HIV & AIDS Awareness programme at "Malaimahal Hindu Central College"

19 February 2009

250 students and staff of Malaimahal Hindu Central College attended a HIV awareness seminar held at the school premises. The students who attended this programme were A’ Level and O ‘Level senior students.

This school lies in Delthota, Galaha which belongs to the Kandy District. Malaimahal Hindu Central College is a government school which provides education for the children living among the tea estate community. Within the estate sector there is yet a lack of knowledge about HIV & AIDS as these children live with limited resources and facilities. 

This programme was held as a response to a request made by the school. The request was timely as recent data reported by government and non government institutions and other organizations revealed that the amount of PLHWAs is on the increase in these regions. According to government statistics, there are approximately 78 PLWHAs living within the Central province. There are many factors contributing to this increase. The main factor being the limited access to health and hygiene related facilities, and lack of knowledge of the AIDS epidemic.

This programme enabled the “Project Positive” team to ascertain the level of awareness & understanding among the students on HIV. Their answers to basic questions on this epidemic revealed a very low level of understanding with regard to sex education, STD and AIDS. The school officials allowed this programme to be conducted during school hours. At the end of the awareness programme the children formed a committee that would organize future HIV and AIDS awareness programmes in their school as well as in their communities.
Awareness programmes amongst school children are a good investment towards eradicating HIV and AIDS. The children represent families and communities. Therefore the message on HIV and AIDS would be conveyed to a wider audience through these children.

“This is a very good effort. Through this project we can educate our children about risk activities in society” said Mrs. Selvi. “When I heard about this seminar I had a very negative idea about it. But now I am happy because it was a very productive time” she continued. “According to the lessons we learnt today, anyone can get infected at any time.

These sessions are very relevant for the community, where we live in, and by using this hand book which we received regarding HIV/AIDS, I would be able to create awareness among my friends and my Sunday school students. Thank you”.

 “It's our responsibility to share with our families what we learnt today” said Ramesh Kumar (a student).  “Actually there  are lots of people who don't know how to prevent these deadly epidemics.  Since there is an increase in the spread of these epidemics we have to stand firm and pratice what we have  learnt today” continued Ramesh.

This programme was organised along with a pastor who held a programme titled “Calling to a new commitment” towards the end of last year.  At the end of the programme the students drew up potential projects in line with what they had learnt to be conducted in the future.