NAIROBI MARCH 28, 2017 (CISA) – The AJAN (African Jesuit AIDS Network) has launched a book titled AJAN HIV and AIDS Prevention Programme for the Youth (AHAPPY).

According to Fr Elphege Quenum S.J, Director of AJAN, the manual, published by the Paulines Publications intends to lead young people to an AIDS free generation, empowering them to make informed and responsible choices and equipping them with knowledge, life skills and values.

While officially launching the book, Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru and chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Education, assured of the conferences support in fighting the spread of HIV and AIDs among the youth.

“It is now clear that the next synod of bishops is going to focus on youth and vocation, showing clearly the Church’s continued pastoral concern for the young people,” said the bishop during the launch at Paulines Communication Centre in Westlands, Nairobi.

“We can no longer afford to talk about the youth without doing anything practical to address the deepest aspirations anxiety regrets difficulties and challenges,” the bishop added.

Present at the launch was Dr Bathsheba Osoro, head of stakeholders’ coordination at the National AIDS Control Council who represented NACC director, Dr Nduku Kilonzo.

She noted that Kenya has been able to make significant progress in reducing infections among adults but a lot has to be done among the adolescent youth.

“As much as we have made progress in reducing infection in adults and children, the adolescent and young people remain at risk. 51 percent of new inflections com from young people,” said Dr Osoro noting that the launch of the book was very timely.

The AHAPPY book is available at Paulines bookshop and Catholic bookshops in Kenya.