Moral degeneration has been identified as a major cause of social ills impacting the youth.
This was said by a health practitioner, Velisha Thompson of the primary health unit in the city council’s Department of Health, Region E.
Thompson said 12 and 13-year-old children were sexually active and some of them were HIV positive as a result of moral decay in society. She also cited a lack of parental concern and involvement in the daily affairs of their children.
She said this became evident from the department’s education awareness programmes with Grade 6 to 9 pupils.
Thompson said some children were paid by older men to have sex. Some of the children also indicated that their parents accepted the financial rewards as they needed the money for essential items such as food. “Both girls and boys are morally compromised by these sugar daddies at the risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases,” she said.
She added that some girl pupils deliberately became pregnant to access government grants, and still continued with their education as it was permitted. “Some opt to terminate pregnancies using backyard abortion clinics.”
Thompson said government had introduced policies to curb the scourge of teenage pregnancies and HIV infections. The policies allow children older than 12 to seek family planning support and to test for HIV/Aids without parental consent. “In addition, children from Grade 4 are taught about teenage pregnancy and HIV/Aids in life orientation classes as a proactive and protective measure for children.”
Recently, this paper reported about a 16-year-old schoolgirl who gave birth to a second child at the Alexandra clinic. The clinic staff raised concern about the increase in the number of teenagers falling pregnant and others being admitted after botched abortions. The girl’s parents are said to have declined family planning support because it could make their daughter promiscuous.
