Zikhala Kanjani without prevention strategy!
Zikhala Kanjani without a condom? It can never be, a new slogan for the South African Youth HIV Prevention Strategy, to encourage youth not to engage into any sexual activities without protecting themselves from HIV related diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
The launch of the strategy was held at Mdavubula stadium, Malamulela in the Collins Chabane local municipality by the National Department of Health in partnership with the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) and the provincial government.
According to Stats South Africa, Limpopo province had shown an increase in teen pregnancies with 2.4% among the ages of 9 to 15 years between 2019/2020. They youth are at a disadvantage of negotiating for a safer sex with older partners and their peers due to lack of awareness of long term consequences and socio economic pressure faced by child headed families and unemployment.
The strategy aims to improve access to HIV prevention services, and methods to help the youth strengthen existing programmes, that were exclusive to the population but focusing more on youth.
In 2020, Ximun’wana High School in Malamulele recorded the highest number of pregnancies in the province which led to the provincial health department and stakeholders including the community to adopt the school for awareness. During the launch, MEC Phophi Ramathuaba announced that in the last two years to date, the school has recorded 0% of learners pregnancy from more than 50% which proves that working together with stakeholders will maintain the reduction and prevention of new HIV infection and unwanted pregnancies.
A 16 year old Mugwambani Ndzalama from EPP Mhinga Secondary School shared with attendees that the solution to unwanted pregnancies and HIV can never be avoided for as long as school premises are surrounded by taverns.
“After school, we go there to buy food and drink instead of going to libraries which are invisible, this is where we get to drink and engage in unprotected sex with our peers and older men because they buy alcohol for us. I am doing my grade 12 and if I don’t get employment opportunity after my schooling I will go back to the tavern. They not only buy alcohol, but they provide for us financially which at times my family cannot afford to because of high rate of unemployment”.
The Strategy launch was sealed with signing the pledge which will serve as a commitment to the prevention strategy by the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, SANAC chairperson Steve Letsike amongst others and must be implemented across the country.
Various health services including voluntary HIV testing were offered, MEC Ramathuba tested few volunteers in her capacity as a trained and qualified doctor after due process of counselling were provided to volunteers.
By: Emmaculate Cindi