The National President of the Society of Women and AIDS in Africa, SWAA, Cameroon, Prof. Dora Mbanya, has challenged some 40 peer educators to contribute in making Cameroon an AIDS-free country.

She made the call in Yaounde, August 8, during a ceremony marking the end of six-month training on peer education.

According to her, SWAA Cameroon would continue working incessantly to eradicate HIV/AIDS in the country; “We are training these people so that they would be able to sensitise the youths because they are the most vulnerable. Youths are people who are full of adventures; they love trying things and learning from their peers. If their peers are well trained on finding out what is right, then, we are sure we are heading to the right direction.”

Presentations on themes such as sexuality, contraception, personal hygiene and the importance of peer education were summarised as the contents of the six-month training. Turn by turn, the laureates, divided in groups, stressed on how important knowledge of each of the topics could help in eradicating HIV/AIDS in Cameroon.

Pointing out the role of the peer educator in society, one of the laureates, Victorine Ako, holds that, “Peer educators have a supportive role in the development of a positive society.

When some youths get exposed to sexual practices, they are very vulnerable to contracting diseases. This is so because they are excited and want to try everything they hear of. The peer educator points out those dangers which they are exposed to and helps them manage some crises which come along with adolescence”.

Ako admits that it is not going to be an easy journey for them, but she knows that youths in remote areas really need counseling and she is privileged to be a peer educator and always ready to brave any challenge that would come her way.