Executive Chairman, Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Matthew Sule, yesterday, called for the establishment of health clubs in public schools to enlighten children on prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Sule made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.
He said such clubs would be good platforms to enlighten pupils and students on the ultimate target of eradicating the pandemic in the society.
He said: “The best time to inculcate knowledge in children is when they are minors; that is the time such awareness could be firmly rooted in their subconscious.”
The SUBEB boss said the health clubs, which were already part of school curriculum activities in Plateau, should serve as platforms for enlightenment on AIDS and the dangers it posed to the society.
He expressed regrets that many children had been made orphans by the scourge, pointing out that such persons were worst hit because they would find it difficult to acquire education and other necessities of life.
He said abstinence remained the most reliable method for unmarried people, while the married should be faithful to their partners.
The chairman advised teachers to be morally upright to serve as role models to pupils.
He advised hospitals and clinics to ensure that blood was thoroughly screened before any transmission.
He noted that the World AIDS Day, celebrated annually on December 1, was aimed at reminding the society on the need to be more cautious morally.
It was also aimed at enlightening the society on the prevention, treatment and the campaign against stigmatisation of people living with the virus.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Getting to Zero: Zero new infections; Zero discrimination; Zero AIDS-related Deaths.”
