By Ankur Vadhera Chandigarh, November 09:2008/2009 HIV estimates for the country indicate a slowdown in the AIDS epidemic. But it is necessary to keep the infection in check among the highly vulnerable youth as 4.4% of all infections are in Children under 15 years of age. It is important to sensitize girls as 39% of all infections are among women who amount to 0.93 Million of the total 2.4 Million infected with HIV.
Therefore, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with Education Department, UT, Chandigarh organized a three days training programme for Nodal Teachers on Adolescence Education Programme. 20 Teachers from various Govt. and Private Schools were given training by experts.
Dr. Vanita Gupta, Project Director, Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society said that reaching Youngsters at an impressionable age before they become sexually active can lay the foundation for a responsible life style, including Healthy Relationship and Safe Sex Habits. She informed that Adolescence Education Programme has been developed by National AIDS Control Organization in collaboration with Ministry of HRD and is vetted by NCERT. She said that under this programme teachers are being given training on Life Skill Education, Physiological, Mental and Emotional Changes which occur during Adolescence. These teachers will in turn conduct awareness among the students. These teachers will devote 16 hours of the school curriculum annually for teaching of Adolescence Education Programme in their respective schools. Participatory and interactive approaches were adopted to impart training to these Nodal Teachers.
