Twenty-five peer educators of AIDS and gender-based violence in the village of Blody, Duekoue division, 502 km west of Abidjan on Wednesday 28 August 2013 received certificates at the end of a training course conducted by the HIV/AIDS Office of the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in partnership with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).



During the 4-day course, the peer educators representing the different communities of Blody village were given a general introduction to the AIDS pandemic, its mode of transmission and methods of prevention as well gender-based violence.



On behalf of the recipients, the village chief Christian Leyoho expressed the gratitude of his peers for the training: "I can tell you that the lessons have been very useful for us. On a personal note, they have helped me to have a different view of the illness."

He conveyed the commitment of the trainees and said "we have already begun sensitizing our families and relatives about the ill effects of HIV/AIDS"



For his part, the representative of the Sub Prefect of Duekoue Central, Rene Monsiah stressed the importance the administrative authorities place on this type of training aimed at eradicating ignorance about HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence.



UNOCI and UNHCR trainers expressed satisfaction with the availability of the inhabitants of Blody to receive the training and reiterated the readiness of the UN to support all initiatives aimed at fighting the AIDS pandemic.



It should be noted that the training was followed by voluntary screening of persons and those identified as sero-positive were referred to the social centre in Duekoue for treatment and socio-psychological counseling.



The next stop of the training programme is the village of Pinhou.