Preamble
In just over two decades since the first cases of HIV infection were reported, AIDS has become the most devastating epidemic in human history.

Globally some 39.4 million people (between 35.9-44.3 million) are living with HIV. The number of new infections continues to rise. In 2004; 4.9 million people became newly infected with HIV globally, of these nearly 3 million people become newly infected in sub-Saharan Africa (AIDS Report 2004). This is why World AIDS day celebration in Kenya is encouraged so as to help reflect together in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This aims at radically enhancing national responses against the scourge.

In order to address some of these challenges facing the country, the World AIDS day was celebrated at Shanzu Teachers College, Mombasa. It was jointly organized by UNESCO office, Nairobi and Kenya National Commission for UNESCO which coordinated the whole exercise.

World AIDS Day is a United Nation international day celebrated on 1st December of every year. The theme for 2005 was Stop AIDs, Keep the promise. The day was celebrated by approximately 1,500 persons who were drawn from far and wide and majority of them were students from the neighbouring schools and colleges in the coast region.
The objectives of the celebrations were to:

• Create awareness and sensitization to the community on the HIV/AIDS scourge.

• Educate the community on possible ways of prevention and also treatment of the scourge.

• Encouragement to the infected and affected.

• Educate the community to change the negative attitude towards the infected and to avoid stigmatization and discrimination of both the affected and infected.

There was entertainment in various forms: skits, poems, songs and drama performed by the pupils from various schools. Presentation was done in Kiswahili which is the national language and also well understood by the locals. The most moving item of the day was a song entitled ‘Ukimwi’ by a seven year old pupil from Mtwapa Primary School, Mombasa.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Patrick O. Nyangosia, the Provincial Director of Education, Coast province, dwelt on stigma related to HIV/AIDS calling on the participants to speak freely about HIV/AIDS in their community. Unless it is checked the scourge will continue to pose a negative impact on the productivity and quality of service to the community he quiped. It was noted that statistics are painting a very gleam picture and some of the notable challenges are:
• increased burden on the community in terms of cost for medical care for bereaved dependants;

• increased burden to the government of having to keep sick and unproductive officers on the payroll;

• closure of schools because of population decline in enrollments;

• increased workload for those not sick to cover for chronically ill colleagues resulting in increased stress at the workplace and stigma and discrimination of those infected and affected.

Kenya Network of Positive Teachers (KENEPOTE) was recognized for being an exemplary group in the Education sector with a membership of 1800. Since the members started speaking came out publicly about their HIV status, there has been notable increase in the number of teachers confessing their status and living positively with HIV/AIDS.

. Section of participants at the World AIDS Day celebration 2005.

It was noted that women groups also have a significant role to play as the biological factor and some of the traditional cultural practices have made them vulnerable to HIV. The need for sensitization about their rights to reduce vulnerability was emphasized. Women support groups become a source of inspiration and motivation to those affected and infected.
Mr. John O. Loya, the Co-ordinator of the AIDS Control Unit, (A.C.U) Shanzu Teachers College, emphasized that HIV and AIDS is a world wide disaster that has affected many people in terms of loss of life, illness, care for the infected, and has left behind many orphans. It is for this reason that the government declared it a national disaster in 1999.

.

In 2004, the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MOEST) developed an Education Sector Programme (E.S.P) on HIV/AIDS to combat the scourge. In particular, MOEST believes that the “window of hope” in the fight against HIV/Aids lies in the Education sector.

It is commendable that Shanzu Teachers College has put in place measures and steps towards creating awareness, education, prevention and access to treatment to members of the community. In this regard, the institution has established an AIDS Control Unit (A.C.U.), which is headed by a committee to oversee the successful implementation of the MOEST policy on HIV/AIDS. Their success stories include;
• Basic training of the teaching and non-teaching staff on HIV/AIDS.

• Training of the students on HIV/AIDS thus serving as peer educators.

• Holding capacity building workshops and seminars on HIV/AIDS.

• Organizing outreaches in the local community to sensitize the public on awareness, knowledge, prevention and treatment.

The major challenge that the institution is facing is the exposure of the students to beach boys and twilight girls who rely on the tourism industry for a living, making them vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection from unsolicited sex.

Ben Omondi, a Youth leader from UNESCO Youth Forum gave a captivating speech to the youth present. He reinstated that HIV and AIDS is affecting a majority of the youth who are today’s and tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers and decision makers

The young generation is the largest in history and nearly half of the global population is less than 25 years. Young people (aged 15 to 24) are the most at risk globally, accounting for half of all new HIV infections world wide and therefore the greatest hope for turning the tide of infections. 62% of all the infected young people worldwide live in sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of information, education and youth friendly services combined have placed young people at the centre of HIV vulnerability.

Gender power imbalances and inter-generational sex and biological factors place girls at higher risks than boys. In Sub-Saharan Africa, girls are having sex at an earlier age than boys and their sexual partners tend to be older mainly due to poverty and hardship. Therefore it is important that they play an integral role in responding to the epidemic.

.

It is evident that knowledge and information are the first line of defense for young people. Most of the young people have heard about HIV and AIDS but they are mostly unable to identify the preventive methods. Therefore changing the norms and beliefs of adults in the community, particularly among men will increase the effectiveness of the youth targeted behaviour change interaction.

It is common knowledge the young people, when given appropriate tools and support can become powerful agents of change. This is in accordance with the UN declaration of commitment on HIV/ AIDS into concrete action that includes; creating supportive environment, reaching to those who influence young people, placing young people at the centre of response, mobilising the educational system, mainsteaming HIV/ AIDs prevention and AIDs care for young people into other sectors. This is seen as timely in the absence of cure and will always remain our only weapon.

.