HIV/AIDS AND YOUTH

HIV/AIDS AND YOUTH

HIV/AIDS AND YOUTH

Last week Friday 8^th December 2017, I did a PowerPoint presentation at the African Union Commission headquarters to celebrate the World AIDS Day with on theme: Africa Unite to end AIDS, Speak out, No to stigma and discrimination; Prevent new infections. My focus was On HIV/AIDS and Youth.

This is my presentation that I converted to word. Some of the issues need much in-depth and I will do articles on them later.

Introduction

HIV; Human Immunodeficiency Virus

AIDS; Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

The African Union 2017 theme: Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in youth highlights the importance of involving our youths in developmental activities in the continent. The youth play a major role when it comes to sensitization, they are good peer educators facing the same challenges with their; use of social media and access of information also plays an important role to access of education to the youths.

Statistics

•       5 million young people are living with HIV.  41 percent of new HIV infections is among the young people, every 30 seconds, another young person becomes HIV-positive.

•       The vast majority (3.8 million/76 percent) of young people living with HIV or AIDS (YPLWHA) are in sub-Saharan Africa

•       Globally, only 34 percent of young people ages 15-24 have comprehensive and correct knowledge of how HIV is transmitted – leaving these youth not only vulnerable to HIV, but to believing myths about HIV and HIV positive people.

Preventive Measures

•       A - Abstinence from sexual activities

•       B - Be faithful to one partner

•       C - Condomize; use of condoms

•      Drugs - Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); truvada drug that is taken by individual who are at high risk of HIV infection to reduces the chances of them contracting the disease and Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) that is administered to individuals that suspect to have been in situations that have exposed them to the virus.

Challenges facing HIV control in Africa

•  Challenge of stable political support and engagement of policy makers; every government comes with different priorities in developing their countries and not having policies that binds the different governments to commit to support HIV victims is quite a big challenge

•      Inadequate legal protection and legal enforcement of fundamental human rights and individuals living with and at risk of HIV; cultural practices that violate human rights are at the high levels of exposing individuals to the infection

•   Low HIV and sexual health knowledge; most of the youth especially have been exposed to the risk of HIV infection due to lack of sexuality education when they were growing up

•    Parental consent for youths below the age of 18 years; some of the health care facilities still need parental consent to allow youths under the age of 18 years to access HIV/AIDS services. Most live without knowing their status

•       Describing gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation d sexual health

•    Youth-specific services are rarely available and healthcare providers may have little experience dealing with the young people dynamics

Socio-economic Impact of HIV

•      The premature deaths of young adults has a great negative impact on the economic growths

•   Increased dependency on older generation, diminishes human capital and cuts   productivity growth

•       Education; Erodes the supply of teachers and dilute the quality of education

•    Severe strain on government budgets to spend on health and social welfare; limited resources are depleted and public investments fall

Sexuality Education on Young People

Sexuality education is a lifelong process of acquiring information and forming attitudes, beliefs, and values. It encompasses sexual development, sexual and reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy, body image, and gender roles.

Comprehensive sex education teaches abstinence as the best method to prevent contraction of HIV/AIDS, STIs and preventing unintended pregnancies but also teaches on condoms and contraception as ways to reducing the risks to contract HIV/AIDS, STIs and prevent unintended pregnancies.

Youth need to be educated about adolescent development, sexuality, anatomy and physiology, the basics about STIs, and the choices involved when engaging in sexual activity.

Benefits of Sexuality Education

•       Increases understanding of sexuality by youth

•       Reduces HIV and other STI infections

•       Reduces unwanted pregnancies

•       Having the option to delay sexual activity till when ready

•       Understanding the importance of using condoms if sexually active

Risk on Serodiscordant Couple

Serodiscordant couples (one partner is HIV positive while the other is HIV negative) are at a higher risk of being infected.

Regular testing for couples allows them to know their status and be able to take preventive measures and live as a healthy couple. With the new discovery of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs, discordant couples are able to live together without the fear of being infected if they take the drug consistently.

Strategies Deployed by African Union to Control HIV

•  Improving Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SHRH) information, education and communication through: the institution of effective behavior change communication and information sharing mechanisms that targets the adolescents and youths

•     Investing in SRHR needs of adolescents, youth and other vulnerable and marginalized populations

•   Establishing strong-evidence based integrated national monitoring and evaluation frameworks

Policies by the African Union

·      Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria In Africa By 2030; To end the AIDS as a public health threat by 2030;

·     Maputo Protocol of Action (MPoA); mainstreams and harmonizes SHRH into national, sub regional and continental development initiatives and African policy making to improve well-being and quality of life on the continent

References

•       United Nations: Key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development United Nations, New York (1999) (A/RES/S-21/2)

•       United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Opportunity in Crisis: Preventing HIV from early adolescence to young adulthood. New York: Unicef; 2011. Accessed November 1, 2011 from http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Opportunity_in_Crisis-Report_EN_052711.pdf

•       Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Global Report. Geneva: UNAIDS, 2010. Accessed November 1, 2011, from http://www.unaids.org/globalreport/ documents/20101123_GlobalReport_full_en.pdf

By: Nyabena Susan; Gender Specialist