Thursday, November 27, 2008

HIV-AIDS awareness forum targets youth - 1

Young people can do their share in addressing the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and be part of the solution, advocates said Friday.

Over 30 youth participants gathered in Quezon City to kick off the National Young People's Planning Forum to put together their own plan of action to address the HIV problem.
In an interview, Irene Fellizar, president of Lunduyan Foundation Inc, one of the forum's sponsors, pointed out that children and young people are among the most vulnerable to HIV.

“The most critical population is this population, because this is the age when they begin to be more adventurous. Many of their dreams may not be fulfilled because of HIV,” she said Friday.

The two-day forum will gather young people, aged 15 to 24, from all over the country to get their views on HIV and the acquired immunodeficiency (AIDS) syndrome, and what they can do to address it.

It is sponsored by the Council for the Welfare of Children's Committee on Children and HIV and AIDS, United Nations Children's Fund, Lunduyan Foundation Inc, and the Philippine National AIDS Council.

The activity is in support of the country's 4th AIDS Medium Term Plan from 2005 to 2010, which aims to prevent the further spread of HIV and reduce its impact on people, families and communities.

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