district they have available stock of (ARVs).

“Drugs are available in all health facilities and you will get our trained health personnel called Referral Linkage Assistants (RLA) to give assistance and you should keep the date of your drugs and return for more to avoid gaps and take drugs at the exact time to avoid being non suppress”. Chanudwoga explained

He has urged his members to avoid consuming too much alcohol because it makes them to forget time for taking ARVs advising those who are still negative to abstain from sex, use condoms, take PEP to protect you from contracting HIV/AIDS.

The Chairman further expressed concern about the increasing number of lost clients due to fear and stigma from members of the community.

The Zombo based HIV/AIDS Forum recently while addressing journalists, observed there has been high surge of alcoholism among its members following misinformation about suspension of billions of dollars in federal aid under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), by Donald Trump of the USA.

Pupils of Oturgang girls Primary School performs during a function at Oturgang boys primary school playground last week. Photo/ Alex Pithua

“The hot spots are Padea and Warr Town Councils, Zeu sub-county and Paidha town council respectively.” He observed

At least over four thousand people living with HIV/AIDS have been registered in Zombo district.

An estimated 10.3 million people aged 15–24 are living with HIV/AIDS, and half of all new infections, over 7000 daily—are occurring among young people. according to UNAIDS.

Sub-Saharan Africa is hardest hit. It is home to over 70% of young people living with HIV/AIDS and to 90% of the AIDS orphans in the world (12.1 million children).

Young people are vulnerable to HIV because of risky sexual behaviour, substance use and their lack of access to HIV information and prevention services.

Ignorance about the epidemic remains pervasive among young people, many of whom do not know how to protect themselves from HIV.

In Mozambique, for example, 74% of young women and 62% of young men aged 15–19 are unaware of any way to protect themselves.

Half of the teenage girls in sub-Saharan Africa do not realize that a healthy-looking person can be living with HIV/AIDS.