The Role of Youth in Eradicating HIV/AIDS:

Global Anti-Drug and AIDS Association Nepal and Russian Centre for Culture and Science has jointly organized a talk program on "The Role of Youth in Eradicating HIV/AIDS" in cooperation with United Nations Youth and Student Association Nepal. Mr. Vijay Singha, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal, was the chief guest on the occasion. United Nations Youth and Student Association Nepal has played very important role in successfully organizing this talk program.

The speakers at the program were

1. Mr. Vijay Singha, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal
2. Mr. Agor, Counselor of Russian Embassy
3. Asso. Prof. Dambar Bir Thapa, President of Global Anti-Drug and AIDS Association Nepal
4. Mr. Gopal Krishna Shrestha, President of UNESCO Associated Schools' Teachers National Association Nepal
5. Mr. R. Ojha, President of Youth Alliance
6. Mrs. Krishna Gurung, Principal of Trinity High School
7. Mr. Sanjay Bir Thapa, President of United Nations Youth and Students Association Nepal
8. Mr. Suren B. Manandhar and Madan Kumar Mahato, Vice President and Deputy Secretary General respectively of United Nations Youth and Students Association Nepal.

Speakers of the program highlighted the importance of youth in eradicating HIV/AIDS through raising public awareness against it. Youth are the main agents to eliminate HIV/AIDS as it stands as a hurdle on the way to development. Speakers laid importance on promoting youth empowerment for the eradication of HIV/AIDS.

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is a virus. Some viruses, such as the ones that cause the common cold or the flu, stay in the body only for a few days. Some viruses, such as HIV, never go away. When a person becomes infected with HIV, that person becomes "HIV positive" and will always be HIV positive. Over time, HIV disease infects and kills white blood cells called CD4 lymphocytes (or "T cells") and can leave the body unable to fight off certain kinds of infections and cancers.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is caused by HIV. The names HIV and AIDS can be confusing because both terms describe the same disease. Think of AIDS as advanced HIV disease. A person with AIDS has an immune system so weakened by HIV that the person usually becomes sick from one of several opportunistic infections or cancers such as PCP (a type of pneumonia) or KS (Kaposi sarcoma), wasting syndrome (involuntary weight loss), memory impairment, or tuberculosis. If someone with HIV is diagnosed with one of these opportunistic infections (even if the CD4 count is above 200), he or she is said to have AIDS. AIDS usually takes time to develop from the time a person acquires HIV -- usually between 2 to 10 years or more.

In almost all parts of the developing world, HIV & AIDS has become a major health problem with unprecedented numbers of young people dying.

The program focused on what we should do to decrease the infection and death related to HIV & AIDS among young people. Through discussion, young people want to break the conspiracy of silence against stigma and discrimination which is associated with being infected. An improved treatment plan for all who need it and an established support system in communities is our dream.

The speakers also enlightened on how to protect oneself from HIV/AIDS. Protecting yourself against HIV is about knowledge. Understanding how you get (and avoid getting) HIV, and knowing yourself and your partner (or partners), are key to protecting yourself against HIV.

Many people who "know better" engage in risky activities. The reasons for this are numerous and normal: you could be afraid to insist that your partner use a condom; you could make false assumptions about partners (they seem too young, old, healthy-looking, or nice to be HIV positive); you might be a drinker or recreational drug user who does things while under the influence that you wouldn't otherwise consider. The hardest part of protecting yourself can be learning how to apply what you know to your life and behavior.

Be safe and smart with your decisions. Reduce your risk for HIV by avoiding activities that put you at risk and only practicing safer sex. Don't be afraid to get tested or to insist that your partner get tested; knowing your HIV status and that of your partner (or partners) will help you make more informed decisions.