Makhasi Y; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2002 Jul 7-12; 14: abstract no. ThPeF8155.

National Youth Commission, Pretoria, South Africa

ISSUES: The text briefly relate experiences of SA's youth in the fight against Aids through involvement and participation in the implementation of a national project called Young Positive Living Ambassadors (YPLA) DESCRIPTION: YPLA is a youth oriented HIV/AIDS project implemented in five provinces, supported by government as well as the donor community. It employes the skills and abilities of young people who have tested positive to HIV/AIDS (Ambassadors) to engage in outreach and awareness programmes targeting young people irrespective of their status esp. those residing in rural areas and informal settlements. The Ambassadors receive ongoing training and capacity building to update their knowledge and information about HIV/AIDS, and are involved in outreach work through visits to institutions of learning, health centres and wherever youth are found.. The promject aims to: 1) Promote the concept and practice of positive living as a preventative tool 2) Encourage sexual behavioural change 3) Network, lobby and advocate for issues of youth affected and infected by Aids. LESSONS LEARNED: 1) Young people are at ease to talk about issues affecting them in informal gatherings such as youth clubs, church groups etc instead of structured interaction e.g in a health centre etc 2) Positive living talk/training assists them to easily make decisions on issues such as voluntary testing, disclosure etc. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1)Govts, private sector and donor agencies should provide more support and resources to youth initiatives targeting HIV/AIDS 2)There is a need for greater involvement of youth in decision-making processes as some policy decisions have negative impact to them 3) There is a need to strengthen the advocacy and networking ability of youth esp. on issues pertaining to their health. 4) Since youth are the most infected and affected, positive talk and living is the key to ensure that even those who are positive do not give up on life.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Adolescent
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Health Planning
• Humans
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0020517

UI: 102259578

From Meeting Abstracts