“One minute of pleasure for a life time of suffering” was the message from National Commission on Combating HIV/AIDS in Timor-Leste (CNCSTL) general secretary Daniel Marcal to those contemplating unsafe sex. 
Speaking at a HIV/AIDS awareness event at Peace University (UNPAZ), Marcal urged students to take action to avoid contracting the incurable virus.
“However rich you might be, you will not enjoy your wealth if you are unhealthy so health is very important,” Marcal said.
He said the event provided basic information to students about how HIV/AIDS was spread and how the risk could be minimized.
He said he hoped to get HIV/AIDS education included in the national curriculum so students would know how to prevent the spread of the virus.
He called for Timorese youth to think a hundred times before making decisions, so they could live long, happy lives – not ones that would end in tears.
District Health national director Agostinha da Costa said youths have an important role to play in protecting all people by finding out information which the Ministry of Health has provided to health facilities.
“Don’t stay quiet but find out more detailed information on HIV/AIDS prevention and pass it on to others,” she said.
Student Joanina Maria da Costa promised that she would pass the information she had learned to rural communities.
“We are about to have our trainee ship so this information is very important for us to share to the communities on how to prevent and combat HIV/AIDS in Timor-Leste,” she said.
