MRCS conducted a needs assessment by situation analysis, response review and capacity assessment of MRCS in 2004. Analysis of the data identified (problem-1) Low level of knowledge on STI, HIV/AIDS among youth and general population. (problem-2) young people do not engage safe practices regarding STI and HIV. (problem-3) young people don’t receive proper treatment on STI. (Problem-4) Lack of knowledge and skills to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS and a need for effective education among young people. Based on these identified problems, the MRCS selected youth as the main focus for HIV prevention and safer sex promotion selected project locations, Thaton, Kawkareik and Hpa-an townships with the financial support of FHAM (UNAIDS).

Components and Activities

Objective
- To increase the knowledge and attitude on STI, HIV/AIDS among youth in the target area

- To ensure the young people use condom and receive proper treatment of STI in the target area.

- To reduce discrimination of PLWHA in the target area

Activities
- Advocacy meeting with local authorities and stakeholders.
- Advocacy meeting with community and young people
- Organizing and capacity building of youth peer leaders for peer education
- Outreach Education and Peer Education
- STI counseling and referral service to receive systematic treatment
- Regular experience sharing meeting of peer educators
- Develop and distribute IEC material
- Health information and education activities carried out by township staffs and Red Cross volunteers
- Planned regular group discussion sessions among youth lead by peer educators and casual health education activities carried out by peer leaders
- Condom distribution to the young people and general population and follow up monitoring

Target Beneficiaries
- Youth (age between 15-24 both male and female in rural and urban of target townships.
- People infected by and affected with sexually transmitted infection in the urban and rural of target townships.
- General population residing in the urban and rural area of target townships.

Project Timeline
2004 April - 2007 April (Project staff presently researching for new donors)

Project site
Hpa-an, Kayin state
Kawkareik, Mon state
Thaton,Mon state

Partner Agency
Funding
UNAIDS(FHAM)

Collaborative
DOH,PSI,MSI

Trained RCVs
75 RCVs