SENEGAL: First Lady launches new HIV-AIDS awareness campaign

DAKAR, 5 December 2005 (PlusNews) - With condom use losing favour among young people, Senegal’s first lady Viviane Wade has launched a six-month HIV-AIDS awareness campaign targeted at the country’s youth.

Kicking off the six-month campaign on World Aids Day on Thursday, Wade told a crowd of youngsters at a health centre that “youth are the most vulnerable to HIV infection.”

“In 40 African countries the voices of First Ladies are raised along with mine to prevent new HIV/AIDS infections from harming the future of young people and adolescents,” she said, referring to African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS, which promotes more responsible sexual behaviour.

Ibra Ndoye, executive secretary of the National Council Against AIDS (CNLS), said that only 45 percent of youngsters used condoms in 2005 against 60 percent five years ago, according to a national health survey published this year.

The survey found that Senegal has a low HIV binfection rate of 0.7 percent. But Ndoye said low prevalence should serve as an incentive to continue the battle against the pandemic, and not to loosen up.