Agency Trains Teachers on HIV/AIDS in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Ministry of Education has collaborated with the Bayelsa State Agency for the Control of AIDS, BYSACA to train and retrain teachers on HIV/AIDS.

Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah noted that the training and retraining of teachers became necessary to help them get the needed information to sensitize pupils and students on the prevention of HIV.

Dr Emelah who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Mrs Josephine Atamata said the government is very concerned about the health of children in schools as they represent the future of the growth and success of the economy.

Agency Trains Teachers on HIV/AIDS in Bayelsa

” Government is relying on the ability of teachers to train every student in their school and also retrain other teachers as well”

Mrs Atamata urged all head teachers and other teachers who were participants at the training to ensure that they use the knowledge acquired to help young persons who are more at risk of contracting HIV to be cautious of their sexual activities.

While delivering a lecture on “Transmission, Diagnosis, Signs and Symptoms of HIV”, Community Mobilization Officer, BYSACA, Miss Precious Lambert emphasized the modes of transmitting HIV through body fluids, vaginal fluids and breast milk.

She emphasized that the HIV virus survives on the human cell which is acquired through body fluids hence the need for all to take precautionary measures through abstinence, not engaging in unprotected sex, not sharing sharp objects such as blades and clippers.

“Teachers should create peer educator groups to train and counsel children under their care to know the basic facts about HIV particularly as there is so much break down of moral societal values which makes young people to be more predisposed to sexual activities that is a risk factor in contracting HIV”, she added

On her part, Desk Officer on HIV in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Ndiomu Sobari pointed out that pupils, students and all children need to be trained to be disciplined for them to resist peer pressure and avoid risky sexual behaviors.

She appealed to teachers present at the training to continue to remind students that sexual abstinence still remains the best protection against HIV.

While speaking on the topic “Prevention and Treatment”, Prevention Officer BYSACA, Dr Abite Ezekiel explained that prevention of HIV is the precautionary measures put in place to prevent the transmission of HIV from one person to another.