HIV/AIDS Still Spreads more, but thanks to Haramaya University

Haramaya University students’ union in collaboration with the University’s women, children and youth affairs Directorate provided Haramaya High School students and Bate community at Bate Primary school on February 3-5, 2022 with awareness raising program about the prevention methods of HIV/AIDS and Early marriage

Mr. Mekonen Dagne, an expert at Haramaya University’s Women, Children and Youth Directorate said that the program aimed at raising awareness and educating the community about HIV/AIDS prevention methods as well as the early marriage effect on under age’s children, especially on girls.

The anti-HIV/AIDS movement should be carried out in the wake of the current COVID 19 epidemic because reports indicate that HIV/AIDS is increasing in the society alarmingly. The centers selected for the awareness creation program are based on social interactions and to address many people at the area, according to Mr. Mekonen.

Student Urgi Negasa HIV/AIDS Club president, at the awareness creation campaign said that HIV/AIDS is currently about to be forgotten, but the spread of the virus is increasing and therefore, everyone should take care of him/herself and the community from HIV/AIDS and other Sexual transmitted infections. As a University student, we are trying to shoulder our responsibility by organizing awareness creation and raising campaigns in collaboration with the University’s women, children and youth affairs Directorate to the community, he added.

Student Sara Temesgen, women students’ forum president, in her turn, explained that women are highly exposed to HIV/AIDS and Early Marriage.  As a result women are more affected psychologically, socially and economically than men. Therefore, Female should be educated and become competent in all aspects to strongly fight HIV/AIDS and Early marriage.

The participants of the awareness raising program have appreciated and thanked the organizers of the program and suggested that such awareness raising programs should be continuous for the future because the society wrongly thinks that HIV/AIDS is disappearing.

Source: HARAMAYA University