The National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS) is hosting a youth health conference aimed at addressing health issues affecting young people and their development.
The two day conference, which is being held at Grand Coastal Inn, is aimed at raising awareness of health and specific social issues affecting youths, defining strategies and key priority areas for action, establish a national youth network on health and strengthen inter-sectoral partnerships.
Programme Manager of NAPS Dr. Shanti Singh said this conference comes against the backdrop of the Hivision 20/20 strategic plan.
Dr. Singh says education, peers and parental guidance are some of the factors affecting youth’s decisions and as such, the interventions which will be made must focus on the societal factors.
Meanwhile, Country Representative of UNAIDS, Dr. Roberto Campos pointed out that 40% of new infections around the world are caused by people between the ages of 15 – 24.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Alfred King said that the Ministry has commenced work on a new national youth policy and the outcome of this conference will be featured in that policy. [Akash Ramlackhan]
