Teens counsel each other on AIDS

One of the more disturbing statistics about HIV/AIDS in Belize is that teenagers as young as fifteen are considered to be among the group most at risk for contracting this deadly disease. On Saturday approximately one hundred and fifty teens from across Belize City gathered at the Radisson Fort George Hotel to learn more about what they can do to manage that risk. Organizers of the seminar say that while they recognize that many adults in Belize are not comfortable with the reality of sexually active teenagers, young people themselves are more than willing to deal with the problem. Through a program of “peer education” they hope that teenagers will teach each other about the dangers of HIV and AIDS.

Nigel Miguel, Chairman Belize Forever Foundation

“Our problem is two fold. One: it’s not that we are condoning pre-marital sex, but the reality is that it happens. So we have to arm our kids. Let them know that if they partake in that behaviour, you have to be responsible and here’s a way to be responsible. You have to be knowledgeable. Two: you have to be willing to use that knowledge.”

“It’s teens teaching teens, instead of the information coming from an adult, which sometimes kids turn off on that. If you have someone your own age that’s going through the same things that you are going through, at the same time, if they are telling you and teaching you what’s right and what’s wrong. Young people tend to listen to young people, especially if it’s someone who’s cool and they respect. So that was the whole idea behind it. Young people teaching young people, getting the proper education from the professionals then going amongst the community and spreading it.”

The session was organized by Nigel Miguel’s Belize Forever Foundation along with the UCLA School of Public Health and the National AIDS Task Force.”