TUGUEGARAO CITY, March 8 (PIA) – Seventy-two Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation presidents participated in a two-day orientation workshop on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) held last February 27-28, 2013, here.

Vincent dela Rosa, LGOO II, said the training is part of the promotion and public awareness about the dreaded diseases through massive information and education campaign utilizing the youth sector as one of the most vulnerable groups on the virus transmission.

On his part DILG-2 Regional Director Rolando Rafael urged the participants to play the crucial role as HIV and AIDS eradication champions and advocates.

“As such, your are expected to help facilitate local response to prevent the spread of the disease by developing and implementing appropriate programs and projects to promote the welfare of the youth in your communities,” Rafael said.

Dela Rosa added that the youth sector, as per information from health authorities and as shown in studies, are at high risk of HIV due to their lifestyle and behavior.

“During the training the young people learned that men-to-men sexual relationships, heterosexual, commercial sex workers and injecting-drug users are the most vulnerable to the virus,” Dela Rosa said.

He further stated that the young people are taught of how to be educated their peers to avoid the spread of the virus as well as to plan for programs that will help eliminate if not to totally eradicate the spread of virus to humans.