NAYPOD Chairperson Speaks on HIV/AIDS

Lamin Marong, chairperson, Network of Youth Adolescent on Population and Development (NAYPOD), has said that as network, they are also engaged in sexual reproductive health information and services and the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic.
 In an interview with Youth Platform, he noted that a reasoned, energetic and efficient way in combating HIV/AIDS, STIs, and other related health matters involved a lot of concerted efforts.  
“If we want to conquer the crusade, young people and others must be sensitise on the dangers of the disease through training programmes.   The main instrument we exploit for our advocacy in communities is Behavior Communication Change (BCC), emphasising that through this, people would be fully advice on the dangers of the disease. He added that they normally reached out to people at the Bantabas, Football Fields and at the Ghettos  
Globally, HIV is the principal source of death among women of reproductive age in sub – Saharan Africa and Caribbean, he said  According to the 2008 WHO and UNAIDS overall estimates, women comprises 50% of people living with HIV, he added.
   “Equally in The Gambia, HIV/AIDS is in the increase as young people are not properly applying the protective methods in order to avoid the disease.”
Marong added that young people are also tutor on vulnerable sexual contacts (either vaginal or anal) in order for them to   have first hand information on HIV.
“We also sensitised them on how to protect themselves as someone infected with HIV, should not share unsharalised needles or syringes with anyone. HIV is real and it does not know whether you are old or young. It is our collective responsibility to know our rights in order to know our sex and sexuality.’’