The Cross-Cutting Issue Directorate has conducted a day-long sensitization workshop for the vendors selling miscellaneous items outside the Main Campus on January 30, 2015. The purpose of the program was to acquaint them with the health hazard associated with HIV/AIDS. ‘‘We chose these vendors because they regularly sell items of daily needs to the students and tend to develop intimacy. This unintended proximity at times prove to be hazardous when allegedly it leads them into carnal temptations exposing them to dangerous health hazard,’’ said Director of Cross-Cutting Issue Directorate, Mr Asfaw Demessie.
Clarifying his stand, Asfaw maintained, these people who are in regular contact with the students can be a very good change agent; they can easily disseminate knowledge related with this pandemic disease, its evil implications thus creating health awareness.
This scarcely educated section was informed about the epidemiology of the disease and its ill-effects on one’s health. They were sensitized as to what kind of preventive measures to be taken i.e. having protective sex, use of condoms to prevent the transmission.
Mulugeta Shigaz and Feleke Gebremeskel, faculty members from College of Medicine and Health Sciences were the resource persons.
Similarly, Community Service Units at Nechsar, Abaya and Chamo Campuses has also organized ‘community conversation’ with support and administrative staff members of the university on issues related with HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH).
The purpose of the above mentioned dialogue was to build the capacity of the staff, create awareness on these issues and empower them to understand and develop strategy to combat this health scourge.
Mr Firew Bagashaw and Mr Tadele were the community conversation facilitators at different campuses.

(By Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)