Izah Azahari
Some 208 students from Sayiddina Abu Bakar Secondary School (SMSAB) and Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) participated in the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAIDSCouncil) HIV Awareness Programme for Peers and Youths (HAPPY) on Saturday.
BDAIDSCouncil President Iswandy bin Ahmad delivered and facilitated the event at SMSAB for 70 students as part of the school’s awareness programme.
Meanwhile, Siti Najihah Kamilah binti Latif from HAPPY delivered the talk at KUPU SB to 138 students as part of their orientation week.
During the talk, the latest local data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and teenage pregnancy was shared, highlighting the age and gender dominating the statistics.
The facilitators said the figures can be curbed by promoting abstinence to prevent youth from getting involved in behaviours that lead to STIs, pregnancy outside of wedlock, or early marriage.
HAPPY is a youth-led project that spreads HIV awareness including knowledge on teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Their programmes combine audio and visual elements with interactivity to deliver their message, which has been adapted to the local context.
BDAIDSCouncil hoped that students will bring home the message of the programme and apply it into their lives.
