Anambra State don take another major step to fight HIV, as the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency, ANSACA, don launch new campus-based HIV response programme across 27 tertiary institutions for the state.
The new initiative, wey dem call Campus Action Committee on AIDS, CACA, na programme wey go bring lecturers and students together to make sure say HIV awareness, prevention, testing and support no remain only for hospitals and health centres, but e go reach students directly inside the schools where dem dey spend most of their time.
According to ANSACA, young people, especially students for tertiary institutions, remain important group when e come to HIV prevention and awareness. Na why the agency wan use the school environment as another strong platform to educate students, encourage responsible health decisions, promote HIV testing and make people understand say knowing your HIV status na important part of taking care of your health.
The CACA programme go involve both students and lecturers, with representatives from the school management and student body. Students from different departments and different levels go also have opportunity to participate, so that the message about HIV prevention and support fit spread across different sections of each institution.
The idea be say instead of waiting until students get serious health concerns before dem seek help, the campus committees go help create an environment where students fit get correct information early, ask questions, access appropriate support and understand the different ways dem fit protect themselves and others.
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ANSACA say the participating institutions include universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, colleges of nursing and schools of nursing across the state. The programme no restrict itself to government-owned institutions alone, as private and mission-owned schools dey also part of the initiative.
Before the committees begin full operation, ANSACA say e go train and officially inaugurate the focal persons and members involved. The training go help make sure say those wey dey handle the programme understand the proper professional and ethical standards wey dem need to follow while carrying out HIV-related activities among students.
The agency explain say the committees go serve as an important link between the schools, the students and HIV response services. Through the committees, students fit get more access to awareness programmes, prevention information, testing referrals, support services and other interventions connected to HIV response.
Speaking during the unveiling of the initiative, the Executive Director and Project Manager of ANSACA, Dr Nkem Okeke, said the programme go bring another important dimension to the state’s ongoing HIV response.
The agency believe say taking the campaign directly into campuses go help government and health workers reach young people in the environment where dem dey study, interact and build relationships every day.
And for a state like Anambra, where tertiary institutions dey accommodate thousands of young people, the agency see campuses as strategic places where proper information fit reach plenty people at the same time.
ANSACA also recognize the support of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, saying the state government’s renewed commitment to HIV response don help create opportunity for more interventions across the state.
The agency maintain say the fight against HIV no suppose be responsibility of health workers alone. According to the approach behind the campus initiative, schools, lecturers, students, health professionals and government all get role to play if the state want reduce new HIV infections, improve awareness and make people living with HIV get the support wey dem need.
Now that the focal persons for the 27 institutions don receive their inauguration, the next stage na to establish and strengthen the Campus Action Committees on AIDS inside the participating schools.
