THE National AIDS/STD Committee is hoping that its website, launched yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, will assist in educating the Jamaican youth about the deadly HIV/AIDS disease and lead to a decrease in the number of people getting the disease.

According to Novia Condell, behaviour change communication officer at the Ministry of Health, 20 per cent of all AIDS cases in Jamaica are in the 20 to 29 age group, which indicates that these persons were infected while in their teens.

"The Internet presents us with an opportunity that cannot be missed. Our young people must be informed and reminded about their choices as it relates to sexually transmitted infections," Condell said. "They must be equipped as much as they must be empowered to say no, to practise consistent and correct condom use and to stay free from HIV/STIs," said the ministry officer.

The website, which is the last project being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank under the technical assistance programme, provides information for youngsters on HIV and other STIs. The site - aidspreventionja.com - will also display information on additional issues relevant to young people, namely information on abstinence, basic information about HIV/AIDS and STIs, a chat room, instructions on how to use the male and female condom and a risk assessment quiz.

"Through this website we will be able to build a database of young people, with whom we can connect," she said. "We will be able to stay in touch with these adolescents by sending them e-mail updates on information relevant to them and entice them to become repeat visitors to the website," said Condell.

She added that the National AIDS/STD Committee was also expecting youngsters to use the website to get information for assignments, games and quizzes.

Dr Peter Figuerora, chief epidemiologist for the National HIV/STI Control Programme, said young people failed to consider the fact that they could be at risk for HIV infection and STIs. "I am asking young people to hear what is being said and also to reflect on their lifestyle," he said. "They need to ask themselves whether they are ready to be sexually active at all and if they are sexually active.... are they going to be prepared."

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