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PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HIV/AIDS AND SGBV PREVENTION AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES, A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY IN BEHAVIOUR CHANGE AND CARE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS OF UGANDA. Evelyn Aguti.-HIV/AIDS Focal Person UNHCR Uganda.
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PARTICIPATIONOF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HIV/AIDS AND SGBV PREVENTION AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES, A SUCCESSFULSTRATEGY IN BEHAVIOUR CHANGE AND CARE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS OF UGANDA. Evelyn Aguti.-HIV/AIDS Focal Person UNHCR Uganda. Tibyampasha Dominic-Health Coordinator UNHCR Uganda. Linnie Kesselly-Senior Community Services officer UNHCR Uganda.
Background • Adolescents refugees are vulnerable to HIV and SGBV because of the situations they experience during flight in the refugee settlements and repatriation. The breakdown of social structures like family ,clan,tribe idleness and poverty increases their vulnerability .
Purpose of program • Empowering adolescents with life skills, improved knowledge, changed attitudes and practices that prevent SGBV , HIV/STIs and care for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS and survivors of SGBV. • To provide social support services that are community based adolescent friendly and conveniently accessible to adolescents
Program Methods • Raising awareness through adolescent peer educators . • Adolescents collectively identify what makes them vulnerable. • Its essential to ensure that all service providers are trained with skills and equipped with knowledge. • Provision of income generating activities for out of school adolescents
Program Findings • Young people are resourceful in addressing their problems. • Adolescents freely access services • HIV/AIDS and SGBV clubs, have been formed and managed by them. • 1,000 out of school and 1,500 in school adolescent peer educators have formed • Adolescents have been empowered.
Adolescents have not only been seen but also have been heard through regular consultations . • They know their rights and systems in place.
Challenges • Participation of out of school adolescents girls is very low. • High turnover of trained Adolescent friendly health service providers. • Resettlement of trained community workers and trained peer educators • Utilization of Family planning services by out of school adolescents is low. • Attitudes and beliefs.
Conclusion • Adolescent participation in the program makes them feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for changing behavior and addressing the risks.
Appreciations • The Ted Tuner Foundation that Funded HI/AIDS programme in 2001.