UNICEF NACO conducted Indias 1st National Youth

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) recently conducted India’s first National Youth Peer Convention in Bangalore. The first-of-its-kind convention expected attracted over 400 peer educators from across the country and offered a common platform to share experiences and lessons learnt and answer some critical questions on peer education. The convention strengthened the networks in 25 districts as part of the UN children’s agency’s DISHA programme. The convention marked a significant step ahead in UNICEF’s United For Children United Against AIDS campaign, which calls upon everyone to join together to put the care and protection of children, adolescents and young people at the centre of the HIV/AIDS agenda.
UNICEF’s Chief of HIV/AIDS in India, Vidya Ganesh, said that India has over 2.2 to 3 million people living with HIV/AIDS and over 35 per cent of AIDS cases reported are below 25 years of age. “India finds its youth at the heart of the HIV/AIDS epidemic today, with 40-50 per cent of new infections being between 15 and 29 years old. The current HIV/AIDS programmes are reaching only 15 per cent of young people while less than one quarter of young people have accurate information on how to protect themselves from HIV.
This is a matter of concern when we know that the first step towards any kind of behaviour change is enhancing knowledge and skills to practice the behaviour,” she said.
The three-day convention was organised in partnership with other youth organisations and not only created awareness but also a platform for the voices of the youth against HIV/AIDS at the district and state level. The event featured sessions on role of youth in reproductive health, HIV/AIDS along with workshops in areas of enhancing skills in leadership, networking, team building, community mobilisation, using different mediums for HIV communication-puppetry, masks, folk art etc. along with a live market place for showcasing some of the work of the young people designed by young people themselves