‘Blessers are ruining lives’
The Limpopo Department of Health has come out strongly criticising the emerging "blesser" trend.
LIMPOPO – Speaking at a recent visit to the Vhembe FET College in Makwarela, the MEC of Health, Phophi Ramathuba, encouraged female students to stay away from “blessers” (a rich older male who showers young females with gifts in exchange for sexual favours).
“Blessers must fall,” said Ramathuba. “It’s up to you to keep yourself safe from contracting HIV ,” she continued.
“Blessers are ruining the lives of our young girls. The high rate of girls infected with HIV/aids is directly related to this trend. We cannot win the fight against the spread of HIV/aids if you do not stay away from these men who have multiple sex partners and do not care who they infect,” said the Spokesperson for the Department of Health, Thabiso Teffo.
The “blesser” trend has grown in popularity over the past year.
“If we do not stand up and fight against this trend it will ruin our country. We ask men known as blessers to consider how they would feel if other men used their daughters for sex,” said Teffo. Many of the students at the Vhembe FET College who have already fallen victim to the trend are girls who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“The very first day I met my blesser, he made it very clear that all he wants is to sleep with me and in return he will buy me everything I want. He left me after a while, pregnant and HIV positive,” said a-21-year old engineering student. She could not depend on her family for money and having a blesser seemed like a good idea. “It’s better to get an education than a blesser,” she said.
The department has launched a slogan to go along with their Intensive Care Finding campaign, “It is not ayoba to have sex without a condom”.
The campaign, which started in February, provides students with free HIV testing and counselling. The Memorandum of Understanding indicates clearly the roles of each partner were signed and placement of a professional nurse who is comprehensively trained in HIV and TB short courses is attached to the nearby HCT organisation,” Ramathuba explained. From this month onward, these facilities will not only test students for HIV but students will also start on antiretroviral treatment.
Ramathuba said this is in line with the campaign’s goal to promote a healthy lifestyle among students. She says the department thereby fulfills its role in bringing knowledge to the people. Promoting healthy lifestyle for youth in the colleges”, the department has played its role by bringing knowledge to the people.
