The University of Zambia (UNZA) HIV/AIDS Response Team is training 25 UNZA students peer educators as a way of increasing the number of student peers at the institution. The University of Zambia (UNZA) HIV/AIDS Response Team is holding a Workshop aimed at training peer educators at the institution.
HIV/AIDS Response Team secretary general, Nkana Lubunga, said the response team is training 25 UNZA students as a way of increasing the number of student peer educators at the institution.
He explained that the peers will be responsible for campus HIV/AIDS sensitisation as well as the dissemination of information within and outside the campus.
"We are mainly targeting youths because they know how to interact with their fellow youths. Youths are more likely to listen to their fellow young people about HIV/AIDS than they would to elderly people," he claimed.
Mr. Lubunga revealed that the response team was planning on having workshops every year as a way of increasing the number of peers at the institution.
The main areas being targeted outside the University with regards HIV/AIDS sensitisation are Kalingalinga, Handsworth and Marshlands.
And one of the trainees, Ephraim Lisego, said the workshop has given him an opportunity to equip himself with useful skills that will help him and others make meaningful contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Another trainee, Valentine Zulu, commended the UNZA Response Team for coming up with such an initiative.
"People have stopped adhering to the measures against HIV/AIDS and so it is good that in this Workshop, youths are the ones who will be sensitising others. This workshop will with no doubt give me the confident to sensitise my fellow youths on HIV/AIDS related issues," she added.
The Workshop which began on Monday will run until Friday, 24th of July, 2015.
UNZA Response trains peers
