Massive aid cuts are crippling the fight against HIV and AIDs worldwide. Education, awareness and treatment programmes are being cut in Kenya, and Tanzania. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organisation are very clear – preventable infections and deaths are rising.
Ace Africa’s expertise in HIV/AIDs awareness and prevention saves lives. Loud, colourful drama public performances, radio plays and confidential testing all help to halt the silent spread of the disease. We are being asked to do more by local government, schools and communities.
Ignorance can be deadly
We asked some secondary school students in Western Kenya their views on HIV and sexual health.
- 28% believed HIV is spread by witchcraft
- 95% were not practicing safe sex.
These attitudes explain why 14-24 year olds in Kenya account for 40% of new HIV infections.
Educate, test, treat
Education and testing has to power to change everything. To reduce the risk of infection for students in the schools we surveyed, and 5 technical colleges in Western Kenya, we did three things:
- trained teachers to set up health clubs to teach students how to avoid infection. The students wrote plays to share what they learnt, performing to 8,500 students.
- 20 technical college students educated in how to avoid HIV infection. They educated another 1,273 students how to change risky sexual behaviour, and in their sexual health and reproductive rights
- HIV testing of 457 students resulted in 107 (23%) positive results. They all started treatment so they can have the chance to live healthy, normal lives.
Thank you to all our supporters helping to fund HIV/AIDs awareness, prevention and treatment work in Kenya and Tanzania. You are helping a small charity to make a very big difference.