Protect youths from AIDS during polls, says trainer

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
VOLUNTEER trainer Tony Worri is concerned about the lack of attention by some institutions about the high risk of HIV/AIDS in rural areas during the election. 
His comments came after a request for funds and logistics for his awareness programmes to the national AIDS council and Central provincial AIDS council went unheard.
He said during election time there would be a high flow of money providing attractive opportunities for young people who would be at high risk of contracting the disease.
He said he aimed to help by hosting awareness activities in his Abau district.
He is calling on institutions and partners to plan and budget for HIV awareness programmes to prepare and safeguard young citizens during major events such as the national election.
“It is very important that the authorities must plan ahead and budget for rural areas because this is where the bulk of the population is and election will pose high risks for them to contract  and spread the deadly disease,” Worri said.
“If we are serious about ‘zeroing’ HIV/AIDS in the country  then taking actions like this will drive it; not just plans and budgets for big events like World AIDS Day.”
He said the Central PAC must help the districts to establish a body that would regulate HIV work at the district level so that the national target to zero HIV/AIDS could be achieved.
Worri is leading the Amazon stop AIDS theatre group and plans to conduct awareness in the Amazon Bay, Abau district, Central province for 14 days starting April 10.
He plans to cover the 14 main villages that has an estimated population of 20,000.