HIV-positive teachers in Kenya’s Central province have united to educate other teachers, students and parents about the virus, reports The Nation/AllAfrica.com (allafrica.com, 1/30). HIV prevalence among teachers in the region is 4.5 percent, according to the article.
The program, which has about 400 teachers so far, is called “Chill.” Besides educating teachers, it aims to teach children and parents about HIV risks.
“This is one way teachers and pupils can try save the country from this dangerous disease that is sweeping away people mercilessly,” says Kenneth Misoi, the director of education for the Central province.
The teachers, along with youth leaders, conduct “Chill” sessions about HIV myths and misconceptions. The group sessions also include discussions about abstinence, as one of the goals of the organization is to raise the age that young people start having sex to 17.
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Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
