Pearls from Africa: Know Your Status

Testing over 185 students for HIV at the PTC

Last Saturday, we had the AIDS Information Center come to the PTC for a day of HIV information and testing. I worked with AIC Kabale to organize the event with all the students. We had a team of 6 come from AIC to facilitate sessions on HIV transmission and prevention, and a team of 20 living-positive drama members to perform skits for the students. They sang folk songs and performed skits in local language about the importance of wearing condoms, knowing your status and understanding the basics of HIV. The AIC did a great job of fielding questions from students, from everything about how to wear a condom to questions about unprotected sex. To assure anonymity, we had students submit written questions and then answered them in front of the student body. It was a really productive morning, especially since these students don't have a safe outlet to ask questions about their bodies, sex, masturbation, condoms. This is one reason that I love Peace Corps camps so much is that they provide that safe outlet for Ugandan youth. We also had to keep it PG at the PTC since the administration is vehemently against any talk about condoms or how to stay protected during sex. It makes it hard to give knowledge to students, many of which are sexually active or are at least curious about it.

After lunch, the AIC set up a testing and counseling area for HIV testing. It was an optional activity but I am pleased to say that over half the student body tested for HIV, with only one testing positive for HIV. That is a great outcome, not only to have students test themselves but to have such a low rate of HIV among those tested. I count the day as a great success, especially spending the day with the PTC students and the great staff at AIC.