CEOAFRICA news desk gathered that a Zambian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has taken the battle against HIV/AIDS to the Secondary Schools in the country.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is to embark on a sensitization and testing of pupils for HIV as a means of reducing the spread of the infection in the country.

The coordinator of the group, Ntula Simwinga said in a statement issued in Lusaka that the foundation is collaborating with the ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education and the ministry of Community Development, Moder and Child Health.

The project which has the financial backing of the European Union also has United Nations Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ) and the Zambia Centre for Communication Programmes (ZCCP) as other collaborators.

On June 2, 2013, the foundation hosted a school Health festival at Kamwala Secondary School in Lusaka titled “Love Life? Ziba HIV,” witnessed more than 500 pupils and teachers tested for HIV.

Mr. Simwanga explained that the festival involved pupils from 20 schools across Lusaka and it featured different art forms.

This event is to complement government’s commitment in the prevention of HIV, especially among the younger generation between the ages of 16-24.I t is believed that by encouraging access to information and to HIV testing and counseling among this age group, the trend could be reversed as more young people would adopt and maintain lifestyles that prevented new infections among those that were HIV negative and enhance well being and longetivity among those that were HIV positive.