Manfred Kudjoe

On 4th May 2024, I continued my HIV/AIDS education outreach at Ghana Senior High School, Tamale. 

I focused more on the importance of the students getting screened for HIV, as most people rarely go for screening. After speaking to the students, I received a number of reasons why they rarely go for screening. These include the following:

1. They strongly believe because of their lifestyle there's no reason they can be infected with HIV, thus no reason to get screened.

2. Some were afraid to know the outcome of the test.

3. The screening involved pin pricking; few students were afraid of the process.

4. Some did not want to get tested because their friends did not want to.

5. Some just did not want to get screened for no reason. 

I took my time to explain to them the importance of they getting screened, how it can affect them and the people around them. I helped debunk some myths around the HIV infection. 

Ghana Aids Commission was organizing a free HIV screening for the students in the school that day. I was glad to note that the number of students who went for the screening increased greatly after I had spoken to them. The turnout was initially very low. 

I can conclude public education is key if we want to battle HIV/ AIDS.

Attached are a few pictures I took during the outreach.

Thank you.