Family Health International (FHI) is a leading global health and development organization and has received a global fund award to implement HIV prevention activities in selected tertiary institutions in Ghana. The objective of this special project is to train 350 HIV/AIDS Peer Educators nationwide.
Ashesi University is the first tertiary institution in Ghana to participate in the intensive three-day residential workshop organized in collaboration with the University Health Centre at the Oak Plaza hotel between the 15th March and 17th March 2010. In all, twenty-four selected Ashesi students, including several faculty and staff members were trained. Participants were given useful information on the basic facts of HIV that they will share with the Ashesi Community during planned outreach sessions scheduled to take place post-training.
The HIV/AIDS Peer Educators benefitted immensely from the training. One of the participants, Gucci Ben Boateng, Class of 2013 said, “I personally feel it was a very intriguing experience which provided me with a very candid perspective of reality. As, humans we are very vulnerable to chaotic situations which can ransom our lives forever. This training taught me how we can avoid these dangerous situations.” Indeed, participants were taught to go beyond their comfort zone and to speak openly about misconceptions associated with HIV/AIDS and more importantly, the prevention of HIV infection.
Ashesi peer educators are poised to deliver HIV/AIDS information to the school community. Student peer educators have already been chosen and are excited to bring this free service to the community.