Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) on Sunday held an outreach programme on advocacy and awareness on adolescent reproductive health, with particular emphasis on HIV/Aids. This outreach programme was held at Brikama in Western Region.

In his opening remarks Joseph Peacock Programme Secretary of Gambia YMCA thanked the Finnish YMCA for sponsoring the three years programme. “They come every January to organise this programme only in the Western Region. The programme is mainly based on advocacy and awareness on adolescent reproductive health, with particular emphasis on HIV/Aids,” he said.

According to him, they create a platform with their Finnish partners to interact with the beneficiaries and to see the level of work they are doing with young people and the community at large. The project he said, is meant for 10 Upper Basic Schools in Western Region and the communities of Kartong and Gunjur. Also work with both Christians and muslims by creating forum for discussions. Under senior secondary schools, we set up peer health educators club in 10 Upper Basic Schools.

“We appreciate what the Finnish YMCA have done and their contribution has created an impact in our work to reach young people,” Mr Peacock concluded.

For his part Jaakko Koikkalainen National Secretary of YMCA in Finland expressed satisfaction with their Gambian counterparts, noting that everything has been done according to their expectation.

He added that it is a very good news for them to hear that HIV/Aids in Western Region is dropping. “We are very much happy to see that many people have learn a lot in YMCA and we wish to bring more funds in the future,” he said.

Lamin Camara, HIV/Aids Social worker and youth activist disclosed that most young people feel infallible to HIV/Aids as some do not even believed that they are at risk. According to him high risk groups are among young people, commercial sex workers, drivers, “barbers,” both local and international migration workers.