22 May 2014 - Eliza Simon Gatluak, freshly graduated as an HIV/AIDS counselor, said she now feels responsible for saving the lives of girls her age in South Sudan.

Ms. Gatluak, a 19-year-old displaced person who sought shelter at the UNMISS base in Malakal, Upper Nile State, was one of the 28 participants who recently completed a two-week HIV/AIDS crash training course for counselors.

“I never had an opportunity to know more on HIV/AIDS before,” the young woman said. “I am grateful now because the training we received … has changed my perception on HIV/AIDS positively.”

Ms. Gatluak said upon graduating she could now educate other girls with no knowledge of the disease and are at risk of being infected. “I am determined to do that through HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns within the protection site.”

True to her word, she and her fellow counselors began the campaigns last week.

Another counselor who took part in the training, which focused on a general knowledge on HIV/AIDS, counselling skills, prevention strategies and fighting stigma and discrimination, called on South Sudanese to avoid promiscuous behavior that may lead to HIV infections.

“Promiscuous behavior is the major source of HIV infection, so people must change and stop risking their lives,” said Mr. Peter Nyol. “As a primary school teacher, I will use the knowledge and skills I have acquired to inform my people on that and especially unsafe sex.”

Mr. Nyol said they had started forming groups within the displaced site for awareness rising on HIV/AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS training course for counselors was jointly organized by UNMISS HIV/AIDS Unit and the International Organization for Migration. Participants included IDPs, Military and civilian staff from IOM and UNMISS.