HIV/AIDS Prevalence High among Young People of 18 to 25 Years in Yambio

The acting director of Star Support Group, a Non-Governmental Organization introduced in Yambio by Christian Brothers to help those struggling with the devastation of HIV/AIDS has revealed that the pandemic prevalence is high among young people between the ages of 18 and 25.

 Speaking to Anisa Radio, the Acting Director, Mr. James Francis Kumbaye said that this is owing to the reckless behaviors of some young people, notably their love for discos which enable them to engage in reckless sexual activities.

 “our young men and ladies here love discos so much, the main purpose of them going to discos at night is to look for partners, no one leaves the disco hall single, yet they don’t even use any protection because they say it’s not sweet” Mr. Kumbaye expressed.

 Commenting on the issue of people knowing their status, he said that many are reluctant, preferring to live in the darkness as far as their HIV/AIDS status is concerned. This he termed as a great challenge in the society at large with regards to the fight against the virus. As such, they have had to come up with ways of “inducing” people to accept being tested.

 “our people don’t want to be tested, so most of the times when we do awareness in the markets we have to buy some biscuits, sodas and sweet and tell them that, when you get tested you get the above-mentioned goodies, that way they agree to be

tested” Mr. Kumbaye narrated

 He said that the fight against HIV and AIDS is not a one-man’s affair, thus Star Support Group works in collaboration with other support groups that have similar activities as theirs; among them is the Ministry of Health. The collaboration ensures that all affected and infected get the possible help available.

 “We work in collaboration with organizations like Catholic Medical Mission Board Catholic Mission Medical Board (CMMB), Union Struggle Against HIV/AIDS and Poverty

(USAHP), etc. because HIV is a responsibility of all of us and working together enables us to know the number of the infected and affected we are dealing with as well as how we can help” he expressed.

 Star support group in partnership with CMMB helps people infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. At Star Support Group (SSG) they offer to tailor classes to those they support many of them, adults, for one year after which they are awarded a certificate, a tailoring machine, and materials in order to go and start their own business.

 For children, the group supports them in education from primary level, secondary level, and now Mr. Kumbaye says they have ventured into college and university level only that coronavirus has resulted in the suspension of that initiative for a while.

 Johannes Gumbo* (not real name) one of the beneficiaries of the services provided by the group, after the tailoring training he will be making different clothes designs, as he calls upon the rest of the society to go for HIV testing.

Another beneficiary, Janet Sosenia* (not real name) appreciates Star Support Group and other partners for the support they are providing to the infected, adding that accepting who you are and moving on with life as one takes the medications is the only way forward.

John Elias the tailoring tutor says that the program started in 2015 and so far it has been a joy seeing his trainees go out and start their own businesses and performing well in the market. He didn’t hesitate to mention how COVID 19 has disorganized their activities.

“When coronavirus came we had to suspend classes for two months, afterward we came back but we reduced the hours from 8 to 5hrs.”

They train 21 tailors in a year. Amidst creating awareness on HIV and AIDS in the community the group involved religious leaders to provide guidance and counseling to the affected and infected as they also preach and talk about it the church services as a way of sensitizing the masses about the virus.

By Sylviah Naipanoi