AEGiS-15IAC: Community based intervention in Ogoni land, Rivers state Nigeria.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Community based intervention in Ogoni land, Rivers state Nigeria.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. A10305)

Irene PI
n.g.o, Portharcourt, Nigeria

ISSUES: For young persons in rural ogoni villages in Nigeria, "playing safe" is a major chanllenge. Emerging from a background wrought with conflict, restitiveness and a high prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS, and without adequate information and awareness on the dangers of HIV/AIDS.

DESCRIPTION: Ogoni Youth Development Project (OYDP) provides direct intervention to young persons with a focussed on community Based Organizations. Oydp has been able to provide School Health Education to young persons in primary and secondary schools on 35 schools in Gokana,khana, Eleme and Tai Lga in Ogoni land Youths in sports using football competions to create awareness on HIV/AIDS/STIs and to target and involve the male adolescents in the communities providing lifeskills educations to at least 600 young persons in various trade like carpentry, mechanic, tailoring and welding.

LESSONS LEARNED: Continous interaction with the young persons in have revealed very low level of information about HIV/AIDS and STIs. However ater a period of intervention,result has indicated a gradualbehavioural change. Recommendation: In order to curtail the restivness of the youths in Ogoni land, community stateholders, NGOs, the adolescent should be involve in the design and implementation of project s

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Education, Organizations, HIV Infections, Rivers, School Health Services, HIV Seropositivity, Adolescent Behavior, Rural Population, Research, Nigeria, Adolescent, Adolescence, Humans, Male, education

040711
A10305