BY JOY OFASIA
A team from the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) is visiting schools across Honiara to raise awareness among young people about HIV and how it can be prevented.
The school visits are part of SIPPA’s ongoing efforts to educate students aged 19 to 25, a group seen as increasingly vulnerable to HIV.
In an interview with SUNDAY ISLES, SIPPA Communications Officer Jordy Joel Toeraena said, “We’re seeing a concerning trend among young people. That’s why it’s important they are given the right information early on.”
Toeraena explained that HIV, the virus that weakens the immune system, is preventable and manageable with treatment if detected early.
“HIV is like many other diseases—it can be controlled,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important for young people to know how to protect themselves, and where they can go to access help, like our Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCCT) services.”
The awareness campaign aims to equip students with knowledge to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
“We want them to understand the risks of unsafe sex. Having multiple partners or not using protection puts them at higher risk,” Toeraena emphasized.
He shared the key message SIPPA is promoting: “We encourage the ABC approach—Abstain, Be faithful, and use Condoms. If you can’t say no to sex, be faithful to your partner and practice safe sex.”
So far, SIPPA has visited eight of the 11 schools that have confirmed their participation. In total, the organization plans to visit 18 schools, including Tenaru School in Guadalcanal Province.
Toeraena said students have been responsive and eager to learn.
“Many young people want to make the right choices—they just need the right information,” he said. “That’s what we’re here to give.”
