Photo: the Royal Norwegian EmbassyLife Skills to Tackle HIV/AIDS
Last updated: 28/03/2011 //
Three UN agencies, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNAIDS are jointly working on HIV/AIDS program that targets vulnerable groups. The goal of the project is to contribute to the UNDAF Outcome 1: ‘By 2011 access and utilization of quality basic social services (particularly in HIV and related services) are equitably increased by at least 30% with special emphasis on vulnerable groups.’
The project visit started on one of the components of the project that is to decrease Mother to child transmission. The Felegehiwet health center has equipped services for pregnant women (ANC), for volunteer HIV testing and counseling (VCT) and for pregnant women HIV testing (PMTCT).The registers and statistics of the center revealed only one child being tested positive in the last two years. Having the success in mind, the team continued to visit the section in Orota hospital who follow up the HIV positive children.
The second component targets orphans and vulnerable children which UNICEF is working with Ministry of labour and human welfare. Together with a Zoba Serejeka head, the team visited one of the four group homes in Zoba Maekel. The group of eight children seemed to have all the basic necessities.
The last part of the project is life skill education, introduced to increase awareness and preparations for life. The team observed one class each from Junior Sembel School and Semaetat Secondary school in Zoba Maekel. One of the many aims is to obtain a skill of making the right decision confidently. Seeing the well educated teachers, together with the students who are having one class each week, discussing case studies was quite tempting even to the team to engage in, as it was a class full of realities for all ages.