The [him] moderator is puzzled by this Myanmar Times piece on a new programme plan by the Myanmar Red Cross Society.
There is no evidence that the moderator is aware of that demonstrates that university students are a key population at higher risk. University students are not identified as a key population at higher risk in the MRCS strategic plan:
"Programme component 4: HIV - Component outcome 4: To prevent further HIV infection among the key population groups at higher risk (i.e. youth and mobile populations), improve the quality of life for people living with HIV and reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS."
The expiring Myanmar National Strategic Plan uses the word 'university' only once: "Develop and maintain policy to ensure peer education is available for all university students.".
Where is the evidence on the sexual or injecting behaviour of university students? Where is the 'peer education for university students' policy? Why is UNFPA supporting an activity that is outside of the national strategic plan? Or if it is in the new national strategic plan, where is the new national strategic plan?
[him] moderator
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MRCS to start HIV prevention program in universities
By Khin Myat and Nan Tin Htwe
November 22 - 28, 2010
MYANMAR Red Cross Society (MRCS) plans to initiate a HIV prevention program targeting university students in 2011, according to the deputy head of the society’s health division.
Daw Khin Myo Myint told a media dissemination workshop in Yangon last month the education program would be funded by the United Nations Population Fund, also known as UNFPA.
The society believes the program can play an important role in HIV prevention because the young people it targets are a high risk group.
“Most -students are very carefree when they get to university and they have the chance to meet many different people there. We think it’s important we focus some of our prevention efforts on these students,” Daw Khin Myo Myint said, adding that the program would be launched “in the near future”.
Further details, including where the program will be implemented, are yet to be finalised, she said.
Since 1994, the society’s health division has implemented youth HIV prevention programs in 81 townships. It has also established 16 life skills training centres nationally, Daw Khin Myo Myint said.
“Peer education is one of the best approaches for raising awareness [about HIV]. In youth centres, young people meet on holidays and they discuss HIV and other diseases.”
http://mmtimes.com/2010/news/550/news55015.html
