BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Some 70 students from Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien College on Saturday (Aprik 4) morning participated in the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council’s (BDAIDSCouncil) HIV Awareness Programme for Peers and Youths (H.A.P.P.Y) as part of their school awareness initiatives.
The session was led by Project Coordinator for H.A.P.P.Y Siti Kailene Mohd Jazlan Kashfi who emphasised the importance of understanding HIV, including how the virus spreads and how it can be prevented.
She provided insights on how HIV transmission occurs, helping to dispel common myths and misconceptions that young people often encounter.
She also addressed the rising concerns of teenage pregnancy, explaining the physical, emotional, and social consequences it can have on young people’s lives.
Siti Kailene Mohd Jazlan Kashfi also stressed the importance of making informed decisions and knowing how to set healthy boundaries in relationships to prevent unplanned pregnancies and protect one’s health.
The session also highlighted local statistics related to HIV in Brunei, underlining the need for greater awareness and education.
BDAIDSCouncil hoped that the students will take home valuable information, using it to make informed decisions and share their knowledge with their peers and families.
H.A.P.P.Y is a youth-led project that spreads HIV awareness including knowledge on teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD).
It is an interactive programme that combines audio and visuals as well as an interactive activity to pass on the message to young people which includes messages that have been adapted to the local settings. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
