DOH hires youth advocates on HIV-AIDS

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Health-7 (DOH-7) yesterday started its recruitment of 60 college students, who are at least on their second year, especially those who took up medical courses such as Nursing and Physical Therapy and with good communication skills.

This is in line with the DOH program on Youth Advocate for HIV-AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), wherein the chosen college students will undergo training and seminars on how to be effective advocates on HIV-AIDS and will do community works especially disseminating information with regards to the said disease.

Dr. Lakshmi Legaspi, Director III of DOH-7, said that college students are encouraged to apply in their respective barangays.

Once hired, the youth advocates will then be deployed in three major cities in the province namely Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City, each having 20 youth advocates on HIV-AIDS.

Those who will make it will be receiving P300 per day as allowance and will start their advocacy and information dissemination on April 18 until June 5, 2010.

Dr. Legaspi said that the youth advocates will be provided with materials and manual devices and will be assigned in high-risk areas to conduct thorough research and observation and also to inform the people, especially the youth the risks of HIV-AIDS. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)