A new report says 2‚000 girls and young women are infected with HIV every week in South Africa
The new report published on Times Live has revealed that a staggering
2‚000 girls and young women are infected with HIV every week in South
Africa.
The shocking revelation was made by basic education deputy minister
Enver Surty during a presentation of the department’s integrated policy
on HIV‚ TB and STIs in schools on Wednesday.
The minister was leading a delegation on the sidelines of the three-day
8th SA Aids Conference at the Durban International Convention Centre.
'A staggering 2‚000 girls and young women are newly-infected with HIV every single week. Fifty-two weeks of the year - this is Ellis Park Stadium filled twice or Soccer City in Nasrec with every single seat taken plus [people] outside‚ or a capacity crowd at Moses Mabhida just down the road from here with an additional 35‚000 outside‚” said Surty.
“We cannot let this situation continue. It will undermine every effort we make towards creating a prosperous and thriving society.”
Surty said the department’s national policy has been one of the most consulted to come out of any government department.
“It is now common knowledge that our youth bear the brunt of new HIV infections,” said Surty.
In a bid to contain the high spread of HIV in the country, the National
Policy Department plans to facilitate access to male and female condoms
for pupils over the age of 12 as well as all educators‚ school support
staff and officials. This will also include information on the use of
condoms.
However, the provision of male and female condoms and other forms of
contraception‚ together with information on their use‚ will also be
assured by the department in a “discreet‚ appropriate and accessible
manner in the workplace”.
No comments
Your comments and Encouragement are welcome