According to UNAIDS 2018 statistics, the rate of new HIV infections and the burden of HIV remain high in Central Africa region. To contribute to the fight against HIV and AIDS in Central African Republic, AJAN carried HIV and AIDS trainings at the Centre d’Information, d’Education et d’Ecoute of the Centre Catholique Universitaire (CIEE/CCU) in Bangui.

30 peer educators drawn from different Health Clubs of students from different faculties of the University of Bangui were trained on AJAN HIV and AIDS Prevention Programme for the Youth (AHAPPY).

AHAPPY Programme contains five key modules namely: Awakening to My Self, The World I Live In, Facing a World with HIV and AIDs, Knowing My Self to Grow Myself and The Foundation on Which I Build My Life. The five Modules equipped the youth with knowledge and skills on how to live responsibly and make informed choices with an aim of minimizing new HIV infections amongst the youth. The training utilized a variety of activities such as presentations, role play, group sharing, movies and games.

Prior to AHAPPY training, between 7th June, 2018- 16th June, 2018 the Centre Catholique Universitaire de Bangui carried out public awareness campaigns at the university and private institutes of Bangui on voluntary HIV testing to sample epidemiological statistics in order to assist in the drawing of strategies to fight HIV/AIDS, especially amongst the youth. A total of 1091 persons (729 men and 362 women) enrolled for testing. 18 persons tested positive. Out of the 18 who tested positive, 7 cases were youth enrolled in the University. Persons who tested positive were counseled and encouraged to start on ARV therapy.

Having undergone an intensive two week public awareness campaign on voluntary HIV testing and a series of mentorship programmes at CIEE/CCU, an additional training on AHAPPY also sought to build capacity of the peer educators to effectively use AHAPPY manual to promote dialogue around HIV and AIDs amongst the youths at the University of Bangui and thereby encouraging youth to live responsibly. The peer educators will be crucial in implementing CIEE/CCU plan of action for the academic year 2018-2019 themed: “An HIV and AIDS-free happy generation”.

CIEE/CCU also offered dustbin sets to the University of Bangui, the “Ecole Normale Supérieure”, the College of Business Management and Accounting, the “Institut des Métiers Modernes et Spécialisés”, the WALOMBE College of Law and New-Tech High School.

Mentorship of the peer educators ended with closing ceremony which saw attendance of representatives from UNAIDS-Central African Republic Office and ‘Quartier 200 villas.’

CIEE/CCU is grateful to Jesuit Mission of Nuremberg, the CNLS, the Ministry of Public Health and Population, the community hospital, all heads of institutions of higher education and the team which facilitated HIV testing.

The Centre d’Information, d’Education et d’Ecoute of the Centre Catholique Universitaire (CIEE/CCU) in Bangui, in partnership with other university institutions, seeks to minimize new HIV infections by spreading values of abstinence and fidelity amongst the youth in the University.