Activities – Prevention

Vigilance believes education is a critical part of reducing new infections of HIV/AIDS and fighting the spread of the disease. HIV related stigma and discrimination remains an enormous barrier to the fight against AIDS. Fear of discrimination often prevents people from getting tested, seeking treatment, and admitting their HIV status publicly. Vigilance strives to provide the education that is needed to combat the fear and prejudice that lies at the core of HIV/AIDS discrimination. Vigilance promotes HIV awareness, tolerance, and compassion through Christian based teaching.

The primary cause of new infections is via sexual transmission. Discussing sexuality has long been taboo in African culture making it difficult to teach about the risks associated with the disease. Vigilance encourages fidelity among married couples, sexual abstinence among single people, and awakening for children. We train youth mentors, peer educators, and church leaders to teach core Christian principles around sexuality and the foundation of marriage. The epidemic is also aggravated by social and economic inequalities between men and women. Vigilance strives to promote enlightenment in women, empowering them to realize control of their sexual lives in addition to promoting equality in education, employment, and representation.