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Students tested for HIV in Ethiopia
Recently 348 students underwent HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in Ethiopia. This VCT was part of an HIV/AIDS campaign held in three government schools. Million Lemma, counseling and education officer, says about the project: ‘It provides students with an opportunity to learn and accept their HIV status in a confidential environment with counseling and referral for ongoing emotional support and medical care'.
The campaign, that also included HIV/AIDS awareness creation, was carried out in collaboration with the government health bureau. Lemma: ‘Students were highly motivated and understood the benefits of undergoing the testing'. Negative test results may stimulate the youth to prevent infection in the future, while positive test results are an opportunity to access care and support.
Students are one of the groups that are vulnerable for HIV infections in Ethiopia. HIV prevalence among these vulnerable groups, which also include sex workers, long-distance truck drivers, mobile merchants and daily laborers, is considerably higher (1.5 to 5 fold) than among the national urban adult population. Higher prevalence is linked with high sexual partner change, concurrent sexual partnership, high exposure to STIs, and low and inconsistent condom use.
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| Thursday, 12 January 2012 |
 Other news
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