University students across the country have been urged to embrace HIV/AIDS counseling in a bid to combat the high cases of the disease in the institutions.
Addressing students today during a campaign organized to sensitize them on the disease at the Presbyterian University of East Africa in Thogoto, Joshua Ogada, the coordinator of Fight Against Aids Organization, based in Nairobi said that university students are more prone to contacting the deadly disease, hence the need to be sensitized and tested regularly.
He said that the program is aimed at creating awareness not only on HIV/AIDS but also on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) which are also commonly contracted by the students.
Ogada said that the only way to evade contacting the killer disease is by exercising preventive measures, such as embracing the use of condoms, considering male circumcision, avoiding using unsterilized objects among others.
He further warned them against discriminating people living with HIV/AIDS, but instead help them accept their status and accommodate and treat them like any other human beings.
In addition, he expressed concern that the fight against the killer disease will be hampered if HIV/AIDS victims continue facing stigma.
“If we continue discriminating these victims, we will never win the war against this scourge,” said Ogada.
According to him, discrimination and stigma have deterred many individuals from going for testing, therefore hampering the prevention against the disease.
He further hailed the female students in the university for their impressive turn out in the three day program that commenced on Tuesday.
He however lamented that the university males did not turn out as expected. He urged them to develop a habit of attending such sessions as they are very educative.
Those in attendance were offered free HIV/AIDS testing and advised to embrace the use of contraceptives so as to protect themselves from HIV, STIs and unwanted pregnancies.