Classes were suspended for a day at the Oriental University of Timor-Leste (UNITAL) for students to take part in HIV/AIDS preventative education programs organized by the National Commission to Combat HIV/AIDS.
Interim university rector Aurelio da Costa said the decision was made to suspend classes for the day to allow students – who are most at risk of contracting AIDS – to learn information about the virus.
He said as most of UNITAL’s students are from rural areas, their knowledge of the disease is limited.
“Open your eyes and ears, listen to the information being spread by our friends and keep it in your heart, as (this disease) could badly impact our future, nation and families,” da Costa said at the university campus in Becora.
Student Julia Noronha said it was important she and her fellow students were provided with HIV/AIDS information so they could protect themselves from the disease.
She said she would help to spread the message to others.
National Commission on Combating HIV/AIDS of East Timor (CNCS-TL) general secretary Daniel Marcal said the campaign would target students in secondary schools and universities.
“We will coordinate all directors and rectors to facilitate their students to get basic information on HIV/AIDS prevention in order to guarantee their future, because young people are very much at risk for HIV/AIDS transmission”, he said.
He said CNCS-TL and the Indonesian National Commission for Combating HIV/AIDS would soon conduct a prevention campaign in the border districts of Oe-Cusse, Bobonaro and Covalima as those regions were deemed most at risk.
