BAMAKO TRAINING HELD IN MALI ON HIV/AIDS

The international movement of Catholic students (IMCS) Pax Romana, following its objective of the fight against HIV /AIDS among students by students, has organized a national training session for 25 members from 5 institutions, in Mali in Pie XII Centre to encourage them to put more effort on the Door to Door campaign

During four days, participants shared their experiences and learnt from facilitators on how to face HIV/AIDS in their milieu of life. After the various interventions from Mr. Kamate Serevin,  president of IMCS Mali, to emphasize on the magnitude of the problems and the danger it poses to the youth because of their lifestyle; from the Pan African Coordinator Jules Wahare to point of the need of such training session for youth; from sister Julia Rodrigo, IMCS chaplain in Mali to encourage participants to become apostles among their fellow students; from Father Joseph of Pie XII Centre to express the satisfaction of seeing young Catholics committed in the church service and  community service, the following discussions were based on various themes. The reality of HIV/ AIDS and the social economic, cultural and political factors which contribute to its spread in the Mali society was prepared and presented by Dr.Damissa Coulibary. He defined terms related to HIV/AIDS, physiopathology and gave the modes of transmission and preventive measures and the political control by the state.

Mr. Doumbia, social worker and coordinator of the L”EVEIL of PSI Mali gives the various strategies educating the population in the campaign against HIV/AIDS. His training strategies were based on the various approaches in respect to counseling and HIV screening. He emphasized on two essential points concerning communication which were interpersonal communication and mass communication.

The vision of the church on HIV/ AIDS by Father Alain Fontaine brought forth the question of the general outlook of the church in relation to the human body which is a temple of the Holy Spirit after which he looked at the ethic principles and the position of the church in regard to the use of condoms. One of the very touching sessions was the testimony of Ms Ramata Yattassaye who is living with HIV. She knew her status in 2004 following the demise of her husband who died from AIDS. Since then she is a member of the “Yellen” association which stands for “light” in Bambara the Malian local language. Located in the point G hospital this association helps people living with HIV/AIDS who come for their diverse services, in counseling and sensitization on how to live positively.

And Madame Ramata’s final comments “at least I know my status, and those who are not aware of theirs, do not know how to take precautions and how to protect themselves. I will live as long as God wishes and I will not die from AIDS”, was a strong challenging message to participants to know their status.

After the action plans presented by different institutions, the training ended by blessings from Father Alain Fontaine and Thanksgiving Mass that followed thereafter.

Jules WAHARE, Coordinator