Kathmandu, February 26:

The National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC) with the support of German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and in partnership with Youth Action Nepal (YOAC) launched the HIV prevention method ‘SangSangai’ to mitigate the rise of HIV infection among young

people today.

National data shows 60 per cent of HIV infections among youths below 25 years. SangSangai is the name for a circuit of six physical stations that youths can visit and interact with youth facilitators and communicate about issues that are generally not talked about: gender, sexuality, HIV, family planning, condoms and living with HIV.

Dr Padam Bahadur Chand, director of NCASC said SangSangai as a tool was urgently needed in Nepal. “It not only addresses the needs and problems of young people, but it is also an innovative method to interact and openly communicate about HIV transmission, prevention and protection.” Dr Chand added SangSangai would be implemented at district level through NGOs, Community Based Organisations or other institutions and external development partners and the private sector are encouraged to use this tool within their programmatic approaches.

“Very often topics on sexual health, HIV, reproductive health and rights and living with HIV are taboo, but SangSangai facilitates young people about these topics in trustful, non-judgemental ways,” said Dr Friedeger Stierle, programme manager, GTZ. He added that it could be used for young people of different ages and in all sort of settings: in schools, youth clubs, police training academies or anywhere, where a relatively homogenous group can come together for an hour.