Education and Awareness
HIV infection can essentially be completely prevented
through behaviour changes such as abstinence, and the use of condoms
where abstinence is not possible. Awareness and understanding of the
risk of HIV/AIDS, and education about strategies to avoid infection are
essential, particularly in high-risk populations.
One such group is
youth, who are susceptible as they are often naïve in their
understandings, may be exploited by adults, and are likely to experiment
and take risks. Successful prevention does need an understanding of the
methods of infection, and the ways that this can be avoided.
Each year, we go into the schools to educate
virtually all students in Grades 6-8 in Port Moresby – teaching them
about sexual health and reproduction, the risk of HIV/AUIDS and others
sexually transmitted diseases, and how to avoid these diseases.